Rock Island Argus., 1915-01-28
SUIT HELD
WITHOUT GROUND
Frank Blackhdge Confesses
Bankruptcy Tangle Inspired
Action for Damages.
GRAND JURY TO GET CASE
VIII Investigate Conduct of Two Law
yers In Mare Of Alleged
Perjury.

Chicago. Ill. Jan. 2s.-Frauk Black
ud9e confessed yesterday that the
s. e01 damage suit he sled recently
against Federal Judge lands vas
groundless.
The admission viii cause the open
tx today OF a federal grand jury in
vestiration into the conduct Of two
lawyers Michael r Morris and Henry
J. Gibbs.
BIscklitEs apoiosized publicly after
naming the two lawyers In a confes-
siou n which he said the suit resulted
from a Bankruptcy fraud attempted In
1919 b. himself. his s0n-in-iaW. y. B.
Evans. and Harry %. Jones.
Confessions also were made By
Evans and Jones that they had per
.1red fhemfclves in an endeavor TO
hide the assets of grocer formerly
operated by Evans at Seventy-fiTst
street and stony Island avenue.
Tho reading OF the confessions caus-
81 o. dramatic Interruption 20 the gov
srnmenrs antitrust suit against the
chicago BOARD % Trade For nearly
two ho1rs details of the alleged bank
ruptcy fraud were barred before the
court Then Judge lands ordered
the grand jury investigation
Harvey StricEIer. a lawyer. explain
- o. the outset Biackiidre had told
hIu Tuesday afternoon that the dam
age f1it vas based on perjury Strick-
isr if vas who ordered BiackiidEe 20
confess fie apoioEized for his connec-
ton with the case. although be had
been innocsutly drawn into f..
Reveals Bankruptcy Tansie
BtacElidGee confession. substanti-
atsd by thoss % Evans and Jones. as
serted BiacE1ldee falsely nad claimed
ownership % the grCecry after ia had
been thrown into the hands OF a re-
ceivcr lie said he testified falsely
that be had paid Jones s1.Ij0 20 square
an indebtedness or Evans. Jones said
be- bad falsely testified he had lost
money betting on horse races
When this explanation OF ownershfD
was given originally In the district
court Judge lands sentenced all three
men 70 jail for perjury. The damage
suit AGAINST the iurist was based on
this Imprisonment. The suit was dis
missed late In the day by Judge Nc
GCorty In the circuit court
District Attorney Ciyne and his as
-istant, Joseph p Fiemming took
turns IN reading the confessions OF
the admitted periuTers. All had been
made 70 Hinton G. ClabauEh. chief OF
the local bureau o. the department
% Justice
BiackIidge asserted in his statement I
that the perjury had been decided /
upon after he had taken the advice /
o., a friend and gone TO see a lawyer. I
The lawyer. ne said. told him To say !
he had lost the money on the races. f.
and that he. the lawyer. wa the man I
behind the gun" and could protect him. /
Morris Addresses Court
\ few moments before the close of
the proceedings Attorney Morris en-
tered the court room and addressed.
Judge lands
~ have just been informed state
meuts have been read in this court de-
ciarinE engineered a conspiracy" he
said II any confessions implicate
me I want to be present TO hear them"
Attorney Gibbs also was present
Both we're questioned by Judge Ian
iis after they had been identified by
Hacklidze-
Later In the day Morris said. 1T IS
an unpleasant incident / had rather
.et 10 die than discuss ft Nothing will \
come of IT.
He fs a former assistant city attOF-
1ey and resides AZ 141l South Trum-
4II avenue. Gibbs resides NJ 222S
Potomac avenue. a
Judge lands had this 10 say AZ the
conclusion OF the hearing:
There isn't the slightest doubt In
ny mind as to the integrity OF Harvey
stricsler. but for obvious reasons I
Eti make no observation es 70 the
attitude toward and in relation 20 this
situation OF Messrs. Morris < GIBBS
. o. not necessary Tor me TO give any :
This case calls for def
nite grand Jury action
Assistant District Attorney Fleming
'nrouuced after the hearing that the
tf,tGvits and confessions would be
'resented today 90 the grand jury