The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1911-04-20
f0URTHWEEk
OF BIG TRIAL
(By John T. Charmley.)
Special to M,not independents.
bismarck Y

special 10 M'not Independent.
Bismarck y. D.
The fourth week of the Cowan i'm
parchment trial is now on in full
force, with the defense having their
inning. The prosecution having clos
ed its case on tbs thirteenth day of
teenth day, the defense after brief
recess from the day before, annGunc-
ed that they were ready for their
inning, and the ordinary course OF
procedure followed with a statement
trary to expectations, the opening
address was made by the accused
Tracy Bangs, and two days consumed
by the Hon. John F. Cowan, who pre-
speeches in the history OF the state,
never faltering for a moment, except
ing when called by President Bur
dick at times Of recess, the accused
going into every detail of the case,
covering every specification and every
charge, explaining fully as to the un.
specified charges. covering a PERIOD
dating back for ten years, when the
second judicial district covered a
large territory of the northern and
western counties of the state Many
were the remarks as to whether the
jurlst could hold up during the trying
ordeal of the two days, as he covered
the necessary ground in his effort to
esta blish his innocence, and lay the
foundation as to the cause of his
present impeachment trial. At times
we would find him, bitter and sarcastic
in his denunciations of those who
were instrumental in the proceedings,
again we would find him in humor-
Gus vein, and suddenly We would
reach the point when eyes were moist
ened with tears. Throughout the
presentation never did the Scotch
jurist waiver, and at the close, when
the limelight of both sides of the pre-
sent charges had been detailed OIL the
one hand and outlined on the other.
a general sigh of satisfaction seem
ed to pervade the chamber now made
famous by the present trial.
1t would be an injustice to begin
to give or quote the speech of Judge
Cowan in these columns, it covering
two days, making over thirty columns
of words, but it is given out that his
speech will be presented at a later
date to all of the newspapers in the
state, and will also be placed in all
Of the librari"s throughout the United
States.
For the defense the first witness
called was John Anderson Of Churche s
Ferry, the purpose of his testimony
was to refute that given by Stansbury
and Fulkeson, relative to Judge Cow
an being drunk on the platform of the
Great Northern depot in the SUNNI or
Of 1909, when C~wan was helped on
the train by DR.. Flath and the witness.
and according to testimony OF prose-
cution was in an intoxicated condi.
ton. Anderson denied helping Cow.
an to the train at any time and was
supported in his testimony by Or
Flath, prominent physician of
Churches Ferry. Witness had known
Cowan for twenty years, has met him
frequently and at no time did he ever
see him under the influence of intoxi-
eating liquors, on cross examination,
witness admitted that he had been
convicted Of blind pigging in 1895,
and on redirect examination, it was
brought out that Judge Cowan as At
torney General of the state had prose-
cuted him, and he was sentenced by
Judge Morgan, now Chief Justice Of
the Supreme Court.
Dr.. Flath next witness called . per.
Continued on last paee)