Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1923-11-23
WALTON REMOVED
BY SENATE COURT
Oklahoma Executive Convicted
on II Charges
WILL GO TO SUPREME COURT
Corruption, Neglect OF Duty And
Moral Turpitude Grounds For
AetIon-six Charges
Dismissed.

Oklahoma City. G. Walton,
fifth Governor of Oklahoma, was
removed from Office by unanimous
vote of the State Senate court of
Impeachment after his trial on
charges of corruption in Office,
neglect of duty, moral turpitude
and general incompetence.
A formal verdict was returned after
the Executive had been found guilty of
II Of the 16 charges presented. The
vote was Il to 0.
Six of the original 22 charges con
stituting the impeachment bill were
dismissed by order of the court.
The court by a standing vote denied
. motion for a new trial. which Gov
ernor Walton's counsel fled immedi-
ately after the verdict was announced.
The Governors removal although
not formally ordered until after YER
dict had been returned on each charge.
was made certain when the court
found him guilty of abusing his pardon
and parole authority, the first charge
TO be voted upon
Forty-one Senators. lacking only one
Of the total membership Of the body,
voted for conviction. Senator Jack
Barker. who has consistently voted in
the Governors favor throughout the
Is days of the trial was absent
The articles OF Impeachment were
filed by the lower house OF the State
Legislature. which less than two
months ago the Executive had dis
persed by military force.
By the removal of Governor Walton,
Lieut.-Gov. NJ. E. Trapp became Gov
ernor. Trapp has been Lieutenant
Governor during two four-year admin
istrations and has been acting Gov
ernor since October 90, when the Sem
ate suspended Governor Walton after
the filing Of the impeachment charges
The vote followed with surprising
suddenness after the examination OF
the late witness. E. W. Marland, pres
ident of the Marland Refining Com
pany. had bare feft the stand when
W. f. Disney, chairman OF the House
board of managers which conducted
the prosecution, announced that the
evidence was concluded.
A few preliminary maneuyers and
then motion was made to vote first
on Article 10, the clemency charge
The court sustained the motion and
''sfe prosecution summed up briefly the
testimony introduced in support of the
charge.
The court then took up the roll call.
The chamber was intensely quiet as
one Senator after another arose and
voted AYE" many with voices that
were kept steady with difficulty.
Twenty-eIght votes were necessary
to convict
Senator c. d. Leedy, Of Arnett, was
the twenty-eighth man. With the de-
termining vote in his power he told
the court he would vote mo" unless
given a chance later to explain his
ballot.
A silence ensued and then a voice
broke the stiffness.
aAll right. go ahead and vote"
"Then vote aye" Senator Leedy
said and burst of cheers and ap-
piause came from the gallery.
When the roll was complete the
clerk read the result and Chief Justice
!. T. Johnson Of the State Supreme
Court, w1B' presided at the trial. an
nounced the verdict
Guilty as charged in Article 49,,
the Chief Justice said. More applause
greeted his words and brought hasty
reprimand from the marshal of the
Senate