The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-05-03
Only Question to Consider Is
Whether Accused Is Fit
to Be Judge
SECOND JUDICIAL COURT DISTRICT
RESERVOIR OF RoTTENNEsS
Prosecution Claims Case Is Not Grim.
inal in Nature and Does Not Have
to Be Proven Beyond q Reasonable
Doubt But Only by Preponderance.
(1I. d. Paulson.>


fore the court of Impeachment itself
takes over the case of John F. Cqw-
an for a decision, are being made
the chamber of the state senate -
Counsel George A. Bangs for the
has reviewed the proceedings as
prosecution.
Tonight when he concludes both
the board Of managers and the res
pondent will have said their last
word and tomorrow morning when
the court convenes 1t will be ready to
enter upon the final consideration Of
Its action. Just what will transpire
when the court convenes tomorrow
is an uncertain quantity. There
doubtless will be more or less argu-
ment over the points that have been
raised during the trial, unless by mo-
hon such argument Is abandoned and
there will also be some little con-
sideration of the method of voting
and such incidentals.
It is entirely uncertain at. this
moment whether there will be any
voting tomorrow or not. and that
cannot be made definitely known un-
til the court finally decides to begin
balloting.
Geo. A. Bangs Talk.
In opening arguments this morn
Ing George Bangs referred briefly to
Bome features that had been touched
upon by Tracy Bangs. That biogra-
pher, Almighty God, whom the coun-
gellor for respondent declared last
night wrote with unfailing hands up
on the face Of man the kind Of life
he led, also had other means Of maxi
ing that biography ana one OF these
was in impression upon those with
whom man comes in contact. The
men who have come here in this case
against Judge Cowan have not come
with malice or hatred, but that JUS
tice may be DONE The sins have
come home to roost. He declared
that it was his purpose to deal with
the bold naked facts as laid before
the bar Of the senate.
Like those who preceded him, he
thanked the members of the court
for their kindness, as we'll as the
presiding officer. From other about
the capitol building, he said he had
also received kind consideration, but
he had taken such consideration as
mere mark of gentlemanly or lady
like treatment, although possibly
such marks Of respect, which coun-
cellor for respondent had spoken of,
had been by the latter devined as al
mark of sympathy toward the ac-
cused.
Sympathy has no place in this case.
It is not for the court to consider
friendship but to consider that one
question: els or is not Judge Cowan
a fit man for Judge of the Second
judicial district" 1t is for this court
to cleanse the Judiciary. not by ac-
quittal or not by conviction, but by a
verdict that cannot be above reproach
or suspicion.
of administering justice in the Sec-
ond district, he said. was not made in
single day, nor in a single week or
a single month, but has come in
years. This sentiment crystalized in
the resolution adopted by the house
of representatives and In that reso-
luton, which he read, it was declar-
ed that public rumor and report con-
cerning the method Of dealing out
Justice in the Second district was
such as to destroy confidence in the
courts and such confidence cannot be
restored except by a thorough cleans
ing Of the charge. And If guilty, then
the judiciary should be cleansed by
the removal of offending Judge. and
If not guilty. then it should be cleans
ed of suspicion by a verdict that can
not be suspicioned.
He pointed to the court Of the Sec
ond district as being a reservoir Of
rotteness rather than a court to ex-
pedite Justice, over which presided a
man who has SO far forgotten HIM
self as to allow himself to become
the victim Of his own beastly passions
even while on the bench. The ver-
dict of this court must be above sus-
picion, or there will be day of
reckoning coming.
Then Mr.. Bangs entered upon dis
cussion Of whether or not the pro-
ceedings were criminal, declaring
that they were not criminal and that
the plea of respondents counsel that
they should be deemed such was the
same course of action always taken
by an accused in trying to create a
feeling that guilt must be establish
In summing up the delayed cases
Bangs declared that there was total