The Judge, the Revolver, and the Impeachment Petition

OLYMPIA, Feb. 19. — Another sensation was sprung in the house this morning by the introduction of a communication from ex-Judge Edward T. Hunter, of Chehalis, asking for the appointment of a committee to investigate charges of impeachment against Judge W. W. Langhorne, of the superior bench of Pacific, Lewis and Wahkiakum counties. Judge Hunter, in his communication, claims that he has been unable to get any members of the legislature from his own county to present the matter, and in consequence was compelled to address a personal letter to the open house. He therefore pledges his personal honor and professional standing to substantiate the charges against Judge Langhorne, outlined in the communication, if the matter is taken up. Representative Kittinger moved to refer the communication to the committee on public morals. Mr. Hesth, of Chehalis, believed the motion was intended to 'shelve' the communication, and asked that it be referred to the special committee now at Spokane investigating the charges of impeachment against Judge Arthur. An amendment to refer the communication to a new special committee of five, to be appointed by the chair, finally prevailed. With impeachment charges pending against two superior judges the present session will certainly not lack entertainment if the judges are ever brought to trial. Following is Judge Hunter's communication in full: 'I have the honor to represent to this assembly that for two years past I have had prepared a verified petition addressed to the house of representatives of this state, praying that consideration be taken under the constitutional provisions of the state for the removal or impeachment of superior judges of this state, for the removal of Hon. W. W. Langhorne, superior judge in the counties of Lewis, Pacific and Wahkiakum. 'I have sought the presentation of said petition through and by the various members of your body from said counties, and they and each of them, for reasons unknown to me, refuse to present the same. I have also sought the aid of other members, and in each instance the reply has been that such matter should be introduced by a member from the county where said judge resides. 'I desire to say in this public manner, without disrespect to any one, that such refusal amounts, in my humble opinion, to a denial of the right reserved in the constitution by this, the only tribunal provided for such investigation. 'The charges preferred against Judge Langhorne are substantially as follows: 'First — That since the 9th day of January, 1893, and down to the present time, said judge has been, and still is, guilty of many delinquencies in office, and in the conduct of cases pending in the courts over which he presides. 'Second — That said judge has, in the counties aforesaid and in the county of Thurston, committed grave offenses against the laws of said state. 'Third — That in the county of Pacific he has been guilty of offenses against morality, good conduct and the laws of said state. 'Fourth — That said judge has violated the provisions of article 2 of the constitution of said state, for the purpose of making profit to himself. 'Fifth — That he has been and is abusive, oppressive and tyrannical towards the members of the bar practicing before him. 'Sixth — That he has talked with litigants in his court in regard to cases then pending, and in regard to their attorneys. That he has interfered with the due administration of the business of such courts. 'These charges are supplemented by thirty or more specifications, all of which can be maintained and established by many witnesses, residents of said counties, both members of the bar, officers of the courts, and reputable citizens. 'Said specifications embrace repeated threats to kill, intimidation, threats to disbar attorneys, tampering in his official capacity by promising positions, appeals and inducements to litigants to discharge their attorneys already selected, and not to employ certain attorneys, naming them, in anticipated cases, and naming attorneys whom he desired to be employed. 'I have the honor further to state that for over forty-seven years I have been, and still am, a member of the bar of various states, and in some of the federal courts, and that my standing as such is unimpeached. 'I further state that in case an investigation is had and the evidence which will be tendered and taken under the rules in such case fails to establish the truth of the charges as made by me against said judge, in my own judgment I should be the tribunal, he disbarred; and with equal clearness I claim that if said charges are by sufficient evidence sustained, said judge should be removed from the high office which he holds. Your obedient servant, 'EDWARD T. HUNTER.' The charges are more specifically set out in a dozen typewritten pages. Under the first charge is a specification alleging that in 1893 Langhorne, as judge, made a decision in a suit of the minor heirs of Philander W. Swett, deceased, against A. L. Denie, administrator, and the South Bend Land Company, defendants, involving a large amount of property and the interests of these heirs, in pursuance of an understanding beforehand with these defendants, and without having examined