The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-04-19
MRS. STEVENS IS
STRONG WITNESS
FOR JUDGE COWAN
Denies Drunkenness on His Part
At the slavens Trial at
Rugby

SAT BESIDE GIRL WHO
WAS CoMPlAI WITNESS
Mrs. Stevens Is Prominent Official I,
State W. G. 7. o., Former Count,
superintendent and Head Of q De
parment in Educational Associate,
III. d. Paulson.)
Bismarck. N. D., April 19.-No more
convincing evidence, either for the
prosecution or the defense, has beer
laid before the court of Impeachment
before which Judge John #. Cowau
stands as respondent, than that given
this morning when Mrs. Jean Nc.
Naughton Stevens of Towner, super.
lntendent Of penal and reformatory
work in the North Dakota Woman'e
Christian Temperance Union, who an.
peared for the defense. She denied
any intoxication upon the part OF
Judge Cowan during any portion Of the
trial OF the Slavens case in Rugby
during January, 1910, through which
she remained In the court room the
entire time as the companion and
friend OF the young lady upon whom
Slavens was accused Of having made
an assault.
was there just to help the girl u
said Mrs. Stevens on the stand. "There
was no other woman to 60 into court
with herr
She had only known the girl week
or two before the trial commenced.
Each day she had shook hands with
Judge Cowan. On the first day that
she was In court, the afternoon on
January 26, short recess in the pro-
ceedings was called few moments
after she had arrived and Judge
Cowan then descended from the bench
and greeted her, talking to her sew
eral minutes. "His demeanor was
hne." she responded to question
as to whether or not there was any
thing during the entire trial Of the
case to indicate that Judge Cowan
was intoxicated. He was sober
throughout the hearing Of the case,
ard at no time was there any indica-
:. .,tinn Of any drunkenness. Mrs. Stew
ems was informed that It had. been
testified In the case for tho prosecu-
tion that Judge Cowan had gone to
sleep on the bench, and was asked
whether or not such was the fact.
She replied that Judge Cowan at
times closed his eyes, but that when
ever an objection was made at any
point in the proceedings, his rulings
were prompt and decisive. Asked d.
rectly whether at any time she saw
Judge Cowan when he was>actually
asleep during the trial, she replied
with a smile, II think not
There was no cross-examination
and Mrs. Stevens was Immediately
excused. Explaining her acquaint-
ance with Judge Cowan she stated
that it dated from an occasion in 1894
in Towner when there was an at
tempted lynching and when Judge
Cowan came to the rescue of an ac-
cused negro and served through the
trial Of the case without pay.
Mrs. Stevens is president Of Rural
Department OF North Dakota Educa-
tional association, former grand chap
lain Of the North Dakota grand lodge
Of the Eastern Star, former superin-
tendent Of schools In McHenry coun-
ty and is even now engaged in teach
ing in Towner.
Just previous to calling Of Mrs.
Stevens to the stand Judge A. G. Burr
Of the Ninth judicial district was
called, and gave evidence with refer
ence to the time Of calling the Slav-
ems case. This testimony was in the
nature Of correction Of that given
previously by him. The jury in
&. Slavens case had been called to re-
! port at 2 o'clock in afternoon Of jan
uary 25.. the trial commencing the
following morning at about 1880
o'clock vUth Judge Cowan presiding
and with all the work being done on
i time. He had previously testified that
the jury had been called for January
"a, but as matter Of fact he. Judge
Burr, was In Towner then and did
not reach Rugby until noon Of Jan
uary 25.
Another interesting feature Of the
morning session came when Attorney
Cuthbert was placed on the stand by
the defense to testify on the delayed
cases, Attorney P. ]. McClory con-
ducting the examination. When
discussion as to the Mckee vs. Haley
case arose and the witness had been
turned over to the prosecution for
cross-examination, the prosecution be-
gan questioning the witness in refer
ence to Cowan's condition upon that
day. At first objection was made by
the defense but 1t was withdrawn
and Cuthbert testified.
Court on Aug. 4, 1908, the date Of
the trial Of the case, had opened be-
tween 9 and 10 o'clock In the morn
ing. continuing till noon, the after
noon session running from o'clock
till between 4:30 and o'clock. Mr..
Cuthbert said that Cowan had taken
q drink or two during the noon hour
but that he was not intoxicated.
George Bangs then called the wit
ness attention to conversation