The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1916-03-04

ed with having been drunk while
on the bench. Mr. Cole spoke to
the resolution, saying in introduc-
ing it he was trying to be fair
and square, and he was sure the
conduct of the Judge was a mat
ter Of vital concern to the people
of the State. He claimed that
the closest friends of Judge
Weathersby had admitted that he
had been drunk, and IF he gets a
fair and just trial he will be found
guilty. " I,
The text of the resolution is as
follows: y, .ae
HOUSE CONCURRENT .RESoLU.
TION NO. -.
Whereas, information has reach
ed members of the Legislature, re-
garding certain conduct on the
part of Judge A. E. Weathersby,
Judge Of the Fifteenth Circuit
SISSIppA, wI14S1s 4-4~%~--
and correct, tends to seriously re-
fleet upon the said A. E. Weathers-
by,, said information being to the
effect that the said A. E. Weathers-
by is a habitual drunkard, and up
on many occasions while occupy
ing the bench the judge has been
intoxicated, and has been guilty of
grave misconduct unbecoming to a
circuit judge; that it has become a.
common practice and occurrence
for the said A. E. Weathersby to
drink alcoholic liquors while occu-
pying the bench as judge.
That at and on one particular
occasion, while holding irregular a
term of Circuit Court at Monticel-
10, in and for the County of Law
renee, and while one said A. H.
Smith was being tried for murder,
said time being on or about the -
day of March, 1915, the said A. E.
| Weathersby became intoxicated,
and while so intoxicated undertook
to preside over the court.
That because of his use Of alco-
holic liquors, the said A. z.
Weathersby is an unfit person to
serve as judge of a court OF Mis-
sissippi, and
Whereas, because of the conduct
aforesaid, the public is caused to
lose confidence in the judiciary,
and to bring the judiciary into
general disreputei
Now, therefore, for the purpose
of investigating said charges, and
for the purpose of giving the said
Ia. E. Weathersby an opportunity
to be heard,
j Be it resolved by the House OF
4 REPRESENTATIVES, the Senate concur
I ring, that a committee of five on
the part of the House and --- on
| the part of the Senate be appointed
by the presiding officers OF the re-
spective Houses, for the purpose-of
investigating the conduct of the
4 said A. E. Weathersby, said COM
mittee being empowered to sum-
| mons witnesses, to administer
! oaths, to employ a stenographer,
/ punish for contempt and to do any
and all things necessary to make
a full and complete investigation
of the foregoing and any Other
) charges that may be preferrec
i against the said A. E. Weathersby,
and to report the result OF theii
otfnding to the House of Representa-
. tives and the Senate, within twelve
r days after their appointment, II
) order that the said A. E. Weathers
i bv may be vindicated, if innocent
or. if guilty, he may be removed
: from Office, either under the terms
Of section AZ or section S., Of TN
Constitution Of the State Of Missis
: sippi. =
4 Mr.. Cole offered to submit afii
, davits, but the Speaker ruled tina
! the resolution did not provide for
/ condemnation but an investigation
y of the judge.
E Mr.. Cole read several afidavits
swearing that Judge Weathersb,
z was drunk during terms of court.
d Representative Bush made mo
t ton to table the motion to adop
+ the Cole resolution. It was carrie
Il BY a vote Of n to "a and the mat
|. ter ended.