The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-02-23

hearing of the enquiry into the sanity
of William G. Cody upon petition
signed by three citizens of Watertown,
alleging that he was not sane. ilad Deeh
adjourned, the hearing was held at the
court room in the court house in the
city Of Jefferson at 80 p. m, Judge Il.
B. Kirkland, county judge, presiding.
Four witnesses wese sworn upon the
part of the petitioners, viz: DR.. A. Ii.
Hartwig, c. A. Vaughan, DR.. +. c. Wer-
ner and G. A. Kading. The witnesses
were examined by Attorney Hannah OF
Milwaukee, who appeared for Cody and
by the Judge as is the rule in such cases.
The petitioners having no other testi-
mony to introduce, the judge informed
Mr.. Cody that it would not be necessary
for him to offer any evidence in his own
behalf, for no evidence had been offered
showing that he was not sane. The petit
tion signed by 145 of our professional aud
business men asking the mayor to ap-
point Mr. Cody justice of the peace and
the appointment by the mayor was in
troduced as evidence which the judge
read and then made the following re-
marks:
After hearing the testimony and re-
ceiving the report of the examining ply
sicians, Drs. O. I'll. Caswell and +. j.
Gibson, declaring Mr.. Cody sane, the
cedrt said:
81 nave received the report Of the ex-
amining physicians; | have heard the
testimony; the c0mplaiDants say they
have no further testimony to offer. Ii
therefore devolves upon me now to pass
npon lie Case aud i shall do my duty
in that regard as [ understand it, and
that without fear or favor. An officer
who lives up to his oath of office has
nothing to fear No one has right to
criticize an officer for doing his sworn
duty. An officer who fails to do his
sworn duty is subject to severe criticism
IL matters not whether it be in cases
arising from excise laws, or any other
case, an officer of the law must do his
duty. Personally have no fight against
the liquor interests; never was be-
lever in prohibition; never expect tc
be- Let me say this, however, tnat ii
would be far better if the people who
are engaged in the sale of intoxicating
liquors-it would be far better, [ say
for them and it would be to the creail
of the community in which they live il
they would live up to the law as it is
written. This hue and cry about Blue
Laws and personal liberty does not ap
peal to the lawabiding citizen. Tht
legislature of this state has seen fit, IL
its wisdom, to place these laws upon th'
statute book The Legislature, then, il
the place 10 go if you want relies from
the law. The Courts are bound by thei
oath Of office to see that the law is Ell
forced. Relief from existing law can
not be obtained by open defiance of it
1t has seemed peculiar to me that TIT
agitation TO close saloons in the city o
Watertown on the Sabbath day and thi
prOct ling to inquire into the menta
condition of Mr. Cody should botl
[ criticize no one, but to the mind of TIL
Court it is peculiar state of affairs
very peculiar. My friend, DR.. Hartwi.
testifes that as far back as last Navem
to this Court, which never was pre-
sented, to inquire into the mental con
dition of Mr.. Cody; it is remarkable tha
at that at the very same time, the cili
zeus of Watertown very genera ly ha
pnt their names TO petition asking fo
the appointment of Mr.. Cody TO a judi
cial position, thereby testifylng to tn
mental capacity of the man that DIR
Hartwig claims has been Insane fo
for nearly forty years. Upon that pt
tition find the names of professions
men doctors and lawyers and eve
priests of the church. | find upon tina
petition the name of your present woI
thy postmaster. In looking it over
find the name of my old friend, Senate
Voss. | also find the name of Hugo Jt
cobl and many others with whom | hav
an intimate acquaintance. Can it
possible that these gentlemen signed
petition asking for the elevation of Nj
Cody to a Judicial office and at the sam
time knew, or had reason to believ
that he was insane? | cannot beiiey
such to be the case. The Mayor al
pointed Mr.. Cody TO the position, and
do not blame lhe mayor He was just
fed in so doing. He could not, in ju
tice to himself. refuse to grant tt
prayer of such petition as is now b.
fore me. The application for the il
quiry into the mental condition of M
Cody, then in the possession of DR.. Har
wig last November, he says was destro
ed and nothing further was done in tn;
regard until the breaking out of the ag
tatiOn to the closing of the saloons