The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-09-24
.SULzER ABSENT FROM COURT
DEFENCE LAWYERS CHALLENGE
BODY'S JURISDICTION,

Judge and impeachment Tribunal
Proceeds to Organize - Especial
Appearance" Entered i'm Accused
Executives Bchalf-Rules of Pro-
ccdlirc Formulated - SOIcmnity
Marks PrOccedings-Great Crowd
ClamOr for AdmissiOn-BOth Sides
to Call Many Witnesses.
Albany, y. Y, September 1S.-Wil-
liam Sulzer, Governor of New York,
charged by the Assembly with high
crimes and misdemeanors, failed to
appear in person to day before the
high Court Of Impeachment, when it
convened TO begin the trial which will
determine his guilt or innocence. In
stead, his attorneys entered special
appearance" in the Governors behalf,
and challenged the organization of the
Court and it's jurisdiction.
The objections Of counsel were
swept aside temporarily by Chief JUS
tice Edgar NJ. Cullen, of the Court oil
Appeals, presiding, and the impeach-
ment tribunal proceeded to organize.
The court convened at noon and
adjourned an hour later, until tOmor-
row, to appoint a committee Of three
to prepare and report rules of proceed
ure.
The first challenge came when Sem
ator James j. Fawley was called IN .
on to take the oath. Senator Frawey
is chairman of the Legislative com
mittee that furnished the evidence on
which the Assembly board Of mana
gers filed the charges against the ex-
ecutive.
The defense contends that the
members Of the Frawley committee
having uncovered the evidence against
the Governor, should not be permitted
to assume the dual role of prosecutor
and Judge.
The Impeachment Court as consti-
tuted today numbered 81, of which
4S are Senators and Judges of the
Court Of Appeals. A two-thirds ma
jority Of the Court is required by the
constitution to convict.
Scores Of witnesses are under
subpoena to testify. At least fifty will
be called to establish the case of the
prosecution, the managers assert. 1t
is believed that many will be called
by the defense. Whether Governor
Sulzer would be put on the stand in
his own defense and whether his wife.
who is reported to be able to explain
many of the Governors questioned
stock transactions in Wall Street, will
be called, were secrets the Governor $
counsel tonight refused to divulge
Lewis a. Sacrecky, secretary to rIr.
Sulzer during the Gubernatorial cam
paign, wanted as one Of the star wit
nesses for the prosecution, is missing
The proceedings today were con-
Quoted with great solemnity Each
Senator, as he took the oath standing.
seemed to realize the unusual signifi-
canoe of the occasion.
The remarks of counsel were couch
ed in formal terms. Imbued by the
solemnity of the scene, spectators in
the galleries watched the PROCEEDINGS
in silence at no time disturbed. The
scene in the police-patrolled corridors
outside was in marked contrast Hun.
dreds clamored, threatened and
pleaded for an opportunity to eaten
glimpse of the tribunal.
The Governor did not go to the
Capitol, but remained in the "People's
House." closely in touC 4 with pro-
ceedings During the afternoon, in
spite of the urging Of his wife, he
declined TO take his customary auto
mobile ride, a recreation he has en-
joyed regularly for the past few days
Conferences with counsel were held
in the morning, afternoon and even
ing. BY all who saw him, the irn-
peached Executive was reported in
good health and spirits.