The Johnson City comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1916-1917, 1916-03-30
IMPEACHMENT
RECOMMENDED
HOUSE ADOPTS REPORT IS
TO ESTES E5 TO | ND
UNANIMOUSLY IS 70
JUDGE EDGINeTgh.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, March a.
The committee of the house Of rep
resentatives which has been investi-
eating charges against Judge Jesse
Edgington, of Division No. 1, Shelby
county criminal court, and z. N.
Estes, attorney-general of Shelby
county, today recommended the Inn
parchment of both. The house adopt
ed the report as to Judge Edgington
by q vote of Sc to 0, and as to Attor-
ney-General Estes by IS to /.
Impeachment Court to Meet Next.
Monday.
Nashville, March 29.-The Estes
and Edgington investigating commit
tees reported to the house at noon
that they had found the charges
against both Estes and Edgingto
substantiated by the evidence. and
that a prima facie case for impeach-
ment had been made out against both
officials. 1t was recommended that
the officials be impeached, and two
committees of managers be selected
to prosecute the cases before the SEN
ate.
The house adopted the Edgington
report and recommendation by vote
of Sc to nothing, and the Estes re-
port and recommendations by vote
of SIS to nothing.
Mr.. Strauss, Of Shelby, voted
against adopting the Estes report.
The reports were signed by all the
members of the committee except Mr..
West, who, being absent, did not sign
the Estes report.
The house met at 1880 D. m, to
elect the managers.
Text Of Edginston Report. Gee.
The following is the full report In
the Edgington case. 1t being exactly
the same as the, Estes report except
as to the name and title of the de-
PENDANT.
"Mr. Speaker: Your committee APP
pointed to take evidence as per rec
ommendation under house resolution
No. for the purpose of establishing
prima facie case, under instruc-
tons that they be guided by the
same rules and principles as grand
juries in the state in finding indict-
ments respectfully report that they
took the sworn testimony of Witness
es in accordance with their said IN,
struction, which evidence, with GER
tain exhibits is hereto annexed. i.
I'VE find that the charges contain
ed in house, resolution No. have
been sustained, and therefore find
that prima facie case for impeach-
ment of Jesse Edgington. judge of
the first division criminal court of
Shelby county. has been established.
THAT your committee further findS|
and reports that said evidence estab-
lished prima facie that said Jesse
Edgington, Judge as aforesaid, Is gull
ty of committing divers crimes and
offenses while acting as judge and In
his official capacity and that charges
be formulated and specifically set out |
in separate counts by three members
of the house to be elected to prose- |
cute said articles Of impeachment on |
the trial thereof before the senate as
is customary in such cases, accofd.l
ing to the constitution of the state. i
1--WE, therefore. recommend th&N
Jesse Edgington, Judge Of divisionA
one of the criminal court of Shelby3
county, be impeached and that the
house elect three of its members toll
be managers to prepare articles oil
and prosecute the same L
before the senate" 4 !
The representatives absent when
the vote was taken on the two reports
were Anderson, Evans. Horne, Hurt.
Larsen. Mccormick, Nicely, Rawls
and West.
The house rescinded its resolution
to adjourn sine die Thursday at noon.
1t will probably adjourn this after
noon, and the trial in the senate be-i<
gin at once or Thursday morning. ~ I,
Both Judge Edgington and General
Estes are well known citizens of
Memphis. lie IOTu1eT ua1 Deen IN k<
public life number Of years. The +.
after was elected attorney-general
If Shelby county in 1910. Judge Edg-
ngton, in published affidavits, was IS
charged with having accepted $4,000 Ia
rom a brewery agent on the eve OF I!
he modification Of liquor injunc- Es
ions In his court. This and other "A
llleged irregular acts were investi-
rated by committee of the Memphis 4,
,ar. which reporting urged that the 3
governor call an extra legislatiyei
ession to consider impeachment pro-
eedings. Another lawyers commits
ee investigating alleged personal
transactions of Gen. Estes
eported to a meeting of Memphis
awyers recommending that the evil
Ience secured by the committee bel
to court Of competent
The meeting of laws
'ers hearing the report, however; f|
doDtef a resolution to the effect Il
hat the report disclosed no facts 4
further action. Prepare /
ion for the trial of the two oflcials
efore the senate sitting as a high
curt are expected to be made this
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