The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-03-04
n. D. STIRRED BY
PARCHMENT CASE
DETERMINED EFFORT TO DUST
JUDGE coWAN CAUSES STATE,
WIDE TURMOIL.
INDIGNATION MEETINGS HELD
iurist's Political Friends Accused o,
Overriding Peoples WiIl-Legisla-
tors Petitioned to Act Charged
With ignoring Duty.

Bismarck. N. d., March 1.--Proba bly,
never before in the history of North
Dakota has the state been thrown into
such a turmoil as since the Sth day of
February, when there was filed in the
house Of representatives al Bismarck
q formal complaint for Impeachment
against Judge John f. Cowan of the
Second judicial district. This WAS
signed by nine well known and repu-
table citizens OF the state. which COM
plain charged Judge Cowan with Il
number of serious ofrcnSes. Among
these were public and notorious drunk
enness. freuuenting illegal places
where intoXicants We're sold. neglect
Of official duties that resulted in the
delaying of decisions for months and
years and the making of false certif.
Gates to the effect that there was no
business before the court remaining
unfinished for more than the statutory
time. Each Judge is required to make
such statements from time to time be-
fore he can draw his salary. These
charges were received by the house
, with the request that Judge Cowan be
placed on trial in the manner provided
by law. This resolution to impeach
was referred to a committee of seven
appointed by Speaker llanley to in
| yestigate. Sessions were held behind
f; closed doors. and Notwithstanding an
order to such an effect embodied in
the resolution. no record Of the testi-
mony was taken. Feb. "a, after sev.
eral extensions of time limit on re.
porting, six OF the seven members OF
the committee reported to the house
that 43 Witnesses had been examined,
all of whom were sworn.
Majority is for Delay.
| Six of the members of this commit.
tee recommended that further action
in regard to the charges he indefinlelr
postponed. The seventh member rec
commended the impeachment Of Judge
| CoWan. The house, by a vote Of -, 10
a5. adopted the majority report and
by a vote OF sd to 43 clinchcd tho m,.
jority vote. Since that time lhrrc has
been an undercurrent of inhignatjrm at
these proceedings that has caused a
turmoil never known before in The his.
tory of the state. Old timers; OF he
legislative sessions who fought tlulin;
the day Of the great Louisiana lottery
scandal that for a time threat e'cd 10
smirch the fair name Of the then Dn.
kota territory, claim the indignat ion
expressed over the Cownn impearh.
mcnt scandal in petitions from citizens
all over the state has never been
equalcd
On Monday another scene took place
In the house of representatives,. from
Grand Forks. Fargo, jamestown. Val
ley City and numerous other towns
petitions signed by the most prominent
professional and business men of the
state, together with hundreds Of names
OF women, were laid on the table and
voted to be cXpunEcd from the records
by a. vote of ~ TO 49, Messages from
| Grand Forks say that on Sunday after.
noon a mass meeting was held at the
court house to protest against the ac.
ton of the lower house of The lcgisla-
turc that put such a coat of white
enamel over Judge Cowan without
making The committee bring in the
evidence produced from fortyIhree
reputable witnesses as directed in the
resolution of impeachment.