Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-07-26
JUDGE HANFoRo QUITS THE
JOB AND CASE ENDS
Chairman Of House investigating
Says Main Object Has Been
Accomplished

claTy Committee, last night announc
ed that he considered unnecessary fur
Their impeachment proceedings against
Federal Judge Cornelius II, Hauford,
CT Washington, who yesterday resign.
ed.
In a lengthy statement Chairman
Clayton declared that while Congress
had the power 10 try a Federal official
for impeachment after he had resign
ed. he did not believe that course nee.
essary in this case.
Chairman Clayton instructed the
subcommittee. now in Seattle taking
testimony in the Hanford case, to dis.
continue its work
Graham Notifies Him
He received the following message
from Representative Graham, chair
man of the subcommittee;
Judge Hanford has just forwarded
his resignation to the Attorney.Gener-
al We are not quite done taking ties.
timony, but nearly so. The subcom.
mittee unanimously favors to discon-
tinue the taking of further testimony
In his statement Chairman Clayton
cited the precedent of the case of Sec
rotary Of War Belknap, who was inn
peached and tried by the Senate af
ter his resignation had been accepted
by President Grant. The articles Of
Impeachment against Belknap failed
to receive the necessary two.thirds
vote in the Senate.
In conclusion Mr. Clayton said:
"Main Object Accomplished"
THE main object of Impeachment
being to get rid of an unfaithful off,
GER, having been accomplished in this
case by the resignation of Judge Han
ford, if it is true that he was unfaitt.
ful. there seems to be no necessity for
impeaehing him In order tc disqualify
him from hereafter holding any Office
of honor or profit under the United
States.
81 take ii that no President will ev.
er appoint him and no constituency
would ever elect him to any office Of
honor or profit. OF course. there will
,e no formal action on the part of rhe
committee on the Judiciary until a
report is made by the subcommittee
which ! appointed to investigate the
alleged misconduct OF Judge Hanford
Berger To Drop II
Word of the resignation of Judge
Hanford was received here with sur
prise.
n an N a i've nnronr the Gzpfa1tat
member from Wisconsin, who intro
dueed the resolution that began the
i'm parchment inquiry of Judge Han
ford's conduct, announced he would
drop the matter.
ut closes the case so far as | am
| concerned" he said. II take Judge
Hanford's resignation as an admission
of guilt. 1t cannot be construed 9TH
erwise. | was fighting corruption on
the bench generally-not Hanford per
sonaly. ! never knew the man"
Received At White House
Judge Hanford's resignation was re
ceiyed at the White House late yes
terday as President Taft was start
ing for the golf links. 1t read as fol
lows.
81 hereby resign my office as Unit
ed States Federal Judge. Letter will
confirm"
President Taft will take no action
until the letter reaches Washington.
Frequent conferences between The
President, Senator Jones and Repre-
sentative HumDhrey of Washinetnr,
in the last few weeks caused report
today that Mr.. Humphrey might be
considered for Judge Hanfords place.
Mr.. Humphreys friends urged his ap-
pointment to the Federal bench sever
al months ago, but another man took
the place.
Statement To Public
Judge Hanfords statement to the
nuhlip follows.