the plaintiff's complaint. A second specification is that Judge Langhorne stated after deciding the case of Reed and Warren vs. Bank of Commerce of Centralia, that had not Hunter been counsel for the bank his rulings and decisions would have been different. A third specification is that Langhorne in making return to an alternative writ of prohibition, issued out of the supreme court of the state in the contempt proceedings instituted by Langhorne against Hunter, falsely and maliciously charged Hunter with having altered the records of the superior court, and verified the return with his oath. The fourth specification charges Judge Langhorne with certain irregularities in the Tower Lumber Company case, in which Hunter was also interested. The fifth specification charges Langhorne with having privately consulted with and advised with the defendant at her request in the case of Linn vs. Louisa Rose, of Pacific county, then in his court. It is also specified that Langhorne has attempted to break up and ruin the business of complainant and other attorneys practicing before him by publicly stating his intention to disbar them; and that he has, while on the bench, threatened to settle differences arising in court with lawyers outside of the court room. Under the second charge complainant specifies that Langhorne has several times threatened to kill him, and that these threats have been made both in Chehalis and in Olympia; that in the Olympia hotel, having a revolver in his hand, Langhorne made this threat; that on the Sunday before election this fall Langhorne stated that he was going to the St. Helens hotel in Chehalis, where he then supposed the complainant to be, and kill him, and that he did go to the hotel, but found the complainant absent; that at South Bend, within the last three months, Langhorne has exhibited a pistol and publicly stated that he was going to fill Hunter with lead; that at one time Langhorne purchased three revolvers, arming himself and his two sons therewith for the avowed purpose not only of killing complainant but other law-abiding citizens. Complainant further charges that at one time within his own personal knowledge, both at South Bend and Chehalis, at a time fixed for holding his court at the place, Langhorne was intoxicated to such an extent as to incapacitate him for attending to his business or discharging his duties as judge. That he is in the continuous habit of carrying concealed weapons, and has them in his chambers, the courthouse and on the bench, so that complainant has not felt safe in appearing before said judge excepting in open court. That he has boasted of his skill in using deadly weapons, and of having killed men in past encounters. In the third charge it is specified that in the summer of 1893 Judge Langhorne took a married lady, the mother of several children, to a place of public amusement, and, after taking her home, repaired to a whisky shop and publicly boasted of having had improper relations with her; that afterwards on the same night he was found drunk on her premises and was removed at her request. For the fourth charge it is specified that in pursuance of his conduct Langhorne traveled from his place of holding court on a pass issued by the Northern Pacific Railroad, and that he charged and collected from the state the usual fare for his traveling, which fares he had not paid. The fifth charge is that Judge Langhorne at one time advised with a client and charged him a fee, and then went to the opposing side and told them that if they had him at their service they would have fared different in his court; that by these means he has greatly injured the business of the complainant; that he has stated he would make it uncomfortable for the clerk of the court of the county unless that official employed as deputies in his office certain favorites of the judge; that he has prevented the retention of a certain estate now in contest to certain persons, provided certain friends were not prevented from bringing action. Hon. W. W. Langhorne has been judge of this judicial district since the 1st of January, 1893. He was elected a Democrat. His opponent on the Republican ticket was Judge Rice, of South Bend. Judge Hunter, who had been defeated in convention, ran independently. Hunter carried Pacific county and lacked but a few votes of carrying Wahkiakum, but in this county the Republicans, fearing Hunter's election, slumped in body to Langhorne, thus electing him in a Republican district. Hunter was one of Langhorne's appointees. As a man and as a judge he exhibited many qualities which attached many friends to him, but as he prides himself upon his abilities as a hater and a fighter, it was not long until he was embroiled in disputes with attorneys practicing before him. At one time he refused to hold court in the old courthouse, and ordered the auditor to provide another room for him. There was a great row, which ended in the commissioners building an addition to the courthouse for him. Judge Hunter is about 70 years of age. In spite of this he is straight as an arrow and sound as a piece of hickory. While on the bench he was distinguished for severity with attorneys and witnesses, and his propensity for convening court at an unearthly hour in the morning.