The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-05-03
GEO. BANGS
SPEAKING
Final Oratorial Effort in the
Cowan Case Today
Prosecuting Attorney Is Flo
quent and Bitter
He Denounced Cowan at Every
Stage Of Address
WH~vu

EF~E
Bismarck, N. D., May s.--From tn,
standpoint of legal technicalities tn,
address this morning OF George A
Bangs. the leading counsel for the
prosecution in the Cowan Impeachment
trial, was almost unsurpassed.
The speaker acquitted himself mag
nificently in powerful flow of oratory
in his last effort to convince the state
senate OF Judge Cowan's guilt and un-
fitness to longer act as jurist In
North Dakota.
Declaring that the acts proven to
have been committed by the accused
are sufficient to damn not only one
Judge but the whole judiciary, and. If
tolerated, to damn tine state itself, he
said the senate's verdict would an
nounce to the whole United States the
impeachment courts conception of
cleanliness, honor. honesty and stan
dards of what the judiciary should
be.
You will have told the people of
this state and of the United States
he cried, what an honest and upright
judiciary is"
Meaning of impeachment.
''The impeachment" ne said, sin
volved an inquiry as to whether GER
tain officers have been faithful in up
holding the laws, that in England the
members of the Judiciary had been
impeached. for misconception of con-
stitutiona1 law"
He hurled bitter insinuations at the
accused crying:
This Judge didn't even dare to take
the stand to tell you the story which
was spread broadcast over the state.
but thrusts the responsibility on YOU"
Civil or Criminal.
AS to the nature of action, whether
criminal or civil, he quoted Bourke
distinction between impeachment and
criminal proceedings.
Cowan's Accounting.
He asked il Judge Cowan had,
through his political machine. ac-
CURED the title to the office of judge.
He declared he didn't own the office,
that It was only a trust and now the
people had asked him to account
Don't you feel proud of the ac-
counting Of the trustee?" he shouted
He came before you and said with
frightened lips, this judgeship is mine
ut was insult to your intelligence
and manhood in the way he mixed his
wife's prayers with vituperations and
claimed to have brought this action,
but how has he accounted for his trus-
teeship?"
Drug Store Cases.
Distressing for a moment, he Dip
ped into the argument OF the defense
on the drug store matters, saying,
They quote us laws showing any
body has a right to sneak into the
back doors OF drug stores and buy
liquor and lay all the blame on the
drug store proprietors themselves"
Speaker Grew Eloquent.
Working himself up to a high pitch |
OF enthusiasm, the orator declared |
there was mo act permitting any man
to crafty his beastial appetites and |
impair his intellect; that a man i'm
the Full possession Of his mental fac |
ulties. who deliberately disqualifies |
himself that way. was worse than he /
who continually groveled in the mire
of drunkenness seven days Of the
week.
Or. JekyI and MIR. Hyde.
He likened Judge Cowan, in some |
to DIR. Jekyl and Mr.. Hyde in
regard to the accused's own statement
about the drug store incidents, decIar-
ing, Sometimes we have Judge, some
times we don't"
He assailed the opening statement
Of the respondent, asserting, s'it wasn't
an opening statement He knew it
wasn't an opening statement, bur he
put so low standard on the seniors
and elders Of the state, he. thought he
could carry it off.
Noon Recess.
Senator Plain occupied the chair
his morning and declared the regular
soon recess before the other part of
the final argument was commenced
Hard On Bessessen.
President Burdiclx stated when the
impeachment court resumed at the
afternoon session there would be
meeting this evening to consider the
methods Of voting on the Impeachment
charges. He suggested that all sena-
ors who wished to make explanations
m their votes should do SO in writ
NC and file these with the secretary.
70 the time of the senate would not be
AIKEN UP In listening to them.
Bangs Resumed.
George Bangs in resunaing his ad- /,
lress spoke at length on impeachment 4
harges quoting many authorities. He
Iays in this state the senate is in i
complete control Of what the charges
must be.
cowan's Failure to Testify. I,
The speker scored Judge Cowan I
heavily for his failure to take the !
witness stand under oath ana said he
cared d cross examination.
The contention was made that the
ttorneys for the respondent had erred
n references to women and some Of (
heir remarks should be expunged from I
he record II
Other Incidents. II
The Churchs Ferry incident was dis
ussed and Bangs stated there were
NO separate and distinct events al
shurchs Ferry and certain other people
fere al anxious to conceal what trans
ired as was the accused.
grtaa a. u a A. as4s4 - -