The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-05-05
A Big OVATION GIVEN
COWAN ON ACQUITTAL

UUWHN Wv hUVUlAlnL
Continued From Es-a One.
gratulations upon him. 1t was a
demonstration perhaps that viii never
be seen in North Dakotas legislative
halls again.
How the Vote Went.
That the prosecution utterly failed
to prove any of the allegations in the
minds of the members OF the senatori-
al court is shown by the votes on all
the specifications, the average for gull
ty being twelve.
On seven specifications there were
no votes against the Judge; on four,
only one; on two, only two; on two,
there were three; on one there were
four; on two there were six: on two,
seven; on two there were eight.
On one there were ten; eleven on
four; twelve ON three; thirteen on six;
fourteen on three; fifteen on four;
sixteen on three; seventeen on three;
eighteen on twelve; ninteen on one;
twenty one three; twenty one on five;
twenty-five on one. and twenty-three
on one.
On the latter the vote was a tie.
The aggregate vote cast against Judge
Cowan ON seventy-two specifications
was $50, making an average of a it,
tie less than twelve, showing that the
sentiment of the majority of the
senate, after due consideration of all
the testimony and evidence, was that
Judge Cowan was not guilty at ALL
The Tie Vote.
The drugstore incidents appeared to
be the ones where the vote against
Judge Cowan was the strongest. The
tie vote of twenty three to twenty
three was on Specification of Charge
8, in which it was alleged that he
drank intoxicating liquors in the Ness
drugstore at Devils Lake, whereby it
was charged that he disturbed the pub
lie peace, outraged decency and in
jured public morals.
Voting for impeachment on this
charge were Senators Allen, Besses-
sen, Cashel Davis, Duis, Elken, Filing
son, Garden, Gibbons, Gilbert, John
son, Kretschmar, Mcdowell, diversion.
Plain, Putnam, Steel of Stutsman,
Steele of Renville, Turner, Wallin,
WEIGH, Whitcher and Williams
Voting for acquittal were Senators
Baker, Carter, Duncan, Ganssle. Gron-
void, Gunderson, Jacobson, Kennedy,
Lfnde, Marrln, Mcdonald, Mclean,
Movius, Ruzicka, Simpson. Stevens,
Syvertson, Talcott, Thoreson, Trimble,
Walton, Welo and Young.
On the other specifications in the
drugstore charges. the vote was near
" a tie as on Specification 8, Charge
8, it was twenty for impeachment and
twenty-five for acquittal.
No Indication Of Lineup.
The open charges made in advance
to the taking OF the vote that there
would be lineup to prevent the con-
viction of Judge Cowan, regardless Of
testimony or evidence, were completely
when the final ballot was
cast. There wasn't one man in the
senate who didn't on one specification
or another vote for the acquittal of
Judge Cowan, and some of these sew
eral times.
II was contended by Senator Simp-
son, after the recess had been taken
that each charge should be voted on
in the same manner as the specifi-'
cations. According to this idea, which
for the moment prevailed. one vote
was taken on Charge /, but later the
was dispensed with on mo-
ton of Senator Duis, who with many
others including Senators Gibbons and
Mcdowell felt that inasmuch as John r.
Cowan had been acquitted, subsequent
proceedings along this line were unes-
sential
This conceded with the view of
President Burdick and further ballot
ing was dispensed with.
Norton's Explanation Barred.
At the evening session Secretary of
State Norton made vain attempt to
have injected into the senate journal
utter refutation of the statements made
by Counselor Tracy r. Bangs in his
final argument to the senate. Mr..
Norton took exception to Mr.. Bangs
references to the bank deposit in his
bank at Hettinger, and for certain
statements made in regard to the
famous Powell Norton case.
In his communication filed with
President Burdick he presented along
with the harsh criticism of Coun-
selor Bangs. who had already made an
atonement for his statements. a lot of
evidence in the Powell Norton case
which he wished entered in the journal.
In this communication he admitted
there had been some money during
Secretary Blaisdells administration
which had been on deposit in his
bank.
Senator Garden felt that it should
go into the journal, but motion to
that effect was lost.
Newspaper Men Praised.
Senator Stevens, IN the afternoon.
moved that vote Of thanks be ex-
tended the newspaper representatives
present during the trial There we're
several who voted against this, among
them Senator Garden. Senator Besses-
sen. viii felt that he had been I'M
justly criticized at times. stated, how
ever, that he was glad to vote IN far
vor of the press representatives. The
motion prevailed
More Pay for Reporters.
At the evening session the compe-