The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-10
HE FLAYS SULzER
Judge Alton b. Parker Bitterly
Attacks tho Governor
In a Speech at Close of I'm
parchment Trial.
FINDS HIM GUILTY AS CHARGED
Condemned by His Own De-
Tense and Public Opinion.
Stands Naked Without Even
Shelter of Petticoat.

Albany Oct. 10.-Never since the i'm
parchment trial of Governor Sulzer
opened has he been subjected to such a
severe verbal flaying as Judge Alton
B. Parker delivered for the board of
managers today. The castfgatfon
came before the court had scarcely
settled down to work, the judge merely
taking a few minutes Of the morning
session before giving way to Judge D.
Cady Herrick for the defense.
Before this bar, the defendant
stands guilty of these offenses. charged
by the Impeachment and proved by un-
controverted evidence" Judge Parker
said Before the bar of the court of
public opinion this defendant stands
condemned on the further damning
testimony of his shifty defenses and
his futile efforts to dodge by techni-
calities the trial of the issues before
this high court. In these actions, pub
lie opinion with a freedom not commit
ted to judicial opinion, finds direct ev-
idence of guilt. That same public
opinion takes cognizance of the fact
that the defendant is suffering from
such a severe attack of moral near
sightedness that even when directed
by a myriad of scornful fingers, he can
not discern the criminal and dishonor-
able nature of the facts proved.
Even justice must see through its
severe eye something of the pathetic
in this defendants frantic efforts to
cover the nakeQneSS OF MS wrong DO
ing. Defiance, defense, justification,
prevarication, denunciation of his ac-
cusers, attempts to suppress and falls
ify testimony and efforts to cast the
blame elsewhere-each in turn has
been stripped from his quaking flesh,
until he stands now naked before this
court without a rag of his attempted
vindication clinging to his deformed
and mutilated manhood.
Stripped of Every Disguise.
Every disguise has been torn from
his back, from the petticoat to which
he turned for safety, to the armor of
defiance in which he threatened to at
tack and expose a political leadership
to which we have found him suing
for a mercifu1 obliteration of his mis-
deeds and offering the bride of sub
mission.
mo act Of his shows more perfectly
the complete baseness of his charac-
ter, uniting him utterly for any pub
lie or private trust, than does his eff
fort to coerce the members of this
court through channels which his
warped intellect mistakingly instruct
ed him, held the power of coercion.
Regardless of the origin of these
charges, regardless of any personal in
Fiction of discomfort, this defendant
has been guilty of misconduct SO
gross as to necessitate his removal for
the honor, peace, prosperity and good
government of this community.
with this court alone rests the
duty of delivering this state from the
menace that hangs above it so long as
this man remains in the executive
chair, and to this court we shall COM
NIT the decision of the case against
William Sulzer securely confident that
the honor, safety and welfare Of this
Empire state are assured of the pro-
lection contemplated by the constitu-
ton in the creation of this high court"
Bracket Closes Case.
State Senator Edgar T. Bracket
closed the case for the board of i'm
speech. In the course of it he asserted
that former State Senator Stephen J.
Stilwell, who is now serving a term in
Sing Sing prison, as barterer of his
legislative vote and influence, might
have sat at the feet of Governor Sui
ger and learned crime"
"And this is the Pharisee," he said,
"who demanded that Stilwell resign
Stilwell, who, if all charges against
him were true, and more, could still
have sat at the feet of this man and
learned crime, even as Saul sat at the
feet of Gama1iel and learned all the
wisdom of the ancient Jews
From the beginning of the impeach-
ment proceedings Mr.. Bracket declar-
ed there had been a persistent and
studied attempt to terrorize the mem
bers of the impeachment court and ev-
cry person associated with the prosecu-
ton. Every means known to the
demagogue has been attempted to ac-
complish it, he said.
Political extinction has been threat
ened to those bold enough to urge that
it might be well to have an orderly in
vestigation of the matters charged
against this man. Counsel have been
warned that their appearance for the
people here would result in savage at
tacks upon them. We have witnessed
the indecency-for I think it can be
called nothing 1ess-of public meetings
called to overawe your judgment and
to give you instructions how to decide
this case before a single word of the
sworn testimony had been given tc
you"
Discusses the Evidence.
Mr.. Bracket launched into discus
sion of the evidence supporting the &C
cusations in the fourth of the articles
of impeachment. charging that Covert
nor Sulzer sought to prevent testimony
before the F'rawley committee. The
attorney held that the article was broad
enough to include the alleged attempt
of the governor to dissuade Henry
Morganthau from testifying in regard
to his $1,000 campaign contribution
1.-The dominating character of the de-
PENDANT request is apparent at a.
glance" continued Mr.. Bracket. He
wanted Mr. Morganthau to perjure
himself to save him, the defendant
from the result of his previous crime in
not reporting the Morganthau contri-
button made to him during the cam
paign.
do criminals find it necessary to
solicit witnesses to tell the truth? It
is not presumed that they will do SO.
It was not the truth he was seeking
to have adduced.
The alleged request of the governor