Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-03-05
NUMBER SO
JUDGE BLODGETT.

unanimous Report of the House judiciary
Commtttee-The Charges Against His Ju-
dicial Integrity Not Sustained.
WASHINGTON, March 4.-The House commit
tee of judiciary submitted a unanimous report
last night regarding the charges against Judge
blodgett. The report says: With regard to the
hrst charge, that Blodgett entered into dis
honorable conspiracy to defraud the creditors
or the German Insurance company, whose af-
fairs were pending before him, the committee
maintain there is nothing to show that Blod-
gett's action in the matter was different from
what any other judge might have done under
similar circumstances in perfect good faith.
While the difference in the manner in which the
notes and stock of Hesing and Others remain
ing IN the hands of the assignee were ordered
to be sold might seem to require some explana-
ton, 1t is in evidence that the method pre-
| scrlbed for the sale of the former was by
no means unusual in that court
and, besides. it appears from testimony
OF Leurny, a lawyer of extensive practice and
experience in such matters, as well as the state.
ment of Judge Blodgett himself, that such a
course had been generally found most benefi
cial to parties interested, aud there can be but
little doubt that had the order come to the
knowledge of the creditors and general pubic
through the daily press or otherwise, the stock
would have brought far more than it did, The
want vt that publicity was attributable to Hes
lng's lawyer. Admitting all the facts proved,
the committee are unable to see how it would
be possible to convict him of a crime on the
evidence before them.
80 lar as the charge of borrowing money
from the clerk or other officials is CONCERNED. il
would seem that there is as much ground for
the impeachment of Bangs as for that Of
Blodgett.
The next charge exhibited is that of Judge
b!odgett IN administering the bankrupt act had
wllltully violated and perverted the spirit of the
law by making an unlawful use of the powers
vested IN him as such district Judge for the
purpose of enriching his friends and favorites,
and has thereby brought the administration Of
justice In his court, court of bankruptcy, in
to reproach and scandal. Under this charge the
evidence shows that in repeated Instances
Judge Blodgett had appointed one of three
persons, Robert E. Jenkins, Bradford Hancock
and George W. Campbell, provisional assignees
before the regular assignee had been elected bv
the creditors. Yet, in most, if not all the cases.
1t was shown that the assets were
OF such nature as demanded imme-
date attention, the business had been
such character that the interest of all COZ
cerned required it to be kept in operation. It
was moreover shown that the provisional assig-
nees, those appointed, were capable men, e1-
per1enced In such business, and were nearly if
not In every instance of the kind, elected by
the creditors, and there is nothing showing any
corrupt influence on the Judge for making such
appointments, further than his friendship for
tne parties appointed, nor that any person was
injured thereby.
1t also appears that from January 1, 1873, to
January l, 1879, Jenkins had been assignee in
527 cases, Hancock in 232, and Campbell in
362, making in all 1,12l. Yet it also
occurred that in large majority they
bad been chosen by the creditors and
thelr election confirmed by the judge and that
they were competent and experienced men, and
that no undue or illegal influence had been
used upon or by Judge Blodgett to procure
their appointment in any case whatever.
1t also appeared that Homer Hibbard had
failed to comply with the rule prescribed by
the supreme court, requiring him as register
IN bankruptcy to file statements of his fees in
each case with the clerk of the court, the fees
to be taxed by the clerk, and if any question
should arise thereon an appeal might be taken
to the district judge. from the time the rule
was adopted until within quite a recent date,
yet there was not evidence that any question
had ever been raised on the appeal taken to
the judge or his attention called to it in any
manner.
In short, it may be said with regard to this
particular charge, that while the administra-
ton of the bankruptcy act, of which the coun-
try will fortunately be entirely released, led to
the transaction of large amount Of business
in chambers by the district court of the north
ern district of Illinois, which was greatly
crowded with causes arising under that act.
and consequently afforded an opportunity to
evil disposed persons to perpetrate frauds on
others, and gave rise to, perhaps, suspicious
and complaints of fayoritism and corrnption
whether well or i'll founded, but the ommittee
are unable to find in the evidence proofs upon
which Judge Blodgett could be impeached on
such charge.
The same may be said in relation to the only
remaining charge, which was to the effect that
Judge Blodgett was party to or had corruptly
contributed the aid of his official position and
conduct to conspiracy to defraud the stock
holders OF the Garden City Insurance COM
pany by enabling certain persons to buy the
stock OF that company at discount. That
there was conspiracy of that character, and
that the conspirators resorted to proceeding
in bankruptcy before Judge Blodgett as one of
the means for attaining their object, and that
such object was successfully accom- plished there
can be no doubt from the evidence, but as the
testimony bearing upon this particular charge
has not yet been returned by the public printer
the committee will content themselves with
reference thereto, with the remark, however
that as flagitious that conspiracy may have
been, the proofs before the committee are not
such as to show that Judge Blodgett had any
such criminal knowledge of corrupt partici.
patton therein as would warrant his impeach-
ment therefor.
In view, therefore, of all the evidence before
II the committee would respectfully recon-
mend the adoption of the following resolution:
.Resotoed, That the charges against Henry W.
Plodgett, United States district judge for the
northern district of Illinois, be laid on the
table and the House take no further action
thereon. (Signed) j. Proctor Knott D. B.
Culberson, F.. G. Lapham, VIM. P. Lynde, Jno.
y. Harris, VIM. II. Forne, J. D. Conger, J. a.
Mcmahon, W. L. Stenger, VIM. P. Frye, BENZ.
F. Butler.