The Detroit times., 1911-09-23
EI0NERATE BLISS
ON CHARGE OF
: '.' ~ u N. | 81 ~
BRIBERY
Judges Believe Story That Recipe q
Money From John Marqustts Was
Part Of Plan TO Trap Justice
Randolph.


Attorney Herbert r. Bliss, charged
with soliciting and accepting money
TO be used in buying -protectionr
from Justice Randolph. OF Hamtramck
for saloonkeepers and slot machine
men, was completely exonerated OF any
intention or act Of wrong BY Judges
Mandell. Hosmer and Codd. siffInn
On banc, Saturday morning.
This finding or the judges came AZ
ter q short but vigorous address from
Attorney James II. Pound. friend 81
the court. In which he said Bliss
should be suspended for q time. but
not disbarred permanently a. Pound
bad previously recommended.
Attorney Frank ID. Eaman. who de-
Tended Mr.. Bliss arose to reply to Mr..
Pound, but was informed by the
judges that they did not wish to hear
from him.
"Of course. have not the siightesf
idea Of what your honors intend %
do. but II you have any intention Of
suspending my client or censuring
him In the slightest degree, | demand
to be heard Mr. Eaman said.
wish to thank Mr.. Pound for his
services In this case, Judge Hosmer
said. ''and have great respect for his
opinions. but we cannot find the re-
spondent In any way guilty OF WRONG
doing or OF wrong intent. There u
nothing In the testimony TO cause 40
to condemn him. and II there had
been II would have been completely
swept away by the testimony Of Al
torneys Pokorney and Payne, both o.
whom had been solicited by Mr.. Bliss
to assist him In his plan Of trapping
Justice Randolph. II Is true that Mr.
Bliss's action as private citizen
came perilously near the conduct that
brought a severe reprimand from the
supreme court In the famous Sander
SON case, but we feel that the re.
spondent was influenced only by right
eous motives"
Following this finding Of the Judges
bliss was surrounded by a large nm
ber OF his friends who shook his Eand
warmly and congratulated him upon
the outcome OF the case.
Mr.. Bliss exoneration was foreseen
by all after the testimony oI Attof-
neys Edward Pokorney and Tnomas
w. Payne. Saturday. Both these az
torneys occupy ofices In the Monat
block. adjoining Mr.. Bliss ONCE, anu
both testified that he had asked them
"a assist him in trapping RandoIps'
he wanting them TO witness the pass
Ing Of money TO the justice.
Mr. Polorney said that In Decem-
har 1910. he had been approached
with an offer OF money as an lneuce'
ment to suppress certain prosecuelon' ~
He then asked Mr.. Bliss TO De 2 VIZ
ness to the payment OF the mohel.
and the latter consented. Notnint
came OF the matter, however, ana ,it
dropped. Then In January. foiiowink
Mr.. Pokorney said Mr.. Bliss came 70
him with almost a. similar request.
and Mr.. Pokorney said he consented
TO act as q witness. and the arrange
ments were made, but the man VINO
was to receive the bribe did not show
lup. Attorney Payne testified that
Bliss approached him with the
scheme and wanted. him to witness
the passing over OF the money Du'
/ he declined.
Former Assistant Prosecutor Rob
ison. former Prosecutor Yerkes, At
torneys George w. Coofner and Stew
art Griswold, we're sworn as eharac
ter witnesses, and all testified that
MIR. Bliss born an excellent reputa'
| tipn.. - 80
Mr.. Bliss, in his own defense, told
OF his negotiations with Randolph. al
hitting that he received money IRON,
John Marquette for the purpose o.
trapping a dishonest, grating ON
cial."
Bliss was closely cross-examined Dy
Mr.. Pound. but he was match for the
attesasy. and made good impression.
Mr.. Pound questioned him at some
length on his reason for holding the
money from February until May De
fore returning II to Marquette amer
Randolph refused to accept II. and ne
said that II was because MarQuette
never came after II. He SAID ne hnc
phoned TO Marquette several times 20
come for It.