Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-04-19
Mrs. Jean M'NaughtOn Stevens
on the Stand
TeStifieS as to Incident Of
SlavenS Trial
Declares PosItiveIy y Judge vas
Not Asleep

No more convincing evidence. eth.
er for the prosecution or defense, has
been laid before the court of impeach.
ment before which Judge John F.
Cowan stands as respondent, than that
given this morning when Mrs. Jean
McNaughton Stevens of Towner. sup.
erintendent of penal and reformatory
work in the North Dakota Woman's
Christian Temperance Union, appear.
ed for the defense. She denied any
intoxication upon the part of Judge
Cowan during any portion of the trial
of the Slavens case in Rugby during
January, 1910, through which she re-
mained in the courtroom the entire
time as the companion and friend of
the young lady upon whom Slavens
was accused of assault.
To n Ip the FriendIess Girl.
I was there just to help the girl,'
said Mrs. Stevens on the stand, there
was no other woman TO go into court
with her."
And she had only known the girl a
week or two before the trial COM
menced.
Each day she had shook hands with
Judge Cowan. On the first day that
she was in court. the afternoon of
January 26, short recess in the pro-
ceedings was called a few moments
after she had arrived, and Judge Cow
an then descended from the bench and
greeted her, talking to her several
minutes.
Demeanor Fine.
,h
sponded to a question as to whether
or not there was anything during the
entire trial of the case to indicate that
Judge Cowan was intoxicated. He
was sober throughout the hearing of
the case, and at no time was there any
indication of any drunkenness.
Judge Not Asleep.
Mrs. Stevens was informed that 1t
had been testified in the case for the
prosecution that Judge CoWan had
gone to sleep on the bench, and asked
whether or not such was the fact, re-
piled that Judge Cowan at times closed
was made at any point in the proceed
ings, his rulings were prompt and de-
cisive. Asked whether at any time
sha saw Judge Cowan when was ac-
tually asleep during the trial, she re-
piled, with smile, II think not"
No Cross Examination.
There was no cross examination and
Mrs. Stevens was Immediately ex-
cused.
Explaining her acquaintance with
Judge Cowan, she stated that it dated
from an occasion in 1894 in Towner
when there was an attempted lynching
and when Judge Cowan came to the
rescue of an accused negro and served
through the trial of the case without
)ay.
Mrs. Stevens is president of the ru-
al department of the North Dakota:
association, former grand
chaplain of the North Dakota Grand
lodge of Eastern Star, former super
ntendent of schools in McHenry coun-
y, and is even now engaged in teach
ng in Towner.
Judge Burr Recalled.
Just previous to the calling Of Mrs.
stevens to the stand, Judge A. G. Burr
# the Ninth Judicial District was call
d, and gave evidence with reference
o the time of calling the Slavens
rial. This testimony was in the ma
ure of a correction to that given prev
ously by him.
The jury in the Sl..vens case had
een called to report at o'clock the
fternoon OF January Is, the trial
the following morning at
bout 1920 o'clock. with Judge Cow.
n presiding and with all work being
one on time. He had previously tes-
flied that the jury had been called
Or January "a, but as matter of
act he, Judge Burr, was in Towner
hen and did not reach Rugby till noon
f January 25.
Late Tuesday Afternoon.
Late Tuesday afternoon A. E.
heets of Lakota, was recalled to
le stand and testified with reference
, decision in a delayed case. 1t
as that of Departs vs. Sheets in
hich Scott Rex of Grand Forks rep
esented the defendant Mr.. Sheets
ife. He also acted in the case, but
as not an attorney Of record. He
eclared that so Tar as he knew there
ever had been any findings sub0itt.
to Judge COwan, and in cross ex.
mination was shown letter relating
} those findings submitted by Scott
ex, but of which he said he was not
ware
In Minot stoekyards Again.
W. J. Carroll testified with refer.