Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1912-09-11
CHARGE OF BIAS
IN j. s. N. CASE
Law Provides For Change In
Presiding Magistrate
TO DISQUAL Fly JUDGE PUTNAM

Congressman Norris Made Visit and
Investigation For Information on
United Shoe Secret Session Case
Wants Inquiry Into Distribution of
Shoe Machine stock-Judge Putnam
Says "Does Not Interest Me"
Washington, Sept. 9.-Representa-
tive Norris of Nebraska, upon his re-
turn to the city from trip to New
England, where he looked into the
secret session of the federal court of
Boston, over which Judge Putnam
presided, in the case against the shoe
machinery trust, announced that he
would introduce a resolution when
congress convened, asking for an in
vestigatiOn of the court which had
charge of the case. In connection with
the resolution he said that the house
committee on judiciary would be asked
to look into the distribution OF the
stock of the shoe company with view
to ascertain who held it. He
also said he would introduce a bill
forbidding secrecy in proceedings I'M
der the Sherman act.
The disqualification Of federal
judge on the ground of prejudice, al
though unprecedented, is in accord
ance with a hitherto unused clause IN
the new judicial code of March 80,
| 1911, which provides that by affidavit
! alleging prejudiced rulings of a judge
that judge may be disqualified from
sitting in a particular case.
Discussing the case Representative
! Norris said:
The new code permits an AFFIDAVIT
to be filed for the removal of case
from a prejudiced court. The com
pany filed demurrers to the suits en-
tered by the government. These de
murrers were sustained by Judge Put
nam, excepting one count in each
He openly criticised the President o
the United States and the department
OF Justice for bringing a criminal sui
at the same time civil suit wa
pending. The amount of the preju
dice in tie record is amazing. | d.
not understand how anyone who ha
read the record in this case could es
cape the conclusion that the judge wa
doing his best to protect tb. defend
ant. There are biased re larks dis
tributed all through the record. TIL
opinion also contains taces of tn
same bias"
1t is believed that tine departmer
OF justice will not PRESS the SUI
against the shoe machinery trust unit
the Norris bill to prevent secrec
passes congress.
Representative Norris has left fC
Nebraska to take part in the cam
paign. He will begin his fight for a
investigation OF the Boston court an
the presiding Judge on his return hel
in December.
Portland, Me-, Sept. 81 kno
nothing about it and care nothir
about it; in fact, the matter does NJ
interest me in the least" said Juds
William L. Putnam, when INTERVENE
at his home on State street last ever
ing relative to the proposed move
the department of justice to disquali
him in the shoe machinery case.
Those who know me are araw
that q matter of this kind does n
not intrest me in the slightest"
| Boston, Sept. 9.-United Stat
District Attorney Asa P. French, wi
has had charge of the prosecute
7 here, when shown the report fro
Washington, said:
/ Il have not been advised that t
t department of justice has in immed
ate contemplation any such move
r the report suggests. 1t would
highly improper for me to discuss t
situation in an interview Congress
men may say many things viii
IInitod States ATTORNEYS cannot saw