The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-12-13
2 OTHER STATE
OFFICIALS AR J
ALSO INDICTED.
Chief Justice Branson I'D
Harry Cordcll of State Farm
Board Are Named
SENATE TO MEET SOON
Leaders Announce That Body
Will Try Any State Officials
Cited by House
SENATE TO MEET SOON


oklaho oma City, Okla, Dec. l3.-
(AP)--Bills OF impeac chment namine
Gov. Henry s. Johnston ana two
other state officials were voted early
today at a self-convened executive
session OF the lower house Of the
Oklahoma legislature.
The house members quietly as.
sembled In downtown hotel in the
dark hours before dawn, while ma
tional guardsmen called out yester.
day by the governor to prevent any
meetings OF the legislature silent at
the state capitol. Many OF the leg.
tslators summoned from bed wore
pajamas and bathrobes at the ses.
sion.
Six charges were voted against
Governor Johnston, one being that
he had replaced civil authority With
the military in attempting to fore
stall impeachment proceedings di.
rected at him.
Chief Justice Fred Branson OF the
state supreme court and Harry
Cordell, president Of the state board
OF agriculture, also were named Ia
impeachment bills.
At adjournment It was announced
that the charges had been placed in
the hands of a board OF managers
for presentation to the senate. Sen.
ate leaders have announced the body
VIII try any state officials cited by
the house.
The Charges
inc charges against Governor
johnston and the vote on each
count, as announced BY Representa-.
tive Charles Moon OF Muskoree
county, follows:
i-Heplacing civil authority with
military authority, 4 to 6.
.-lncompetency, ~ to s.
3-Awarding q commission AZ
peace officer to Jose Alyarado. al
legged bank robber, A to Q.
alleged illegal employment Of
Kirby Fitzpatrick, attorney Of Ard.
more. as counsel for the state bank.
ing department, 30 to Is.
5-Alleged illegal payment Of S..
SOo through a deficiency certificate
on the banking department to EN-.
ployes charged by the house inves.
tlgating committee to have been II.
legally placed on the pay roll, II
to Is.
6-Alleged conspiracy between the
governor, his confidential secretary.
Mrs. O. o. Hammonds, and an un.
named person, in connection with
collection of highway claim by .
contractor, 46 to 8.
Others Indicted
Chief Justice Branson was CHARGED
with corruption in office" while
three counts were voted against the
president OF the state board Of az.
rlculture. Two OF the specifica.
tions against Mr.. Cordell related to
alleged illegal expenditures OF state
funds and the third to alleged pad
ding OF pay rolls Of the department
OF agriculture.
Representative II. Tom Kight,
chairman OF the house Investigating
committee, was named by Speaker e.
F. Hill to head the board of man
ayers charged with placing the in.
dictments before the senate.
While senate leaders declined u
reveal when they planned to convene,
they intimated session was con.
templated today.
When the governor I,obilized the
national guard yesterday and placed
soldiers on duty at the capitol with
orders to refuse admittauce to Leg
islators, Mr.. Kight branded this ac-
ton IAN impeachable crime" He
said the governor would be charged
with interfering with the inherent
right" Of the legislators to meet IN
q self-convened session.
Fugitive Commissioned
Jose Alvarado was alleged BY Mr..
Kight to have been appointed by
the governor to hunt bandits, after
q reward had been offered for Al.
varado by Texas sheriff for hls
capture to face a charge Of bank
berry. Alvarado's commission
showed he had been promised Inn
munity should anyone be killed In
the bandit hunt.
In connection with the sixth
charge, It was said the house come
mittee charged an unnamed woman
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