New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-23
RESIGNS;
CASE IS DROPPED
Judge Gives III Health as Cause
of His Retirement
from Bench.
IS PROUD OF HIS RECORD
Had Been Anxious to Resign
Several Weeks-House Will
Take No Further Steps
in the Proceedings.


in the Proceedings.
Seattle, July 0-United States Dis
trict Judge Cornelius II. Hanford, the
first federal judge appointed when Wash
ington was admitted to statehood, twenty
three years ago, sent his resignation TO-
day to President Taft, while the last
witnesses were waiting to testify before
the House Judiciary Committee. which
has been hearing evidence relative to
charges OF misconduct filed against
Judge Hanford.
At the time set for the hearing this
morning a series OF conferences between
the committeeman and Judge Hanfords
attorneys was begun. The proposal that
the Judge resign and the hearing be dis
continued was submitted by Judge Han
ford's attorneys and accepted by the
committee.
Judge Hanford sent his resignation by
telegraph to President Taft at 1879
o'clock. At the same time Chairman
Graham of the subcommittee sent tele-
gram TO Chairman Clayton Of the House
Judiciary Committee. telling him of the
ing the hearings be discontinued.
Then Chairman Graham returned 10 the
courtroom and announced a recess until
message came from Chairman Clayton
directing that the hearings be discon-
tinued.
Was Long Anxious to Resign.
Judge Henfords chief counsel, s. e.
Hughes, said after the resignation that
the Judge has desired to resign for sew
eral weeks. but could not we'll do so with
no evidence heard In the case. The judge
and his friends, according to counsel, are
satisfied with the showing made by him
in the hearing which. they say, did not
sustain the charges
That the Judge was anxious to resign
was kept q secret from all persons In
Washington, and from everybody In Sc
attic except his counsel.
In statement TO the public. issued i'm
mediately after he had resigned, Judge
Hanford said:
The almost constant strain under which
j have worked for more than twenty-five
power OF endurance. I am not likely to
have n vacation OF rest. but A change OF
occupation will bring relief. l intend to
practise law In Seattle.
In the investigation which has been
conducted by subcommittee OF the
House OF Representatives much test-
mony has been offered by witnesses who
know me and by others who do not I
those who have spoken and written I'm
my favor. and as for those who have
maligned me, i only wish 10 say that
| would be ashamed OF myself II had
not incurred the enmity OF such people
az they are.
A Judge In never 20 sure Of being right
as when his work has been criticised un-
fairly Without boasting. IN view OF all
concerning myself and my work am
glad that my record Is what II Is.
Charges Against the Jurist.
Judge Hanford has been much in the
public eye since August .. 1911. when,
after he had issued an Injunction hostile
10 the position OF Seattle citizens IN Il
ave-cent fare hght against q streetcar
company, he was denounced at mass
meeting and resolutions demanding his
impeachment were adopted. While the
meeting was In progress Il crowd outside
hanged IN effgy n stuffed figure labelled
"Hanford" One Of the speakers at the
meeting said that he had seen Judge
Hanford intoxicated In public place.
The speakers at this meeting were
arrested for interfering with an
order Of the court and some OF them
we're kept In prison for several days. II
appeared from the evidence In the hear
Ing that detectives were at once detailed /
to watch Judge Hanford, and that every /
move he made was recorded.
In the spring Of this year. during the !
Industrial Workers OF the World demon
stration IN Western Washington, Judge |
Hanford condemned the carrying OF the |
red flag through tho streets. On May 10
Judge Hanford revoked the citizenship !
papers Of Leonard OLSON, Of Tacoma. a |
member OF the Socialist Labor party and |
Of the Industrial Workers OF the World, |
because OLSON. I'm appearing az witness
for another man seeking citizenship, had |
said In answer 10 a question that he was |
mot devotedly attached" to the Constitu- |
ton.
The national convention OF the Socialist |
party at indianapolis took notice OF Han |
fOrd's decislon and asked Congressman |
Victor Berger TO bring impeachment !
charges against fan1OId. berger lntTO- |
duced the charges on June l6 accusing |
Henford Of rendering corrupt decisions |
and OF being an habltual drunkard.
Dozens OF witnesses testified at the .
hearing that they had seen Judge Han
ford apparently intoxicated In the streets |
and street cars and a few swOre that they |
had seen him apparently intoxicated In J
the court room. Many Of Judge Han !
fords friends testified that his peculiar |
tiles and manner!sms had been mlsunder- |
stood.
Judge Henford is sixty-three years old |
and mas lived on Puget Sound lfty-nino |
years. He was appointed Supreme JUS !
tice OF the territory OF Washington in
1853 and on the admission Of Washington !
to statehood, became district Judge.
Washington, July 22.-Henry ID. Clayton, |
chairman or the House judiciary Com |
mittee. tonight announced that lie con-
sidered unnecessary further impeachment !
proceedings against Federal Judge Han |
ford. OF Warrington who to-day re-
Mr.. Clayton instructed the sub-com- |