The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-03-12
Says Action Simply Means
There Is Limit to All
Human Endurance.
NOT AFRAID TO FACE
IMPEACHMENT TRIAL
Admits That Possibly Some
Careless Statements MAY
Have Been Made.

Helena. March ll.--Govcrnor Stew
art today tclcgraphed the board of
managers OF the Montana house on the
Crum impeachment case, and the sem
ate committee in charge OF the same.
TO meet here Thursday To consider
whether the Impeachment shall pro-
coed.
Judge Charles l.. Crum, or Forsyth,
whose appearance before the bar Of the
upper chamber was ordered by the
Montana house last month. after due
Impeachment had been there returned,
today filed his resignation as Judge
Of the Fifteenth judicial district with
the governor Judge Crum Is said to
bo critically III.
Disloyal acts and uttcranccs were
charged by the house. There In doubt
whether the Impeachment can legally
nt dropped, even in view OF the resig-
hation OF the accused. IL In to de-
eide this question thai the house man
ayers and the senate committee will
meet the governor here Thursday. In
his letter Of resignation. Judge Crum
says in part:
Sends Message. . ...
Governor Sam v. Stewart, Helena,
Mont. s~a. s-.
MY Dear Sir: ] hereby resign my
position as judge of the Fifteenth iu-
dieial district of the state Of Montana.
This action on my part is NOT a
confession that | have been guilty of
any crime. In fact. | have violated no
law and have not been guilty OF any
malfeasance, or misfeas1ncs IN office.
Neither does ii mean that | am afroid
IL face any charges. which have been
made against me. have never been
| accused of being either Il coward or a
gutter.
My action simply means thr: there
! is a limit to human endurance and that
l have reached that limit.
Son Very IT..
"A few weeks ago, my 1G-year- old
| son was operated on at Miles City for
| cancer and the mental and nervous
| straia while sitting at mis- bedside for
| several weeks. coupled with the shock
and humiliation Of the impeach-
ment' proceedings recently brought
against me, was simply more than my
nervous system could stand and suf-
fered n complete breakdown. from
which ! am now confined to my bed,
and feel at this time, and my physi-
elan has 30 advised me. IL. would be
extremely dangerous for me to subject
myself 10 the rigors Of an impeaeh-
ment trial. realize IL there were no
charges against me. 1t would be several
months before would be able to re-
sumo my officials duties.
Il also feel that a trial OF my case
would simply provide an opportunity
/ for certain people to pose before the
public and in the press as super
pa triots. II would give some an op-
Iportunity to color and distort state
lments | have made until they have nc
resemblance to the true facts. II wouit
leIable some of my bitter personal enc.
Imies 70 continue to spread their venom
land poison and poliute the atmosphere
Ilt would inflama the public mind and
cost the state of Montana many thou,
sand dollars. 1t would do this at a
time when the state needs every avail.
able dollar and when the people. in,
stead OF fighting among themselves
should present solid front to ths
common enemy and when every Amer
ican citizen should be not only pre-.
pared, but willing to make any sacri,
flee within his power to the Interests
Of the common good.
Nay Hsve Been Careless.
TT may be possible that have mad
some careless and reckless statement
or criticisms OF the policy adopted ant
} followed by the present national ad
ministration. but have never mean
CT intended at any time to be in tn
least disloyal to the American govern
. ment. ~
. 'In this connection wish To say tina
! the charges which have been mad
) against me have been heraIded broad
/. cast over the state by practically al
E the newspapers and ! trust that il
common justice and fairness yon vii
: see to 1t that this statement from m
E receives the same publicity that wa
r given TO the charges against me.
VERY respectfully,
: tSigned) CHARLES L. CRUN."