Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-11-03
FRAME:-UP CHARGED
BY GOV. WAL TON
AS TRIAL OPENS
Executive Loses in Effort to
Bar Senate Foes From Sit
ting as Court-KIan InfIu-
ence Alleged

OKLAHOMA CITY, Nov. 1.-(By
tue Associated Press. )-Hearing on 3
demurrer of Governor J. c. Walton
to fourteen of the twenty-five
articles Of impeachment preferred
against him by the Oklahoma house
of representatives was set by the
senate court of impeachment late to-
day for 10 o'clock tomorrow morn.
ing, and the court adjourned until
that time.
The governor demurred on the
ground that the charges either were
based on insufficient evidence or did
Tense.
Charges demurred to wers:
The appointment of Representa-
tive Charles Basllin as district Judge;
hte PLACING of the governors chauf-
feur on the health department pay
roll; use of official power to acquire
private property and credit; suspen-
sion of the writ of habeas corpus;
Attempted prevention OF an election;
refusing to permit capital punish
ments; unlawful issuance OF health
department deficiency certificates;
abridgement of the freedom OF the
press; appointing of special state
officers without authority of law;
misrepresentation of campaign ex-
Denses; abuse of pardon and parole
power; collection Of funds for his per-
sonal use; unlawful issuance of a de
ficiency certificate for a. negro o.
phans home, and general incempe-
tency. fiji
Loses First Skirmish
Counsel for Governor Walton
lost their fight to disqualify members
of the senate court of impeachment
when the issue was raised imme-
this afternoon. The prosecution
questioned the right of the governor
to challenge the members of the
court and a resolution by Senator
Wash Hudson, Tulsa, sustaining
the prosecutions stand was passed
by the court with but two dissenting
votes.
While the executives attorneys
made lengthy arguments the defend
ant sat at the end of the counsel ia
bic placidiy smoking a large cob
pipe. The governor was immaculate.
ly attired, a high collar and a white
bow tie, and a handkerchief in his
breast pocket topping off his attire.
The argument Of his lawyers was
devoted almost entirely to a review
of the alleged activities of the Ku
I<luX Khan in Oklahoma.
Governor Walton's motion to uuash
all impeachment charges was strick
en- by a vote of the senate court
Only one member of the court, Sena-
tor Barker. of FL Reno voted to sus
tain the governor.
None of the twenty-five charges
was found and presented as requir-
ed by law, the defense declared.
The evidence on which the charges
were made was branded mot compe-
tent Governor Walton also charg-
ed the house was without authority
to consider impeachment charges
eeing called ''for the express pur-
lose" OF considering anti-klan legis-
Sstion.
The governor charged that SIXTY
seven members of the house were
khan members, and renewed his re-
cent allegations that Impeachment
charges were the outcome Of q
frame up" by which the Ku Klux
Khan had conspired to Dust him
from office.
Specific Charges
The twenty-five charges constitut
ing the bill Of impeachment filed by
the lower house of the state legisla.
ture against Governor Walton are
es follows:
THAT he illegally appointed
Charles H. Baskin, a member of the
state legislature, as district judge.
2-That he diverted state funds to
his private use by putting his per.
sonal chauffeur on the health depart
nent payrolls.
5-Fhat he prohibited the meeting
of a grand jury here to investigate
his official conduct.
4-That he used his official pow
ers TO accumulate private credit and
property.
5-That he accepted a bribe to pass
O certain institutional appropriation
6--That he suspended the writ oil
habeas corpus.
Dispersed Assembly
THAT he dispersed an assembly
OF the state legislature with military
forces
3-That he placed OkmuIges coun-
ty under martial law without cause,
9-That he placed the city of Tulsa
under martial law without cause
10-That he placed Tulsa county
under martial law without cause.
11-That he placed the entire state
under martial law without cause.
12-That he attempted to prevent
q statewide election
15-That he loaded the state pay
rolls with superfluous employees.
14-That he prevented execution
Df the law providing for capital pun.
ishment.
15-That he issued a health def.
fiency certificate without occasion.
16--That he established a military
censorship ov the press.
17-That he appointed hundreds OF
special policemen without authority
OF law.
Fraud Charged
1S--That he filed a fraudulent rs
port of campaign expenses.
19-That he abused the pardon and
parole power,
20-That he collso ted funds from
organizations and Individuals for his
private benefit.
21-That he Issued an institutional
deficiency certificate without occa-
siion. 49,.
22-That he is generally incompe.
tent.
The senate court convened at
o'clock, but before proceeding with
the trial, it gave its attention tc
charges of bribery against certain
senators IN connection with Cove
nor Walton's case.
The editor of the Muskogee Times
tronHnued on Page 6, Column 81