Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-04-27
Brennan, Mann and Bloom
Called to Witness Stand
Admit Charges Based on
Common Talk AID Stories
SimDSoo Act as Examiner
No Action was Taken

Several facts in connection with
charges of alleged pacts, combinations
and frame.ups' to clear Judge John F.
Cowan, and those making such claims,
were brought out at an extraordinary
session of court of impeachment held
last evening and lasting we'll on to-
wards II o'clock. The published
charges against Senator Gibbons OF
Towner county that he had been
'bluffed' into remaining away from
Bismarck for the remainder OF the
trial were also probed, and here is
what the court was successful in find
ing:
What They Found.
That published statement rejecting
upon the creditabilty and integrity of
Senator Gibbons was based upon a
report made to J. Fl. Bloom, editor OF
the Devils Lake Journal, by an 1S-year
old reporter who received such in
formation from his uncle, former Sen
ator Jack Kelly, OF TOWner county,
and twice witness from the prosecu'
ton in the Impeachment proceedings.
That charges or belief that a COM
bination exists in the senate to acqult
Cowan regardless of evidence rests
upon a statement made while the
house was considering impeachment
made by Senator LaMOure to the ef-
feet that COwan would not be convict
ed in the house; upon conversation
between Dan Brennan and Senator L..
A. Simpson in which Simpson is pur'
ported to have said at the conclusion
of the introduction of the prosecution
evidence that if he was handling the
defense that he would not introduce
and evidence but move to dismiss; up
on report made by c. H. Baker OF
Devils Lake, brother OF Senator Fred
Baker Of Ramsey county, that there
were between 10 and "a senators who
would vote to acquit; upon general
conversation and hearsay. and upon
the manner in which certain senators
have voted from time to time during
the progress of the trial.
Charge Pact Exists.
This special session of the court
gave an opportunity for those making
charges of combinations to lay before
the body such evidence as they might
possess tending to prove or substan-
tiate their declarations. Fred P. Mann
and Dan V. Brennan Of Devils Lake,
both OF whom have given interviews
to Devils Lake newspapers in which
they charged that such pact did exist,
both being on the stand before the
senate last night. The fact that the
senate adjourned without taking &C
ton can be construed in only one
sense; that there was nothing on
which action might be taken so far as
further investigation into the charges
of corruptness are concerned.
Sinkier's Salary the Same.
1t was at an executive session OF
the court held after the regular days
session that the question of investl'
eating charges that had been made
arose, and thirty-four senators voted
at that time to hold an evening SEES
sion.
At the afternoons executive session
another effort was made to increase
the salary of f. r. Sinkler, assistant
counsel for prosecution, but it f":'~
Of realization.
Bloom on the Stand.
J. H. Bloom, TIE first witness called
before the court at the evning session,
manager and editor of the Devils Lake
Journal refused to answer questions
propounded by Senator Simpson, ap'
pointed as interrogation for the court,
togethred with Senator Bessesea, as
to tie place of former residence any
further back than when he lived in
South Dakota. witness stating that he
regarded it as impertinant.
He admitted writing the article pub
lisned in the Devils Lake Journal Of
April "a, headed, Senate Fixed to
Give Cowan Whitewash," which article
was read before the senate, being. In
that there was a pact In
the senate that would prevent con-
viction. that 1t least two high state
officials had interferred or brought in
fluence to bear in the case, and that
Senator Gibbons had been bluffed into
away from the trial and
that he had already made up his mind
which way he would vote.
Took Word Of Young Reporter.
Bloom declared that the information
with reference to Senator Gibbons was
brought him by his reported, aged Is,
with between three and six months ex-
perience in the newspaper business.
and that it had been told to this re-
porter by former Senator Jack Kelly
of Towner county. Further than that
Bloom said he made no investigation
but published he report rejecting up
on Gibbons.
Senator's Brother Brought In.
With relation to the charge of the
senate being fixed, he said c. H. Bak-
er of Devils axe, brother &c Senator
Fred Baker of Devils Lake, had made
such statement to him about ten
days ago. and in doing so, said: Do
you suppose brother Fred would vote
against him no matter what the evil
'ence," referring to Senator Baker of
county. Bloom also said that
Mann, Brennan and others had made