The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-02-27
GRESHAM FOR THE BENCH.
One Reason Why Judge Drummond Did
Not Retire Earlier.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. Pet is
pretty well settled that Judge Gresham
will retire from the PostmasterGeneral-
ship In order to take the place that will
shortly be made vacant by the retirement
of Judge Drummond, of Chicago, from
the bench of the Seventh Judicial Circuit.
Judge Drummond reached the age OF
seventy some three years ago, but not
withstanding the fact that the law gave
him the privilege then Of retiring at full
pay for the remainder of his life, he has
held on to the position. Judge Drum
| mond's supposed reason for doing so Is
one which has caused considerable talk
| from time to time, as it has involved the
character Of another United States Judge
to some extent. The story is as follows:
Judge Drummond is the United States
Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit, re-
siding In Chicago, and Judge Blodgett Is
the United States District Judge Both
have served and sat In banc together for Il
| number of years, and up to four or five
| years ago were understood to be very
warm friends. 1t was expected that
| Judge Blodgett would be appointed to
Judge Drummond's place when the latter
retired. But about this time charges of
| corruption were made against Judge
Blodgett by three young lawyers who
practiced in his court These charges
| not only involved the Judge but large
| number of prominent citizens also, and
| especially those who had been implicated
| in the whisky ring. Coming as they did
| from men in good standing, and being
| backed by one of the leading newspapers,
| Congress was at length compelled to take
notice of the charges, and sub-commit-
tee of the House Judiciary Commit
tee, with Proctor Knott, now Cover
nor Of Kentucky, was sent to Chicago to
investigate the matter. The investigation
lasted for over week, and during the
hearing of the testimony there was con-
siderable excitement in the city.
The subcommittee in due time report
ed to Congress. The report, while it held
Judge Blodgett guiltless of the principal
charges made against him, did not prove
to be very fattering to that officer, but
he welded powerful influence, and the
matter was finally hushed up. Judge
Blodgett's friends professed to believe
that the report exonerated him entirely,
and that his judicial character was in fact
declared to be spotless, but there were
many who held that the report simply ac-
quilted him on technical grounds, and
that he was morally guilty of the offenses
which the young lawyers have charged
against him. 1t Is said that among those
who made up their minds that Judge
Blodgett was an unfit person for the high
position which he occupied was Judge
Drummond, and while he expressed nc
opinion either way, he determined at any
rate that man whose character was un
der such cloud should never be promot
ed to the Circuit Judgeship.
So when Judge Drummond reached hif
SEVENTEEN birthday, much to the dlsap
pointment and surprise of Judge Blodgt Il
and his friends, he did not apply tfor INC
usual relief from the labors of the beTch
but held on firmly and refused to vscat'
i'm favor of Blodgett. Being vigorous
old man, in full mental strength, NJ wa'
able to hear the causes brought before
him as well almost as ever, and his rea
sons for remaining in active service being
such pure ones he was allowed to have
his way.
Now, however, as Judge Gresham L
disguised with the Observation-Disclosures
ship and anxious to leave She Cabinet
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