Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-24
Walton Suspended
Continued from PAGE One)

the Governor and Lieutenant Gov
ernor of the proceedings thus had
and to present to each of them a
! copy of this resolution
The senate will resolve itself into
a court of impeachment tomorrow, it
was said. Chief Justice ]. T. john
son, of the state supreme court, will
preside.
Meanwhile the house is to con-
tinue consideration of the remaining
| twenty counts in the Impeachment
indictment.
Governor Walton was among the
last to leave the darkened state
house tonight. With small group
of friends, he walked slowly down
the stairway to the main floor.
I'VE still consider you our gov
ernor" one of the group said quietly.
The governor did not answer.
The governor halted to read copy
of the senate resolution suspending
him from office which a press repre-
sentative handed to him.
THE vote was SO to 1 for the reso-
luton the governor was told.
WHO voted for me-" he inquired
in a low voice.
Senator Barker"
"Will you have any statement to-
night, Governor" he was asked.
Not a word" the executive re-
piled.
The vote on the impeachment
charges in the house came uneXpect-
edly. After most of the session had
been devoted to reading testimony
taken by the investigation commit
tee and one effort to suspend the
oral presentation had been voted
down. the house suddenly changed
its course. cut off the reading and
plunged into consideration of the
second article in the impeachment
bill. Consideration of article three
followed at once.
Article two, the second of the %
specific charges against the governor,
made in the committee report, was
approved without the discussion by
the house. 1t alleged that Governor
Walton had diverted state funds to
his own use by placing his private
chauffeur on the state health de-
partment payrolls.
A brief debate preceded adoption
of article three, which charged the
governor with an offense against the
constitution by dispensing an as
assembly of the lower house, Septem-
Der &c, by the State militia.
Each of the charges constituting
sufficient grounds upon which to ar
iaign the governor before an inn
parchment court, they were submit
ted separately to the Senate as bills
of Impeachment as soon as the house
had acted.
Testimony that had been present
ed was that of DIR. l.. 7. Bynum, who
was at different times executive
counsellor and state bank commits
sioner; Aldrich Blake, counsellor who
succeeded Bynum; and who was, like
him, disposed; Buck Garrett, former
sheriff of Carter county and recently
bodyguard to the executive and col
Onel' Jack Mulhall. wealthy cattle
man and personal friend of the gov
ernOr.
Bynum told the committee he be-
lieved his removal as bank commits
sioner resulted from his refusal to
appoint an incompetent man as his
assistant at the order of the gov
ernor.
The witness detailed his activity
in the governors various financial
campaigns, declaring that he raised
campaign funds from wealthy oil
operators.
He made it plain that he had never
promised contributors favors from
the governor.
Dr. Bynum declared, according to
the testimony, that he had warned
the governor that his financial oper-
ations might be made the subject of
grand jury or legislation investiga-
ton and that the executive had told
him, Other men can forget" and
never again asked him to solicit fund.
Blake's testimony at his second
appearance before the committee
dealt with the governors alleged use
OF state department payrolls to ac-
comodate his friends.