Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-18
Impeached Governor De-
cides to Appear Solely
Through Counsel.
COURT IS ORGANIZED
FraWIey and Others Are Per-
mitted by Presiding Judge :.
to sit as Members. -

Albany, N. ", Sept. 1s.-The high
court for the trial of the impeachment
of William SuIzer, governor Of New
York, held its first session today. Or.
ganizatlon was perfected and adjourn
ment taken until tomorrow morning
in order to permit drafting of rules and
methods of procedure to be followed
by the remainder of the trial.
Albany, n. Y, Sept. 1S-The case of
William Sulzer, the first governor of
New York to be impeached, was called
for trial today at the bar of the court
of impeachment of the senate and
judges of the court of appeals for al
legged high crimes and misdemean-
ors."
Whether Sulzer will appear in per-
son and plead guilty or not guilty, or
be represented solely by council, as
! did President Andrew Johnson, before
the United States senate, will not be
known until the preliminaries of the
organization are disposed of and the
| court has passed on several objections
which the governors counsel have
raised attacking the validity Of the
| impeachment.
| Although noon was the appointed hour
for convening the court, several thou
sand persons thronged the capitol
building and grounds before o'clock,
all hoping to gain admittance to the
senate chamber, the scene of the trial.
! While there was no indication any
testimony would be taken today the
crowds were eager to witness the SOL
emn opening ceremonies of the court
Owing to the small seating capacity
of the senate galleries, most of the
would-be spectators were doomed to
disappointment. Forstalling the possi-
bility of any attempt to rush the cham
ber, the senate sergeant-at-arms staff
was reinforced by platoon of city
police Six attorneys, including Alton
B. Parker John B. Stanchfield and
Edgar T. Bracket, represented the as
sembly board of managers, while an
equal number, headed by D. Cady Her
rick, defended Sulzer.
ARE EIGHT ARTICLES.
The charges against Sulzer are set
forth in eight articles of impeachment
by the assembly and embrace In their
substance the findings of the Frawleyl
committee of the legislature which be-
gan last July a public investigation of
Sulzers campaign contributions and
political activities. This committee
created by the democratic majority of
both houses. was charged by the gov
ernor with being inspired by Tammany
hall to attack him because of his re-
fusal to bow to the will of Charles F.
Murphy. 1t began its investigation
shortly after Investigations ordered by
the governor into various statements
were under way.
Acting Lieutenant Governor Wagner
called the senate to order as members
of the court of impeachment at 1855.
At the same time counsel for both
sides took their seats at opposite ta-
bles in a semi-circular space between
the desk and senator's chairs. Chief
Justice Cullen of the court of appeals
> presided Under the constitution, Sui
zer may be removed from office.
SulSer may be removed from Office
and disqualified from holding any other
If found guilty. This is the extreme
: penalty and court may fix lighter
penalty if it so chooses. He must be
A convicted by a two-thirds vote of the
: members present. All but one of 40
senators answered to their names
when the roll was called. The absentee
4 was Fitzgerald, who is ILL.,
ALL ARE SWORN.
The right of Senator Frawley, chair.
man Of the committee which brought
out the evidence against Sulser, and
other senators on the committee to SIT
as members of the court was chal
> lenged by the defense, but they were
!, permitted to take the oath of Office
The court was in session an hour be
fore the last member took the oath
The clerk then called the name O
Sulzer, but he did not answer.
Judge Herrick, his counsel, announced
SulGer desired to appear through
J counsel. This was granted by the pre-
4 siding Judge. who then appointed (
y committee of three TO draw up rule
and methods Of procedure. The cour
n on motion of Senator Wagner, ther
n adjourned until 10 O'Clock tomorrow
e morning.