The north Mississippi herald. (Water Valley, Yalobusha Co., Miss.) 1888-1929, 1923-11-23
Found Guilty Of l Of the Charges Filed
Against Him and Removal Order by
Unanimous Vote, al to O--By Re-
moval of Walton Lieutenant
Governor M. E. Trapp Au-
tomatically Becomes Gov.

OALAHOMA ClI1, Okla., NOV.
19.-J. c. Walton, fifth governor
Of Oklahoma, was removed from Of
flee today by unanimous vote by the
state senate court Of impeachment
after his trial on charges Of corrup-
tion in Office, neglect Of duty, moral
turpitude and general incompetence.
A formal verdict ordering the re-
moval was returned after the ,execu-
tive had been found guilty Of II Of
the 16 charges presented. The vote
was al to %. Six Of the original 22
charges constituting the impeach-
ment bill were dismissed by order of
the court.
Charges Acquitted ON
The charges on which he was ac-
Quilted were:
That he used his official position
to obtain personal property and
credit. Vote % to 1S, (lacking the
necessary two-thirds majority to
convict.)
That he received $4,000 bribe to
approve an appropriation Of q state
business academy, Vote &c to l..
That he refused to permit the ex-
&c, tion Of the law providing capital
punishment. Vote IL to SO.
That he Illegally named large
numbers Of criminals and irrespon-
sible persons as police. Vote "a to II.
That he illegally named Charles
H. Baskin, member Of the state
legislature, as district judge, vote
IL I Ole.
The court, by standing vote, de-
MED motion for new trial, which
Governor Walton's counsel filed i'm
mediately after the verdict was an
nounced. The governors removal,
although not formally ordered until
after a verdict had been returned
on each charge, was made certain
shortly before o'clock when the
court without a dissenting vote
found him guilty Of abusing his par
don and parole authority.
Baker Remains Loyal
Forty one senator's, lacking only
one Of the total membership of the
body, voted for conviction on the
clemency charge, the first to be voted
upon. Senator Jack Baker, who has
voted consistently in the governors
favor throughout the 16 days Of his
trial was absent when the final roll
was called. The articles Of impeach-
ment were filed by the lower house
Of the state legislature, which less
than two months ago the executive
at the height Of his power had dis
persed by military force.
By the removal of Governor Wal
ton, Lieutenant Governor NJ. E. Trapp
became governor Of the state. Trapp
has been lieutenant governor during
two four year administrations and
has been acting governor since Oc-
tober 23 when the senate suspended
Governor Walton following the fill
ing Of the impeachment charges
against him.
Vote Came n Surprise
The vote on the pardon and parole
charge, which determined the re-
moval, followed with surprising sud-
deness after the examination Of the
last witness,
e. w, Marland. president of the
Marland Refining company, had
barely left the stand when w. E.
Disney, chairman of the house board
Of managers which conducted the
prosecution, announced that the evil
dence was concluded.
A preliminary maneuver. and then
q motion was made to vote first on
article 10, the clemency charge. The
court sustained the motion and the
prosecution summed up briefly the
testimony adduced IN support Of the