Evening star., 1926-03-14
llth IMPEACHMENT in HISTORY
OF u. S. FACES JUDGE ENGLISH
Solemn Proceedings Seldom Take Place, and Most
Senators and Representatives Have TO Brush Up
ON Method of Carrying Out Duties.

cedure in past impeachment trials in
cluded the appointment of five man.
ayers by the Speaker to conduct the
impeachment proceedings at the bar
Of the Senate. Special oaths are ad-
ministered to the Vice President by
the secretary of the eSnate or by the
Chief Justice Of the United States.
After reading the articles Of impeach-
ment, on the day appointed by the
Senate, the managers for the House
retire. The Senate then issues
summons for Judge English. who Is
given a certain number of days to re-
ply to the summons. Provision Is also
made for the summoning of witnesses.
The trial continues from day to day.
At the conclusion of the trial the Sen
ate may deliberate in secret. The Sen
ate then proceeds to vote. article by
article. The presiding officer an.
nounces the result after the vote on
each article. If the verdict is guilty.
judgment is pronounced. Judgment
goes to the extent Of removal from
Office and disqualification for holding
any Federal office.
Blount First Impeached.
The first impeachment was that Of
William Blount. a United States SEN
ator, In 1897. The proceedings Of the
Blount impeachment were set In mo.
ton by a confidential message from
the President of the United States.
who transmitted letter purporting
to have been written by William
Blount, a Senator from Tennessee, to
one James Carey, a United States In.
terpreter to the Cherokee Nation OF
Indians, for the purpose Of seducing
him from his duty and trust I'm
furtherance Of certain unlawful de-
sign" The impeachment was dis
missed in 1899 by the Senate.
In 1903. John Pickering, judge OF the
United States District Court for New
Hampshire, was impeached for drunk
enness and the disregard of the terms
Of the statutes. the proceedings being
set in motion by a message from the
President. The committee report de-
clared that Pickering had been guilty
Of high misdemeanor In the exercise
Of his judicial functions" In final
judgment Pickering was found guilty
in all articles, and ordered removed
from Office.
In 1904, Associate Justice Samuel
Chase Of the Supreme Court was I'm
peached for alleged misconduct. The
court, however, failed to find the
charge justified and Chase was acquit.
ted.
On December 8, 1926. charges were
brought against James III. Peck.
United States Judge for the district of
Missouri. The proceedings were set
in motion by a memorial. alleging mis-
conduct. Finding the evidence failed
to Justify the charge, the Senate voted
Peck's acQuittal.
In 1903 West III. Humphreys,
United States Judge for Tennessee.
was impeached for failing to hold
court In certain districts In Ten
nessee. The impeachment resulted
in his removal from ONCE.
In 1843 the House Of Representa-
tives refused to impeAch President
Tyler on charges preferred by Repre-
sentative John M. Bolts OF Virginia
Perhaps the most famous trial was
that Of President johnson, who was
formally impeached on January T.
1887. on the responsibility OF men'
ber. After q loEg trial johnson was
acquitted.
on January IL. 1876. former secre-
tary Of War, William W. Belknap
was impeached. on alleged abuses IN
ONCE. Belknap was acquitted
In 1908. Charles Swayne, judge OF
the northern district OF Florida, was
impeached "of high crimes and mis-
demeanors." Swayne was acquitted
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