“During the noon recess of the court, an attorney assisted a mob in taking a prisoner from the jail, and hanging him in the court-house yard. Owing to excitement of the people, no one was willing to testify against the attorney, or make an affidavit charging him with the offense. Held, that an order of the judge to the attorney to appear and show cause why his name should not be stricken from the roll, and reciting the offense with which he stood charged, was sufficient, under the special circumstances of the case, though the charge was not made on affidavit.”

Ex parte Wall, 107 U.S. 265, 2 S. Ct. 569, 27 L. Ed. 552 (1883)