Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 May 1878 — Singular Scene in Ohio Legis Iature. [ARTICLE]

Singular Scene in Ohio Legis Iature.

The Legislative trial of John O’Connor, member of the Ohio House of Representatives from Montgomery county, is described by the correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette as “beyond question the most remarkable scene ever witnessed iu the Ohio Legislature.” At the evening session, when the trial was concluded, every inch of standing-room was occupied. Gov. Bishop sat besido the Speaker. Senators filled the spaces on the floor not required' by members. The galleries were crowded with ladies, and the lobbies were lined by men. O’Connor had at his elbow two lawyers and an unknown Catholic priest. Tho chief question raised by the prosecutors was whether O’Connor should be expelled or his seat be declared vacant.* Dr. Norton argued for expulsion, because he feared that, if the seat were declared vacant, all the bills which O’Connor’s vote had passed might be declared invalid. Menser and several other members combated this view, holding that the acts of an official were valid until he was declared ineligible by proper authority. This view finally prevailed, and the seat was vacated by a vote of 64 to 18. Before the vote was reached, O’Connor, who viewed the arguments for the two methods of punishment with equal indifference, obtained the floor and made a pathetic appeal for mercy. He contended also, on the prompting of his lawyer, that the House had no right to go back of the election. The plea was listened to with curiosity and patience, but had no effect on the final result. The history of this O’Connor case is now familiar to the people. O’Connor was elected to the Legislature from the Soldiers’ Home at Dayton. After he had been sitting some months it was discovered that he had formerly been an inmate of the Michigan State prison, his term of imprisonment beginning Sept. 30, 1869, and ending three months afterward. He had no pardon or abridgement of his term of imprisonment which operated to relieve him of his political disabilities. These facts were proved before the Legislative Committee, though O'Connor strenuously denied them.