The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-01-31
Bl|GHTED LIFE OF
J. A. RANDALL ENDS
His Two Great Disappointments
Were Failure To Become Judge and
Death of Only Son.

Two great disappointments In the
life of James A. Randall, who sue
cumbed 10 a two-years' illness, with
Bright's disease. In his home, East
Grand Boulevard and Brush-st., Sun
day morning, embittered his declin-
end.
Some twenty years ago, Mr.. Ran
dali had an ambition To be circuit
Judge. He was then at the hight OF
Liz career as a lawyer and enjoyed
great popularity There are those to-
Gay who say he was fairly nominated
IN the convention In which his name
was considered, but the result OF the
vote was not so announced. and Ran
calls name was not one OF the four
10 go before the people as Democratic
candidates for the circuit bench.
After this experience, Jim" Ran
dali had no inclination for politics.
Soon afterwards he drifted into the
business OF promoting railways and,
his brother-in-law, f. w. Voigt, built
and organized the Detroit & North
western railway and was also the
promoter of the Windsor. Sandwich
& Amherstburg railway. Both these
lines are now a part OF the Detroit
United system.
The other great disappointment and
the more serious OF the two, was the
death OF Mr.. Randall's only son,
Thomas, by drowning, of Bots Blanc,
some 10 years ago. The boy. who had
been idolized by his father, had
70 nh
tered upon a legal career when this
blow fell so Unexpectedly. Mr.. Ran
dali was utterly crushed and II Is
said that he never fully recovered
from the schock. For solace and COM
fort he turned to spiritualism and be-
came a great student OF the cult To
friends he claimed that he frequent
iy had communication with his sons
spirit and that these communications
helped to appease the yearning that
was in his heart for the dead sons
companionship.
In his Investigations in the realms
Of spiritualism he became a great ad-
mirer OF the works OF Thomas Payne
and kindred souls. His admiration.
ia 1909, took the form OF pamphlet,
which he had printed under the title
oil The Life and Character of the
Eminent Revolutionary Patriot, Thorn
as Payne" In this booklet, Mr.. Ran
dali placed Payne above Washington
IL the value of their service to the
country. He contended that the pub
lication and dissemination of such
works as THE Age of Reason" and
THE Crisis by Payne, did more
q oil 10 90
the sentiment that made possible the
victory at Trenton and turned the tide
OF victory in favor OF the colonists.
Mr.. Randall severely criticised
President Washington for making no
effort to secure the release of Payne
when the latter was q prisoner in
France, at time when revolutionists
were being guillotined by the whole
sale. He accused the father OF the
country of base ingratitude and pic
tured him as cold-bIooded, flinty.
hearted man. He even belittled Wash.
iugton's ability as q general, declar-
Ing that others were entitled to a
gieat deal OF credit for the success
OF the revolution.
BY strange coincidence, Capt.
Harry Busch, secretary Of the depart
ment, which Mr.. Randall formerly
served, CHANGED to read the pamphlet
Sunday, the day Mr.. Randall died.
In memory or his son, Mr. Randall
placed memorial window In his BoIs
Elanc island residence, sparing no ex-
pense to make II as beautiful as the
skill OF the artist was able.
Some of the older members of the
bar recall bitter dispute in which
Mr. Randall and the late Col. John At
kinson became involved over the
ownership OF a part OF Bots Blanc.
Out of respect to the memory OF both.
those who know the circumstances
are loath to discuss the case.
One phase of the case was tried
tefore me- said Judge Hosmer, Mon
day. "but inasmuch as both parties
~ the controversy have gone to their
reward | prefer not to discuss the
matter.
Mr.. Randall was known as the ia
Their of the boulevard from the fact
that 1t was principally through his in
fiuence In the state senate, OF which
he was then member, that the act
enabling Detroit to construct boule-
ward was passed in 1889. Mr. Ran
dali was member of the park and
boulevard commission, from January
To June, 1897, serving out the unex-
PRED term OF c. X. Latham. The
board then consisted OF four mem.
hers.
Mr. Randall was born In Paris, Ont,
Ga years ago. Before moving there
the family had lived in Detroit and
James was still babe In arms when
his parents returned TO this city. Near
the close OF the civil war he was Civ
en- a commission as major. by the mill
itary governor of Tennessee, but he
cid not have an opportunity to take
4 very active part In the conflict. He
vas then 16 years OF age. On his re-
turn TO Detroit, after the war. he
studied In the Office OF Sylvester
Larned and. on his admission to the
bar, engaged in practice for himself
with considerable success. His FIRST
public Office was that OF circuit court
commissioner.
Mr.. Randall founded the Buffalo
Tin es and the Kansas City News and
is credited with having started the
loon that elected Grover Cleveland
governor OF New York state and paw.
ed the way for his election as presi-
dent He declined an appointment
from, Mr.. Cleveland as the territorial
governor OF New Mexico.
The deceased leaves a widow. The