Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-04-11
BOSTON CONTINUES
HOTBED OF SCANDAL
BY EDMUND HART
Leased Wire Service to The Journal.)
Copyright, 1927


BOSTON, April Son Monday, a
special committee of the Massachu-
sets legislature will begin its pub
lie hearings on the petition brought
by two members of the bar for the
removal of Justice Edward T.
Pierce, of the supreme judicial
court, the highest legal tribunal of
the state In addition to the charges
of graft alleged against Judge Pierce,
which the legislators will hear,
there is an indictment against him
in Suffolk county for alleged inter
ference and corrupt influence in
matters before the courts. Both
cases grew out Of Judge Pierce's
alleged friendship with w. Edwin
Ulmer, lawyer, who represented a
corporation in litigation before the
courts.
In the latter case Judge Pierce is
charged with improper interest in
matters of litigation" that he was
guilty Of conspiracy and that while
the case was before the court Judge
Pierce accepted flowers, fruit and
vegetables" valued at $1,000.
The indictment in Suffolk county
was procured by Joseph G. Pelletier
Just before his removal from office
by the supreme court on charges OF
graft and extortion and using his
office for private gain in connection
with a number of prominent Boston
lawyers, some of whom will soon
be tried on disbarment proceedings.
Judge Pierce has never pleaded to
the indictment. He was in hos
pital when the grand jury reported
and has not sat on the bench since
the Indictment was found. He is
represented by able counsel in both
proceedings and his friends say that
they are sure that he will clear him.
self of all charges. He has been a
member of the highest court of the
state for eight years and prior to
that was a justice of the superior
court for IA years.
Judge Pierce's associates on the
bench feel keenly the situation. The
judiciary of Massachusetts has a fine
reputation and the decisions of the
supreme judicial court are highly
regarded by both bench and bar all
over the country. Only once be-
fore in the long and honorable his
tory of the supreme judicial court
has it been found necessary to in
vestigate the conduct of any of it's
members. That was in 1903, when
Justice Bradbury was removed be-
cause of hopeless illness and his in
ability to attend to his judicial
duties.
Mr.. Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes,
now a venerable but active member
of the United States supreme court
was for years the chief justice of
the supreme judicial court of Massa-
chusetts. He was appointde to his
present position by President Roose-
welt while he was serving as chief
justice Of Massachusetts. Other
members of the Massachusetts
court, who became nationally known
were General Charles Devens, at
torney general in President Hayes
cabinet; Horace Gray, for many
years one of the ablest members of
the United States supreme court;
attorney general; Caleb Gushing, one
of Grants closest friends and a war
Democrat, and Theodore Zedgwick,
for several terms speaker of the ma
tional house of representatives in
the early days of the republic.
Besides the Indictment of Justice
Pierce before the superior court in
Boston there is another against At
torney General Allen, also procured
in the last days of District Attor-
ney Pelletier, charging him with the
larceny of a sum Of money from
former client, which will soon come
up for trial. The attorney generals
counsel has asked the courts to dis
miss the indictment against the legal
officer of the commonwealth, on the
ground that the bin was found
against him because of the lobbying
of the grand jury by Mr., Pelletier.
Hearings on General Aliens conten-
| tions are now being held.
Mr.. Allen is seriously thinking of
being candidate for governor in the
Republican primaries in September.