The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-04-15
JUDGE PALDA
TESTIFIED
=
Minot Jurl : Proved Strong Wit
nesS S:v Defense
2
Tilt Between >'secuting At
torney an Witness

Bismarck, N. D., ls,ril 15.-2Strong
evidence for the defense in reputation
Of the Rugby courtroom scene, the
drinking instance in Judge Palda's law
Office at Minot and the stockyards in
cident was brought out this morning
in the Cowan impeachment trial by
Judge L. j. Palda. jr, on the stand.
The witness said he was the only
counsel in the Rugby cases who took
an active part in the trial and spent
the whole term Of court there.
He said the court opened the usual
time on the morning of June Is and
proceeded until shortly before noon,
when Judge Cowan adjourned to all
low Scott Rex and Paul Campbell to
look up authorities on a certain ques-
ton which arose between the counsel.
Judge Palda said he walked with
Judge Cowan from the hotel back TO
the courthouse at o'clock at the
afternoon session when Attorney
Campbell testified that the latter was
so drunk he saw him staggering,
though squares away.
Judge Palda denied that Cowan was
intoxicated on that occasion.
He said the afternoon was extremely
hot and sultry, with practically no
ventilation in the courtroom, and the
attorneys secured permission to re-
move their coats and vests during the
procedure.
Everybody but Judge Cowan took
off their coats and worked in their
shirt sleeves.
During the afternoon Rex and Palda
got into an argument over a legal
technicality, and Cowan leaned for
ward on the desk, resting his head on
his arm, but that he was not asleep
because he asked and answered oues-
tons put by the attorneys.
When asked If remark was made
about waking of lion in his dem" as
testified by Campbell, Palda laughed
and said no such statement was made,
but that Campbell might have that in
his head
Minot Incident.
On the occasion in Palda's ONCE at
Minot, when Witness Kelso said Cowan
was drunk, he said the accused was
absolutely sober and there was not
a thing to make him think he was in
toxicated He said CoWan was ac-
companied by a young man who claim
ed to be interested in North Dakota
farming country. and he took them
out to see two farms he had for sale
himself, after which all three went to
Palda's Office, where either Mr.. John
son or Mr.. Burke, who occupy adjoin-
ing Offices. got six pint bottles Of beer
for them. Each drank one bottle. and
later Judge Murray came in and asked
Cowan to stay over one train and re-
late "reminiscences and Scotch yarns.
He said young Kelso, then in his
employ, entered the room and he In
troduced him to Cowan, who said sew
eral things to him, but he couldn't re-
member them. He thought it was
possible he had told Kelso that If ne
came in his district that he would
promise him a square deal, as Cowan
was accustomed to encouraging young
attorneys in such manner.
Putting his hands on the shoulders
of others was one Of his well known
mannerisms
He told Tracy Bangs Gown was
absolutely sober because there was
nothing to drink
Stock Yards Matter.
Regarding the stockyards incident,
to which Greenleaf testified that Cow
an was drunk. Palda said the accused
was not drunk at all. that he was there
in company width Senator Kennedy Gov
.ernor Burdick and Mr.. Murphy, buying
horses.
He said that Judge Cowan was fight
ing mad at the men conducting the
sale because he had purchased large
number Of horses which later were
mixed up and put in with another
batch being put on sale that day.
He said he found him walking on
the top of the corral, looking over the
herd. trying to identity six white
mares he had purchased the day be-
fore
Paida tried to straighten the matter
out for him.
He said Cowan was absolutely sober.
but very angry over the deal given
him, and after a consultation with
Campbell g. Hubbard the promoters
of the sale, Cowan rode back to town
in an automobile with Governor Bur-
dick. Senator Kennedy and Major
Murphy.
Cross Examination Hot.
The cross examination was bristling.
winding up with bitter insinuations
being flung at the witness and dis
pute between the two leading counsel
and Judge Padda.
George Bangs began by asking the
witness If these incidents were the oc-
casion when he had seen the defend
ant sober, to which Tracy Bangs OBJ
iected as an unfair conclusion.
His brother said he wouldn't do any
thing in the world to be considered
unfair" in tone shaded with much
sarcasm. and Tracy asked II counsel
had Weakened up with another Crouch
When asked IL he had had any con-
versataon with Judge Murray OF Minot
regarding the incident In his ONCE, the
witness stated that there had been
none of any Importance.
Us that entirely accurate?" asked
George Bangs.
what do you mean by accurate ~
asked the witness pointedly, and the
counsel explained that he intended to
convey the impression II that was all
that passed between them.
The big rows of the morning came
when George Bangs asked Judge Palda
IL he were not drinking man himself.
to which he answered he had always
drunk to q certain extent.
Then Counselor Bangs inquired If he