The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-02-06
JUDGE BLODGETT,

parchment OF Judge BlOdgett have SO
fortified their charges with direct evi
dence as to place Judge Blodgett in a
very unenviable position before the
country. He may not be criminal, but
his reputation for official integrity is so
badly smirched as to destroy his future
usefulness on the bench. Of course the
defense has not yet put in their testi-
mony aud conclusions must be drawn
from &C parte testimony but some of
this, seriously damaging to Judge Blod-
gett, is given with such evident reluctance,
that we cannot help putting faith in its
truthfulness It is difficult to believe
that the upright Judge who disregarded
every consideration but the dictates of
key thieves, should be nothing but a
whited sepulcher, feeble man setting
aside right at the solicitations of a person
who glories in his infamy and who re-
counts his deeds OF dishonesty with
yolubility and aoachaLaace that betokens
long practice in crookedness. The moral
turpitude of Hesing makes Blodgett's
act of friendship a crime. We could
have sympathy for judge who depart,
order to relieve some unfortunate person
who is worthy of receiving favor. But
Hesing the whiskey thief, the ''squeal
er, the man who piteously beseeches
that justice be disregarded that he may
be saved from beggary, Hessing who
sells his influence at good round figure
and who fippantly confesses his villainy,
who drags down president and judge
of the United States to his own low
grade of morality, is not the sort of man
for whom the laws of the country are to
| be lightly set aside and have the offense
absolved by the impulsiye charity of the
country. The Infamous character of the
man was sufficiently shown during the
whiskey trials. If confirmation was need
ed, his testimony before the committee is
sufficient. There is exultation in his
words which makes him loathsome as a
serpent when he testifes against the
Judge who stained his ermine through a
feeling of obligation to- or of friendship
for this paragon of corruption.
The second charge against Judge
Blodgett is fully as serious and just as
well supported by irrefutable testimony.
The facts upon which the grand jury
were about to indict Hubbard are hot the
facts upon which Blodgett felt himself
justified in procuring a suppression of
the indictment. The returns of the
Register in Bankruptcy are false even
under the construction put upon the law
by Judge Blodgett. One could readily
excuse the Judge for an attempt to
save an officer from prosecution who
acted under his directions and who other
WISE was not guilty of any irregularity.
But the judge was culpable even if he
were not acquainted with the facts upon
which the Indictment was based for not
informing himself before attempting to
suppress the indictment.
His treatment of the grand jury, has a
bad look in it, and the suspicion that
the judge was proceeding to deliberately
carry out purpose to shield great Grim
inals, will not make him friends through
out the country in his trouble. Great
criminals, if they have political influence OF
wealth, generally enjoy an immunity
from punishment, which is exasperatine
to say the least. Naturally storm of
Indignation will be raised against any
judge who is suspected of aiding in the
practice of placing the powerful above
, the law and holding the weak only
amenable. This could not be said Of
Judge Blodgett when he sentenced the
whiskey thieves, and to his credit be II
said, among them, Hesing.