The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-15
STEPS TAKEN TO
IMPEACH LATHAM
Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Is
Placed Under Fire
CHARGE OF UNF1TNEss
Grand Jury Reports UnfavorabIe Find
Ings and Case Is Submitted to
the Supreme Court for
Investigation

montgomery, April H. Especially -
charges were today filed In the supreme
court against Edward E. Latham, sher-
III OF Tuscaloosa county, resultant upon
nnding of the grand jury of that coun-
t., alleging that as result of intern
perance and habitual drunkenness he Is
unfit to fill the office, and because Of
such excesses he is not administering
the office in accordance with the dignity
OF the position and the Importance of
the demands upon him.
The papers were filed by Thomas w.
Martin, assistant attorney general, the
action being purely ministerial, it being
tie duty Of the attorney general to bring
such matters to the attention of the SUI
preme court, on instruction of the grand
jury of any county. The court fixed May
IL for Sheriff Latham to reply at which
time he may come in and all parties may
agree on a plan of and a time for hear
ings. There is no set way of taking tes-
timony. 1t may be direct, as in the case
of Frank Cazalas of Mobile, recently
impeached, or by deposition.
1llC COpy VI Tic paper Illeu by the at
torney general is as follows:
ITO the Supreme Court of Alabama:
Alex M. CARRIER, attorney general of
the state of Alabama, who for and in
the name of the state of Alabama in
this behalf prosecutes in his own proper
person, comes into the said honorable
supreme court at Montgomery, on this,
the 14th day of April. 1910, and for said
state and upon the report made through
the Tuscaloosa county court by the
grand jury of Tuscaloosa county. Ala
bama, on. to-wit, March IL, 1910 a GER
tilted copy of which said report has
been transmitted to the aforesaid at
torney general by the clerk of the said
Tuscaloosa county court, and Is hereto
attached for the information of the
supreme court; and the aforesaid attor-
ney general now gives the court to I'M
derstand and be informed that Edward
E. Latham, sheriff in and for the county
of Tuscaloosa and the state of Alabama,
unmindful of the duties of his said office
while holding said office prior to and
down to the time of the making of said
report by said grand jury, has during the
term of his office as such sheriff been
guilty of the following Improbable con-
duct, to-wit:
Three Ofenses
81. Willful neglect of the duties of his
office for and on account of his habitual
drunkenness and intemperance in the use
OF Intoxicating liquors to such extent in
view of the dignity of the office and i'm
portance of its duties as units him as
such sheriff for the discharge of such
duties.
"2. For and on account of his ha-
bitual drunkenness and intemperance in
the use of Intoxicating liquors to such
extent in view of the dignity of the
office and Importance of its duties as
units him as such sheriff for the dis
charge of such duties.
80. Intemperance in the use OF intox-
icating liquors to such extent in view
of the dignity of the office and import
ance of it's duties as units him as such
sheriff for the discharge of such duties.
Charge first: That the said Edward
E. Latham, sheriff of Tuscaloosa coun-
ty, was, while in office, guilty of the
willful neglect of the duties OF his Of
flee for and on account of his habit
ual drunkenness and intemperance in
the use of intoxicating liquors to such
extent in view of the dignity of the Of
fee and Importance of it's duties as I'M
fitted him as such sh eriff for the dis
charge of such duties.
Charge second: That the said Ed
ward e. Latham. sheriff of Tuscaloosa
county, was while in said office guilty
of Improbable conduct in this, that he
became guilty of habitual drunkenness
and intemperance in the use of intox-
icating liquors to such an extent In
view of the dignity of the office and
Importance of its duties as untitled
him as such sheriff for the discharge
of such duties.
Charge third: That the said Ed
ward e. Latham, sheriff of Tuscaloosa
county, was while in office guilty of i'm
peachable conduct in that he became in
temperate In the use of Intoxicating
liquors to such an extent in view of
the dignity of the office and import
ance of it's duties as untitled him as
such sheriff for the discharge of such
duties.
Order Prayed For
"Whereupon, the attorney general
aforesaid, for and in the name of the
state of Alabama, prays the considera-
tion of your honorable court Of the
premises above set out, that due pro-
cess of law be straightway awarded
against the said Edward e. altman,
sheriff of the county of Tuscaloosa,
state of Alabama. In this behalf; that
an OrueT may De 11aOe requiring nlIn 10
appear at place and on day specified
in this order to answer this informa
ton, and that the court upon the hear
ing hereof shall render its judgment
herein impeaching the said Edward e.
Latham. as sheriff as aforesaid, and re-
moving him from said office of sheriff
of said county of Tuscaloosa and dis
qualifying him from holding office I'M
der the authority of this state during
the term for which he was elected, or
such other Judgment as may seem to
the court meet and proper and right
in the premises.
ALEX. M. CARRIER,
"Attorr),y General of the State of Ala
.,rIIOMAS w MARTIN