The daily monitor. (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1940-1942, 1941-03-19
Graft
Continued From Page II

- ~ ~
Continued From Page II
President, the post he now holds.
A native Of Detroit, the o.
year.old councilman started his
trade apprenticeship at 10 and
with his father was engaged In
the construction Of many build
ings in old Detroit.
In his 80 years % q union Off,
cial, he once said that no strikes
marred his administration. In
1927, reporting that his union
had grown in assets from $500
to 100000, he boasted that It
was "the richest local labor
union In the world"
Although unsuccessful in his
hrst two bids for q council seat,
he was returned to Office ak
times after his election In 1912.
In the council he constantly adj
vocated improved school facili-
ties and municipal ownership Of
public utilities.
Hamilton, who admitted In
circuit court yesterday he had
accepted SIS, 900 for his vote on
the Herman Gardens Housing
project, offered the council his
resignation last night.
II do not want to cause any
more trouble than I have al
ready and force any custer pro-
ceedinss," he wrote.
John G. Lodge, veteran coun-
Gilman, recommended that Coun-
Gil President John w. Smith re-
fuse to accept the resignation,
and no comment or protest was
offered. Hamilton was at home
on $40, 900 bail at the time.
1.-THE councilmen are entitled
to rid their own nest of q bad
egg II there Is q bad egg. I'm
parchment Of Hamilton Il only
fair to the other councilmen"
said John H Witherspoon, chief
assistant corporation counsel
Hamilton's amazing confess
sion before Judge Harry B.
Keidan set In motion q number
Of legal actions. First, the coun-
Gilman was arraigned on q
charge Of selling his vote in
favor Of concrete construction In
the $8,S00,000 housing project
contract award. On Friday he
faces examination In Recorders
court on the charge. In addition
he faces possible action by
Judge Keidan for perjury. While
relating the incidents that led
to the bribe-taking, Hamilton
branded rs false his previous de-
NAL that he had accepted the
money.
Meanwhile, Circuit Judge Ho-
mer Ferguson and Mayor Ed
ward ]. Jeffries agreed to wait
for Judge Keidan's decision in q
civil case involving the Herman
Gardens contract before press
ing claims against surety COM
panies which wrote bonds in
surfing the city against losses on
the project.
The civil case was brought by
Maurice Bein, Chicago contrac-
tor and unsuccessful bidder Of
the contract against the A.
Smith & Co. and Lipman Con-
struction Co. Of Chicago.
Informally, Judge Ferguson
and Mayor Jeffries agreed that
the contract was void because II
had been obtained by fraud.
Performance bonds totallins
more than %, 200. 900 were writ
ten on the project by 10 surety
companies. Mayor Jeffries said
IL was his o6hand opinion that
the city's loss would be limited
to increase In costs Of material
since the contract was Let. Thus
far the Smlth-Lipman interests
have received 800, 900 fom the
city.
Hamilton, . former state rep
resentative, led the move for Q
grand jury investigation q tho
housing project contract Last D.
cembsr when indications C b.
regularities were presented %
the common council.
II SaW . chance 70 mokt
some dough. ! went for It. Thsro
are no excuses and I am roo9y
TO take my medicine" hs toJ6
Judge xei6an.