The Detroit times., 1911-08-25
LAWYERS NEARLY
COME TO BLOWS
Aldrich and McClear squabble in
Randolph Wives of Saloon
keepers Testify for Defense.

The pet.y "scrapping" that has been
going on between Assistant Prosecut-
ing Attorney Aldrich and Attorney
Louis McClear in the investigation
into the charge that Justice Edwin ..
Randolph. of Hamtramck, has receiver
bribes from John Marquette, the siot
machine ''magnate," eliminated Ia
near-fstic encounter In Circuit Court
Commissioner Mays court Thnrsoay
afternoon.
Reused suddenly 10 a white heat by
the assistant prosecutors insinuation
that he had attempted TO influence
witnesses by threats. McClear jumped
TO his feet, and leaning over the at
torneys' table. his face close TO tnat
OF Mr.. Aldrich, his whole body tense
defied the peoples attorney. Aidrlen
stood his ground. and the silence OF
the room was nerve-straining.
However, Commissioner May re-
lieyed the situation by suggesting TO
Mr.. McClear that he was too old
man TO resort to such methods, and
that both men had better confine the'-
attention TO the examination OF the
witnesses. After little mud-slingtng
the storm passed over.
The trouble arose over the aues-
tioning OF George Baumler, Wyan-
dotte saloonkeeper. II was limited,
Wednesday, that Baumler refused 70
testify as McClear wished him TO, and
that, therefore, he was threatened
with prosecution before Justice Ran
dolph for running a slot machine.
Proceeding on this theory, the assist
ant prosecutor asked the witness II
that were so. Attorney McClear OBJ
jected to the question, and then Aid
rich told the court that the question
was to show that McClear had intim-
idated witnesses. This was what
aroused McClear.
After the scrap" the question was
again asked and again objected to by
the defense. and the objection was
sustained by the court. At that point,
McClear changed his tactics.
Il just wanted to show that the as
sistant prosecutor was wrong In put
ting the question, but the witness may
answer II now," said McClear.
Baumler denied that he had been
threatened in any way.
The first two witnesses called
Thursday, were Mrs. Minnie Allen.
whose husband. William Allen. runs a
saloon on Dequindre-st-. and Mrs.
Laura Vernier, whose husband. Al
bert Vernier. conducts place at No.
1850 Mt. Elliott-ave Both women
testified that their husbands had had
Marquette's slot machines running
within the past few weeics.
Charles Schoettle said that he had
some of Marquette's devices In his sa-
loon In Dearborn, until three weeks
ago, and Charles Papke stated that
Marquette took his machines out Oh
his saloon in Wayne. four or Ave
weeks ago.
The purpose of this testimony"
said McClear, lis to show that John
jured themselves In this court when
they said that Marquette's machines
had not been I'm operation this year.
What we couldn't get the saloon
keepers themselves to do because they
were frightened by the assistant
prosecutors associate. Marquette
their wives were glad to do" ex-
planned Randolph to his friends.
When Mrs. Allen left the court
room. she shook hands with the JUS
tice and wished him well.
John Shaw and George Crouch, n
draymen who carted the machines
which the slot machine manufactures,
Pitton. said he had received from
Crouch, stated that the machines had
been refused by Deputy Ed. Stein at
the sheriff's Office, because they were
broken. so they were turned over to
Pitton upon payment OF charges for
carriage and storage.
On the declaration OF Attorney Nc
Clear that some OF his witnesses had
failed to put In an appearance be-
cause they had been frightened away
by Marquette. the hearing was az
journed until Tuesday afternoon at
2 o'clock.