The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-09-20
SUllER'S TRIAL BEGINS.
GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK WILD
APPEAR BEFORE HIGH
COURT OF M
PARCHMENT.
Executive Said to Be in Good Spir-
Its and Confident of Verdict i'm His
FavOr-ThOught That Trial Will
Advance Rapidly Through Prelim-
mary Stages.

Albany, n. Y, Sept. 1.-THE stage
is set for the opening at noon tomor-
row of the trial Of the impeachment
of William Sulzer, governor of New
York, before the first high court of
impeachment ever convened in this
State, to pass upon charges filed
against her chief executive.
While Gov. Sulzer conferred tonight
with his counsel, members of the as
sembly board of managers, who will
| act as prosecutors, discussed with
| their legal assistants methods OF
| procedure on the morrow. Members
OF the court of appeals and the sena-
| tors who Jointly compose the high
| court. also mapped out their plan Of
action.
Friends of the impeached executive
repeated their assertions that he is in
| good spirits, confident of a verdict
| that will clear his name of the stigma
cast upon it by the adoption of the
| articles of impeachment They were
no less certain that he had not
thought Of resigning and thus escap-
ing the ordeal Of what promises to be
, lengthy trial. On the other hand,
his opponents were free in expressing
the opinion that after the legal pre-
liminaries had been swept away and
the taking of testimony had begun
the governor would surrender his
office rather than face cross-examina-
ton.
From the governors camp came no
intimation of his defense.
There were only surmises. These i'm
effect were that his counsel first
would attack the validity of the i'm
peachment on the ground that the as
sembly had no authority to adopt the
articles while in extraordinary session
and that efforts would be made to
prevent senators who served on the
Frawley committee and those who
may be called on to testify from
sitting as judges.
If the preliminary objections are
overruled-and it is the general opin-
ion tonight that they will bet is un-
derstood that the governor will base
his defense on the claim that whatever
he may have done prior to his in
auguration last January mono Of his
acts while executive constitute a high
crime or a rnisdemeanor.
The belief that the preliminary
legal technicalities will be- quickly
disposed of is strengthened by the as
sertion tonight of Chief Judge Edgar
NJ. Cullen of the court Of appeals, who
will preside over the deliberations Of
the high court.
81 anticipate no delay either in the
opening or the course of the trial.
he declared. II expect we shall be
able to decide the preliminary legal
question that may be raised within
a few hours and proceed with the
taking Of testimony possibly on Fri
day morning"
The procedure to be followed, or
der of voting and other details, judge
Cullen said, probably would be de-
cided by committee composed both
of judges of the court and senator's.
All important development today was
the announcement by Chairman Levy
of the assembly managers that John
b. Stanchfield had been added to the
prosecutors legal battery.
According to present plans, as soon
as the senate has formally convened
tomorrow committee will notify the
judges that the senate is ready to take
up the business Of the court and the
judges will then go to the senate
chamber. Chief Judge Cullen will pre-
side. The board of managers Of the
assembly will then appear and pre-
sent the articles of impeachment.
At this point Gov. Sulzer will be
called to present his answer. This will
be presented by his lawyers. although
the disputed points will be raised by
his counsel.