Norwich bulletin., 1911-05-05
Accuse Judge
Of Unfitness
HARTFORD LABOR LEADERS CIV.
EN- A HEARING AT CAPITOL.
OUTCOME OF THE STRIKE

Senator SPeliacy Declares Recent
Trials of Strikers Were "A Travesty
on Justice"-Judge ciarke's Defense.
Hartford, May 4.-On the petition of
Sol Sontheimer and others for inves-
/ tigation of the conduct of Walter H.
| Clark, judge of the police court, this
city, hearing was held before the
/ judiciary committee this afternoon.
| SpeIIacy for Petitioners.
| Senator Thomas J. Spellacy spoke
| in behalf of the petitioners and Judge
| Clark pleaded his own cause. Sena-
| tor Spellacy head the petition which
! alleged that Judge Clark does not pos
| sess the temperament necessary in a
| police judge. and that it was proved in
| his disposition of the cases of MEM
bers of the Lady Garment Workers
/ international union, local No. "A. of
| this city. who were charged With
| breach of the peace and in two SEN
/ tences with the resistance of an Off
/ Ger.
| Time Given Strikers inadequate.
The senator said they we're arraign-
| ed in the police cours at Hfne o'clock
| on the morning of March 81, their ar
rest having been made between 5 and
| $50 on the morning OF the same day.
| He said that he asked for adjourn
| ment until Monday. April 49, and that
| Judge Clark replied that he would
| grant a recess until II a. m. He told
| the judge that the tins was inadequate
| to consult his clients snd prepare a
| defense.
| O'FIaherty Called 1t Gag Rule"
| Hugh O'F1aherty. an attorney for
| forty years. who was before the court
| on another matter, tl1efeupon address,
4 Cd fb14 e-+ow
| member of the bar and a friend of
| the court he would have to say that
| such a proceeding was unheard of, and
i gag rule.
Judge ciark's Warning.
Continuing. Senator Spenacy said
| that Judge Clark, granted an adjourn
ment until the FOLLOWING Monday. say
| more disturbances they will be severe
| ly dealt WITH
| Only Ten Minutes fer Argument.
On Monday the cases came to trial
! after an all-day session. Judge Clark
! said he did not care to hear the pros
| ecuting attorney argue, but would give
| Senator -Spellacy te-, minutes. The
/ senator said he told Ju0ge Clark that
| he could not do justice to his clients
/ in such short space or time. where
upon the judge proceeded to read the
! sentences
| Assembly Can Revoke Appointment
| The fines imposed ranged from IS
1 to S25, and upon appear being taken
! the bond was fixed at $500 in each
/ case IF the general assembly can
| pass resolution appointing a man it
/ can revoke the resolution said Sena-
! ter Spellacy.
"A Travesty on Justice"
| Ten minutes is an unreasonable
! time for argument of case. Such a
| traveSty of justice should be rehuked
| The police court is the poor mans
/ court, where Is per cent. of cases have
| final Jurisdiction. ! say that when a
| man refuses to listen to an argument
| he is not fit to sit on the bench. \
/ BOND OF 5000 named in a case where a
fine of IS had been imposed is excess
| sive. If my clients had not furnished
| bail they would have been obliged to
| stay in Jail until June s.
TemperamentalIy Unfit for Office"
| Judge Clark is an honest and hon
| orable man. but he is temperamental-
| ly unfit for the Office
| Petition Tells Only Half Truth.
| Judge Clark said that the petition
contains only half truth Had the
| petition set forth all the facts" he
| said, mo explanations l:ow would be
! necessary. The real situation l found
| March 81 was suppressed excitement
| inside and outside the courtroom.
| Wanted to Stop! Rioting.
when adjournment was asked for,
| I was reluctant to grant it. because
! / wanted to nip trouble IN the bud
/ and show to the strikers that rioting
| would not be permitted. As I went on
/ the bench that morning I was in
J formed that within an nour another
| riot had occurred.
"Time Had Arrived for Action
| II felt that the time had arrived
| for action and I didn't want the strik-
| ers to consider leninency on my part
weakness. If I made cny mistake in
| the matter of adjournment it was that
! I did not adhere to my former inten-
| tons and adjourn court FOR two hours
| The matter before the court was a
| question Of facts.
| Defense Composed of Untruths."
| 1.-The cases were OF, trial all day
| and my mind was clear as to how
| was TO dispose of them. The defense
! was largely composed of untruths
| Several penalties might Justly have
| been imposed. Had there been trouble
| in securing bonds 1 would have re-
| duced them.
| Court Took Serious View of Case.
| .It was~highly essential that the
! defendants saw that the court took
| serious view of the cases notwith-
| standing that the fines imposed We're
| not excessive. What such disturb
| ances might lead to is hard TO tell.
| / meant for the prisoners to see that
| law and order must be maintained in
| Hartford
| TAREE IAJEn EnR