Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-03-07

The Case OF Uaited States Judge Bledgett.

The Case OF UaIted States Judge Bledgett.
The result of the farcical attempt to pro-
cure the impeachment Of Judge BIodgctt,
United States District Judge, of Chicago,
will surprise no one who has kept track Of
the case. The thing began in the attempt
of Chicago pettifogger, named Cooper, to
make trouble for United States Register
Hibbsrd. The number and importance Of
the BANKRUPTCY proceedings in Chicago have
made Mr.. Hibbard's office one of the most
profitable registerships in the country. Mr..
Cooper was much disturbed over the amount
Of Mr.. Hibbard's income, and after housing
a while among the books in the Register s
office, professed to have discovered gross
Irregularities. He first brought the matter
before the Bar Association of Chicago,
charging Mr.. Hibbard with taking excessive
fees and making false returns of the amount
thereof. The Bar Association looked into
the matter, found that the errors in charg-
ing fees had been unintcntional, and had
been as often against the Register as in his
favor and that he had made his returns in
accordance with his understanding Of the
law and with the practice of other Regis
ters, and adopted resolutions Of confidence
in Mr.. Hibbard's personal and professional
integrity. Cooper and one or two other
lawyers whose cooper alton he had secured
next went to the grand jury, and, upon
one -sided and essentially false presen-
tation of facts, procured the indict-
ment of Register IIibbard and of the
Register of another adjacent Illinois dis
trict, for taxing illega. fees. they wanted
to indict these Registers for perjury, in
swearing to false returns OF their fees; but
desisted upon receiving the information
from Judge Blodgett that the Registers had
made out their returns in accordance with
his instructions and construction Of the
law and that it made no difference as to
the amount of their fees, or income from
their Offices, whether the Registers reports
were made in one way or the other. Fail
ing in his chief design, which was to pro-
cure an indictment against Mr.. Hibbard for
perjury, Cooper next went to Washington,
and easily procured, from the Democratic
House, an investigation with view to the
impeachment of Judge Blodsett, for his
course in the matter and for some other
alleged offences. Judge Blodgett and his
friends invited the investigation. 1t was
made by subcommittee of the Judiciary
Committee of the House. The result was
that the traducers of Judge Blodgett and of
Register Hubbard became the laughing stock
of Chicago. The bottom dropped entirely
out of their malicious charges. The fact
was placed upon public record that Register
Iibbard had simply followed Judge Blod-
gett's opinion and instructions in making his
reports. and that Judge Blodgett was backed
in his opinion by that of Judge Drummond,
the United Circuit Judge. The testimony
as to Judge Blodgett's integrity and capac-
ity was ample and from the highest..sources.
Nothing was established against him, and
the committee were obliged to report that no
ground existed for any proceedings against
him. This vindication OF Judge Blodgett
was also the vindication Of Register Hibbard
from the charge of making false returns,
which was the main charge against him, and
he, as well as Judge Blodgett. is to be con-
graduated on the results of the inquiry.
The case of Cooper would now seem to be
one requiring the attention of the Bar Asso-
citation of Chicago. The investigation proved
distinctly bis malice and dishonesty in the
transaction; and the Chicago Bar Associa-
ton owe it to themselves and their profession
to treat with the sharpest discipline in their
power the case of member who, from the
personal Jealousy and by procure
ment of false testimony and suppression of
true, undertakes to destroy the standing Of
brother lawyer and the reputation of an up
right Judge.