The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-02-01
5TURC|SS UNDER
IN PROBE
BEFORE SOLON5
PROOF OF OUTSIDE
EMPLOYMENT GIVEN
Served as Counsel to Railroad
Company While Judge
at $4,000 a Year.

CHARLESTON. W. Va. Jan. 3l.--
Tho house judiciary committee this at
tcrnuuu began the taking Of evidence
In support Of tn" charge; against ,IIuSc
Gcnrgc c. S;urEiSS, "t M"rEAntnwn.' III
the impeachment proceedings started
this morning. Evidence was taken on
three or the charges this afternoon ond
then 4 rcccss was taken TO 80 this
evening.
The FIRST witness called was y. /.
D>rr general freight and passenger
arru; and auditor "r the Mnrrant"wn
G. Wheeling rujlrnai. H. was asked 10
testify in connection with tho iIrSt
charge against the judge. which is that
while holding the OffIc" uf judge. II"
accepted cmploymcn. from tn" Morgan-
toxin & Wheeling Railway Company ut
the rate Of 81. 5.hhh Il year. under con-
tract in writing. designating him a''
assistant In III" president. ana per
formed legal services for the c'm-
pany."
Vouchers Of tho railroad company
were introduced to show that the SAL
ary was actually paid.
Former Governor GlnSsCocll WAS then
called TO testify in regard to tn" run
charge which relates In IN" attempt
Judg" SturEisS is alleged to hav" made
10 l.nt his salary Increased by the coun-
tv court Of NnnunEaliu county in inc
sum Of 81 7r" and when tn" court al
lowed only 500. hc refused to a""'r;
II, hut appeared before tn" grand iur!
and asked that the mrmhrrS or IN"
county court IL irdi"i"d for irving 10
bribc him with an offer of $Ino
Salary Increase.
,Ln, -,
the first place Iud,;c SiurS!SS appca!r'i
20 members Of the bar 10 En In the
county court and ask for lin increase
in SALARY for him. as the court was
authorized by law TO grant.
After yhr county court had drrlincu
To- allow tho full Sl.Tno. but mad al
lowed sou Mr.. GlasScUCk said Judge
SturgiSs aIpcar"d il his OffIr" and Shid
;hat h" would not accept anything. ana
NJ that TIM" charged that tho c"hntE
cnur; was trying 10 bribc him.
GlaSScnck tested that JudG" SturEIss
then made the statement that h" be-
lievcd the law under which the count!
court wills 'authoriZrd to Grant him AL
increase was unconstitutional.
Thomas Keenan,. foreman OF tho
grand Jury asked 10 indict tho mem
bnrs Of the county court. testified 'hat
Judge SturgiSS charged the jury, in tnc
first place. that It should investigate INC
',i;ot; r. ,r,r conn,y court saving that
~ ','.,,,,,,. court, .hrd mn right to offer
49,, o,Iaitirn,I. son salary unless
- o. ror ,hn nurnnsn .cr intlucncing
ii,,, ,,I IN ,bc second Mace rcrson-
,.u,. .,,,.r,1 bcrn-c thc grand Jury
ns r;,urss ,o offer testimony il
u.b;cb ,h,. Indictment was to be re-
,,-,nd
E,iJnncc also was taken this after
noon m tho seventh charr" Of mis""n-
4urt th;s charge I.inI: Tint he madr
ond crtrrcd m rr.lnr in tho circuit
n,-, ;r,-cos.nr tin. salary or com
ncnratinn nf :hc ncftcial reporter OF his
court with tn intent and for the nur-
,osn Of djyrr;ing AMI anrlvinE tn" IN
crease ,hcr"nf to tho purchase Of law
books for III" Mur"nutnwn Law Library
Association. fer wh''h II" "''" ''''''
his note.
LH7'l1e oh 'o'"A"
T. =. l.a"ciic WAS rhii'd aS W'',''
io relate III" GircH'lS'Hil'cH uuI ~ "'' u
this charT" grew. IL" Sa!d /. VI !'u''''
WIS he court reporter. and that hN 'h'
order uf JudE" Siur%l%S II" "aS I" Ic-
cciv" an additional salary "t -"
month.
Mr.. iAztI!" related '"h' '''H =, '"''
which h.. h'"! with JIGE- |tuFE'"" ''"a
the judge told him oi tn: KIND ni ar
r1QEcTrnt h' llltH'itu . " H'lN' VIZ