The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-02-22
Probe Into Disloyalty Of Fed
eral Judge Begun by
State SOlOns.
DESIRE TO IMPEACH
CLEARLY WEAKENING
Testimony Regarding Affi-
davits Responsible for
Change Of Front.
fBy Staff Correspondent).

Helena. Feb. 2l.--First testimony in
District Judge Charles l.. Crum was
taken this afternoon in the house when
three of the score of witnesses Ia he
heard We're called before the bar Of the
house and questioned by Representative
Ronald Higgins, chairman Of the board
Of managers and other members.
At the conclusion OF their stories, the
opinion, which In the early comment
among the legislators had been prac-
tically a unit for impeachment, had
been weakened. it appeared. Judging
by the conversation tonight in the
lobby of the Placer hotel, where the
members We're universally discussing
the Crum proceedings. the conviction
that the iurist should be stripped nf
his ermine. was by no means as pro-
found as II had been at the conclusion
of yesterdays readings OF the affidav-
its.
Opinion Changes.
The idea that perhaps political; or
some animus, outside of that of pa
triotism alone, might have been inspir-
ational in the making Of the affidavits,
had arisen some time during the course
of the afternoon. and tonight it was
expressed occasionally when little
groups of the members conyersed
Whether 1t was the positive manner of
County Attorney Felkner Haynes. In his
testimony, or the reticenCe of
the two who followed him. that caused
tho idea, no one could express clearly
But the opinion had come.
The Testimony added nothing IN
what already had been revealed in the
affidayits. Yet there was no diminu-
ton of interest in the affair which
touches 80 closely the welfare and pa
triotism. not only of the judge involved,
but of the people of Rosebud as we'll
Galleries Are Crowded.
Felkner Haynes was the first wit
ness. As he, together with the numer-
Gus other witnesses to testify, were
sworn, the galleries were crowded, and
dozens more were lined up across the
rear and on either side of the main
floor of the house. The members.
themselves. crowded to the front seats,
and grouped closely about the front of
the auditorium. In chairs about the
witness, who sat directly beneath the
reading table Of Clerk Treacy. sat the
managers of the investigation, Repre-
sentative Higgins and Mason OF Mis-
soula and White and Belden of Fergus
and Speaker O'Conner. The air was
tense as the Rosebud county attorney
| took the stand.
He went into detail concerning his
affidavit His manner was that Of one
positive of his facts beyond all perad-
venture. He spoke in a loud clear voice
and at times he arose from his chair
| and gestured to illustrate his words.
When he told of his clash with the jur-
list in the lobby Of the capitol, when
| the latter threatened. as he said. to
shoot him like a dog when lie called
Crum pro-German. the witness threw
open his coat, saying:
! Sponsor Of Pro -Germanisn.
| And | called him cowardIy------
and told him to shoot"
| The most striking remark Of the
witness came at the close Of his lesti-
mony, when. in reply to a question
from Speaker O'Connor, Mr. Haynes
said, emphatically:
Il believe Judge crum is the most
dangerous man in the state of Mon
tana- and that ne is responsible for all
1.-THE ro-German trouble we have had
in Rosebud county"
The witness told in detail the story oi
THE cases of Yes Hall and A. j. Just
who were tried under the espionage
law. and referred 10 the dicta in the
IBourauin decision in the cases to ths
leffect that county attorneys ought ts
handle such cases.
Judge crum seemed greatly pleased
with the decision,' he said, and ! toif
him believed Bourquin was just pass
ing the buck and that | intended Il
talk to Attorney General Ford abou
lit. To see what he thought Of the stat'
law i'm such cases
Sheriff 10 Contrast.
! In sharpest contrast the manner o
the next witness. Sheriff Henry Grier
son Of Rosebud, stood out after th
county attorney had finished. IL
, weighed with the most scrupulous car
his every word, often deiiberating fa