The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1912-07-06
MAJORITY OF SUB. COMMITTEE
SAYS EVIDENCE is BEING
SUPPRESSED. !.
SEATTLE PEOPLE AFRAID
Representatives Graham and Mccoy
Take Issue With Representative
Igrored-One Witness Says Jurist
Was Seen Drunk Four Times.

Was Seen Drunk Four Times.
Seattle, July 5.--Thc majority " the
house Judiciary sub committee Repro
scntatvcs James NJ. Graham of Illinois
and Walter l. Mccoy OF New jersey
came into open conflict today WITH the
minority member Representative Ed
Min NJ Higgins of Conuccticut-ovcr
the manner Of conducting the inquiry
into the conduct of United States Judge
c. u. Hanford Mccoy told OF
rumors that evidence was being sup
pressed aud witnesses intimidatcd
Chairman Graham announced that the
committee was seeking discriminating
evidence
The disagreement has been noted
from tho opening day, hut Chairman
Graham referred today to himself and
Md as the ma iority and took oc-
casion to state vigorously that the
majority would rule
Drunk Four Times.
Charles T. Peterson, "a timber and
coal land dealer was called 10 the
stand aud testified that he had seen
Judge iIanford under the influence Of
liquor OH four occasions within the
last eight months.
Hanford's counsel cross examined
the witness concerning his motive In
appearing and Representative Mccoy
asked leave TO state that witness APP
| poarcd ny u result of conference
with him tMdroy) and Chairman Gra-
ham. Representative Higgins wished
| II To bc noted that he was not party
| To the conference and spoke with
anger Mr. Mccoy explained that
Higgins WAS In Tacoma. else he should
have been consulted, In answer To
McCoys questions. Peterson described
tnc conference. which was unsolicited
by him. Peterson said he had begged
tina, he be not brought into tho case:
that there were business men who
could give better testimony than he.
Would Hurt His Business.
! Mr. Mccoy asked. Didn't you tell
Mr.. Graham and me that you wero
afraid on account OF your business IL
YOU came 10 tcstify?'
Witness, Il told you It would af-
feet my business. probably"
Didn't / tell you II was n matter
of duty to como here and tcstify?"
You did.
Telling you we had heard rumors
since we came to the city OF all kinds
aud descriptions of Judge Hanford?"
Yes"
| And that we felt II was duo to
him aud the community to know what
the truth WAS. and that he should ba
cxonerated If the charges were not
true and should be impeachcd II they
were truo?"
Yes"
"DIdn't | tell you that II had como
to our attention that II committee of
merchants and credit mems associa-
tion had undertaken to give us some
, evidence In this matter and that
man named Goldsmith had had an in
torviow with them and that they had
refused to go anead with it?"
, Yes"
o And | told you that the lawyers
T Of the city were apparently afraid to
O go ahead and say anything?'
You did"
q And that | thought there ougnt to
= be some people In Seattle. IL the iacts
A were as rumorod. who should have tho
II courage tn come forward to testify.
q and urged you to do 1t on tnat
o ground. didn't ~
% Here Mr. Higgins made n statement
h for the record that he was not pres
cnt when this conversation occurred.
II Chairman Graham requested the
e newspapers to print the committees
= request that anyone having material
!. evidence should present II so that
= when the committee left Seattle 1t
% could not be said an opportunity mad
e not been given for such testimony.
n Mr. Higgins protested against tho
l. issuance Of this invitation. Chair
IF man Graham depIored the public dis
~ agreement Of the committee. saying
% that discussions should be made In
n executive session. Counsel Hughes.
'e for Judge iIanford, protested against
"a Mccoy's questions remaining III the
~ record saying that they were re-
y Election on the people of Seattle. Mr..
Graham. after referring to tne diff
Guilty of obtaining evidence, said that
the inquiry had been misunderstood.
e The subcommittee had come to seek
!. discriminating evidence and II enough
g of such evidence were found to recon-
g mend impeachment of Judge Hanford
q En- supreme Justice Theodore stiles
t. of Tacoma j. b. Bridges or Tacoma,
s and G. w Howard of Belllngham, eN-
). presidents of the state bar association
and 5, M. Bruce, an attorney OF
ie Bellingham. testified strongly In favor
g. Of Judge Hanford, saying they had
y never seen MIN apparently intoxicated
i'm and never had seen him inQttentkVc In