Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-11-18
GREATEST SHAME
OF BADGER STATE
ECHO or eRIFF THOMAS CASE
FROM ATTORNEY eENeR-
AIS OFFICE.
OF AFFAIRS THAT
SHOULD SHOCK THE MORAL
SENSE OF PEOPLE.
Madison, Nov. IL.

Madison, Nov. II.
An echo from the Sodom OF Wis
consin, Hurley, on the border line be-
tween this state and Michigan-on
the disputed territory in fact-came
yesterday when Attorney General
Frank L. Gilbert washed his hands
of the famous Griff Thomas case by
transmitting to Governor Davidson
the record of the case.
Following is Mr. Gilbert's letter of
Itransmittal:
Dear Sir; | have the honor to
make the following report relative
to the, case of the State of Wiscon
sin VS.. Griff Thomas and Christ
Strong in which you ordered this de-
partment to take all necessary action
and which involved the charge that
the said Griff Thomas, a municipal
judge of Hurley, Wisconsin, was
knowingly leasing property owned by
him'for immoral purposes in the dis
trict for which he was municipal
Judge.
Il designated Mr.. F. T. Tucker, sec
ond assistant attorney general, to
make all necessary Investigations and
cause an action TO be brought before
the circuit judge of Iron county, il,
in his opinion, the facts and circum
stances justified the same. Following
this investigation criminal action
was brought against the said Thomas
and one Strong as co-defendant and
a jury trial was had before Judge
Parrish of that circuit The Jury rem
dered a verdict of acquittal and 1
transmit you herewith a full copy OF
all the testimony and proceedings
had in order that you may be fully
informed as to the facts and circum-
stances surrounding this case as
sworn TO by witnesses in court. / de-
sire particularly 10 call your atten-
ton TO the remarks of Judge Parrish
in discharging said jury in which,
among other things, he said The evil
dence of the defendants was uncor-
roborated; that for the state was
overwhelming | suppose, however,
that courts should not expect jurors
10 convict their friends Gentlemen
the evidence in this case tends TO
show that there are houses of i'll
fame on the principal business street
of the village of Hurley, beginning
near the depot and running TO the
bridge which crosses the Montreal
river, and this evidence is undisput-
ed. l wash my hands clean of it.
Such things should not be.
"The state was fully justified in
bringing this action and the evidence
shows a condition of affairs in which
municipal Judge of this state is con-
clusively implicated sufficient to
startle and shock the moral sense of
the people of this commonwealth and
vet, he having been acquitted by a
Jury of his peers, and the governor
having no power for the removal of
Judges the state is left absolutely
helpless unless the legislature in its
wisdom sees fit TO take further steps
IN this matter"
The attorney general spoke earn
estly yesterday upon the subject de-
cluring that il is shame and a re-
proach that this great commonwealth
must pcrIait such an insult to its peo-
pie. And vel as he has pointed out
in his letter to the governor, there is
no present prospect of relief except as
it may come through impeachment
proceedings Griff Thomas still liz
municipal judge at Hurley. He is not
a lawyer and the record discloses
his capability. He holds the Office
by virtue of the evil forces that have
prevailed in Sawyer for 10, these
many years.