The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-04-27


all of night prior to election.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
ON THE NEWSPAPERS
Bismarck, N. D., April 27-Several
facts in connection with the 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 the court of impeachment
held last evening and lasting we'll on
towards 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:
That published statement reflect
ing upon the creditability and in
tegrity of Senator 'Gibbens was bas-
ed upon the report made to ]. H.
Bloom, editor of the Devils Lake Jour-
nal. by an 18-year old reporter who
received such information from his
uncle, former Senator Jack Kelly of
Towner county, and twice a witness
for the prosecution in the impeach-
ment proceedings.
That the charges or belief that a
combination exists in the senate to
acquit Cowan regardless of the evil
dence rests upon the statement made
while the house was considering the
impeachment by Senator LaMoure to
the effect that Cowan would not be
convicted in the house; upon a con-
versation between Dan, Brennan and
Senator l.: A. Simpson in which Simp-
son Is purported to have said at the
conclusion Of the introduction of
prosecution evidence that If he was
handling the defense that he would
not introduce any evidence but move
to dismiss: upon the report made by
c. H. Baker, of Devils Lake, broth
er of Senator Fred Baker of Ramsey
county that there were between nine
teen and twenty-four senators who
would vote. to acQuit; upon, the gen.
eral conversation and hearsay and up
on the manner in which certain sena-
tors have voted from time to time dur
ing the progress of the trial.
This special session of the court
gave an opportunity for those making
the charges of combinations to lay be-
fore the body such evidence as they
might possess tending to prove or
substantiate their declarations, Fred
p. Mann and Dan v. Brennan of Devils
Lake, both of whom have given in
terviews to a Devils Lake newspaper
in which they charged that such pact
did exist, both being on, the stand be-
fore the senate lasf night. The fact
that the senate adjourned without TAX
ing action 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. 1t was
at an executive session of the court
held after the regular days session
that the question of investigating the
charges that had been made arose and
thirty-four senators voted at that time
to hold an evening session.
At the afternoons executive session
another effort was made to increase
the salary of E. R. Sinkler, assistant
counsel for the prosecution, but it
J. H. Bloom, the first witness called
before the court at the evening ses-
sion, manager and editor of the Devils
Lake Journal, refused to answer the
questions propounded by Senator
Simpson, appointed as interrogation
for the court, together with Senator
Bessessen, as to the place Of his for
mer residence any further back than
when he lived in South Dakota, the
witness stating that he regarded it as
impertinent.
He admitted writing an article pub
lished in the Devils Lake Journal of
April "a headed Senate fixed to give
Cowan whitewash," which article was
read before the senate, being, in sub
stance, that there was a pact in the
senate that would prevent conviction,
that at least two high state officials
had interferred or brought influence
to bear in the case, and that Senator
Gibbons had been 'bluffed into remain
ing away from. the. trial and that he
had already made up, his, mind which
way he would vote. -
Editor Bloom declared that the in
formation with reference. to Sena-
tor Glbbens,. was brought him by his
reporter. aged Is, with between three
and six months experience in news
paper business and that it had been
told to this reported by former Sena-
tor Jack Kelly Of Towner county.
Further than that Bloom said he
made no Investigation but published
the report rejecting upon Gibbons.
With relation to the charge. of the
senate being fixed, he said c., H. Ba-
ker of Devils Lake, q brother. of Sen