Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-09-20
PRESS AGENT FOR SULzER IS
THROWN INTO THE PEN|TENT|ARY
Held in Contempt Of Legislature for Refusal to Answer
Questions Touching Statements Alleged to
Have Been Made by Himself K;
IMPEACHMENT COURT CONVENES AND
EFFECTS A PERMANENT ORGANIZATION
Senators Whose Right to Sit Bench Was Contested
Are Upheld Despite Objections Raised by
the Lawyers Of the Defense

Albany, N, Y, Sept. 19.-Gov. Sui
ser's personal. friend and special graf'
Investigator, James E. Garrison, siep'
last night in cell Of the Albany coun
ty penitentiary. He was remanded 70
that institution by the sergeant-at
arms OF the state assembly for refus'
ing to answer question: put to him py
tie speaker following arrest on a
charge OF contempt. The charge grew
out Of his alleged statement several
weeks ago, that four Legislators sold
their votes on the resolution impeacn'
ing Gov. Sulzer.
Plans by the Sulzer faction are 10
cl,tain writ of habeas corpus from
the supreme court for the release OF
Garrison. Majority Leader Levy said
this morning, however, that such &C
ton would be impossible as the assem-
bly had "plenary powers to punish Tor
contempt, The appellate court so
held, in a similar case several years
ago.
II the courts should hold this view,
Garrison might be kept in prison until
next January, when new legislature
conyenes. The alleged offense Is un-
bailable, it is said.
The arrest Of Garrison came as a
climax to a weary evening spent oy
the assembly In an attempt TO rouno
IN, the seventy.six votes necessary 70
pnss additional articles of lmpeach-
nent, against Gov. Snlzer. the Doay
sanally adjourned ats 4: $3.50, CLOCK aileI
ansimpaBsfunedsse1 e1ieees from Malofity
Leader Levy for q better attendance
wheh the assembly convened at noon
today. kilograms were rushed y to 9
pnti-Sulzer asseimblymen} who are OUT
pf the city. urging them to'return mere
Immediately. Tammany lieutenants
were sordered not to permit single
man already in Albany to leave. the
asgemtlymen are therefore virtually
prisoners in the city.
Action Comes 40 Surprise.
Garrison's arrest was almost as
great a surprise to many members OF
ihe legislature as 1t was to him.
Threats were made several weeks ago
Io arrest him, but nothing ever was
ione and he made no attempt to evade
service. He has been around Albany
continuously since the Impeachment
,,roceedings began and a few minutes
before his detention last night was
strolling about the halls Of the capitol.
Then out Of curiosity to see what
Athe assembly was doing he strolled
nto the chamber. The doors swung
award easily for him, but when he at
empted to depart he found himself
blocked by the tsergeant-at-arms While
Majority Leader Levy was presenting
resolution calling for the arrest OF
Garrison, he was held a prisoner IN
cloak room.
when called before the speaker.
(,arrison was without counsel and ne
refused to answer questions put TO
him. Again Levy took the initiative
and presented resolution remandlng
the prisoner to the penitentiary until
the close Of the session, unless other
wise ordered by the assembly. The
vote for the resolution was 80 to 3.
showr, No Favors.
A short time later Garrison was be-
ing rushed to the penitentiary. A
message from the institution today
said that. the prisoner was being
shown no special favors and that the
prison authorities had no order other
than to hold him as an ordinary pris-
pner.
Levy was obviously pleased by the
turn OF Affairs in the Garrison case and
he declared that unless Garrison
purged himself Of contempt he would
have to remain in Jail until January.
"The assembly has splenary powers to
punish for contempt" he declared;
Garrison also must 60 back to jail
nending the court g decision on his ap-
plication for writ. He cannot be re-
leased on bail.
Garrison incurred the enemity OF
Suffers political, opponents by his .ac-
tivities during pending impeachment
proceedings. He was called the gov
srnor's press agent by many.