Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-04-10
|NO Morning
| Session IN
'COWAN CASE
Witness Tampering Charges
Fall by the Wdyside
Prosecution viii Finish in
Middle Of Present Week
Defense has Made all Prep
drdtiOnS TO Start Work

~ss~ssO w ~S~A ~ W -
Tuesday evening or Wednesday
noon will see the close Of the case
of the prosecution against Judge join
F.. Cowan of the second district ir
the court of Impeachment, Counsel
George Bangs making announcement
that effect this morning when the
court was called to order, and in re
sponse to query by counsel Tracy r
Bangs for the defense.
The fact that the introduction OF
evidence bearing upon delayed cases
has taken great deal more time than
anticipated, and the further fact that
there was no session Saturday after
noon, together with the adjournment
of this mornings session till afternoon
have been responsible for the longer
period necessary to conclude the pros
ecution's case Practically the only
evidence still to be introduced bears
upon the charge of delaying decisions
in cases.
Another move will be made by the
prosecution before it closes its case
to secure favorable action on the ques-
ton of allowing evidence to be in
troduced in delayed cases other than
those speclhed in the articles Of i'm
peachment.
The line of action by the defense
has not yet been made definite, al
though the charge Of drunkenness, in
cluded in the first two charges of the
articles will be given first attention
This probably means that the Churchs
Ferry incident will first be taken up,
being the one in which Cowan was
declared to have been so intoxicated
that it was necessary to have two
men escort him. Both of the men
who were said to have escorted him
on that occasion will be on the stand,
having already been subpoenaed. The
next in order will be the Rugby Incl
dent of June 1909.
Files in Rolette county cases, over
which prosecution has manifested no
little concern, were today turned over
to the board of managers by Tracy
Bangs, counsel for the respondent.
There are about twelve cases from
Rolette county in which it is claimed
that the defendant has been respon-
;ible for unjust delays in the making
of decisions.
The files in these cases were Sc
cured by Judge Cowan after his i'm
)eachment by the House of Represent |
ltives for the purpose of preparing
lefense.
In report made this afternoon f.
4. Griffin, chief clerk of the House OF
and against whom W.
}. Crowley of Devils Lake has filed |
lffidavit charging atempt to influence
estimony, such affidavit being in turn
lied by the board of managers with
PRESIDENT Burdick, was completely ex-
'nerated of actions as charged. Re-
,ort shows there was absolutely no
oundation in fact for complaint, and
vidence taken by special investigat-
ng committee, consisting of Senators
[rechmar, Cashel and Mclean. was
ubmitted to the impeachment court
0 bear out it's report.
In this evidence taken Friday night
rom accused, Griffin, and the maker
f the affidavit, Mr. Crowley, it is
hown that they had two conversa-
ions in the lobby of the Grand Pacific
otel. In the first of these it appears
hat Griffin, not knowing Crowley, had
made a statement to the effect that
ruggists testifying in the Cowan case
4 with His1n
bases of liquor, would incriminate !
themselves should they testify that
hey had sold liquor without causing
he jurist to sign up drug permit.
The second conversation was shown
} have been opened by Crowley, he
nd Griffin having become acquainted
pom occasion of first conversation,
t opening of which they were not
cquainted. In this second conver-
alton it was shown that Crowley had
sked Griffin If 1t was fact that a
'itness testifying that he had sold
quor to Cowan without requiring his
gnature to the book would incrimin- ,
lie himself. and at that time Griffin ,
.ated that he so understood the law,
lding a word of warning to Crowley.
Crowley admitted in testimony that
/ time ME did not think that Griffin
as trying to influence testimony, but
lat he had afterwards thought about
in that light and hence his COM
aint.
On the witness stand in impeach-
ent case Crowley swore that he had
I'D LIQUOR to Cowan, admitting at the
(ConA;ni,Ad On 0aoe