The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-10-02
Diggs
CONTINUED from Page u

Chain Bank bill. McGonagle did
not say Digs asked for the contri.
button. Other testimony given by
McGonagle was 10 the effect that
h" wired Diggs and Blondy the day
the bill was to be voted upon. in.
sisting that it would be Ito their
best interest to vote for the bill"
Questioning by Attorney Rowlette
also revealed that McGonsgle had
contacted Digs almost a month be-
fore the alleged solicitation of q
bride was made. At that time. Nc
Gonagle testified he called on Digs
10 explain the bill" and what ii
meant to bankers in the state.
Digs was not present either when
McGonagle testified or when the
warrant was issued.
Discussion as to whether the war
rant should be issued occurred when
1t. William Watkins, of the State
Police. said he had been instructed
by Attorney General Herbert Rush
ton to sign a complaint on basis
OF information and belief. When
Watkins asked for the warrant,
Judge Cotter asked where's the
application"
At this point, Mcintosh entered
the discussion and was asked by
Judge Cotter IL the prosecutors
office would recommend a warrant.
Mcintosh answered that a warrant
can be issued on the basis of the
evidence at hand, but the prosecu-
tors Office does not recommend a
warrant because Of the unusual pro-
cedure'."
What is the unusual procedure?"
Judge Cotter asked.
Because Of the nature OF the case,
and the regulations Of the two State
Senators involved we could not
recommend a warrant until we have
conducted our own investigation
and heard both sides of the story"
Mcintosh answered Both of these
men have fine regulations" he add
ed, land we would like 10 talk with
both of them before recommend
ing a warrant. We would have to
make an investigation independent
OF the investiga CATION conducted by
the attorney generals office"
The court is supposed to be sd-
vised by the prosecutors office"
Judge Cotter said. You admit suffi-
cient evidence for issuing a warrant,
yet you refuse TO make the recon-
mendation'
Mcintosh then said that there was
no formal recommendation for
warrant from the attorney generals
Office, and added that all the prose-
cuior had TO go on was the State
pollcemans orders from Rushton.
Il don't want to put you on
spot" Judge Cotter said, but
don't want to get on a spot my.
self. l w'spt 10 do the thing that's
right and fair. ] feel the evidence
is sufficient, but | won't issue a war
rant until recommendation is
made either By the attorney general
or the prosecutor"
Al this point the court was ad-
until 2 p m. 10 allow the
prosecutor 10 contact the attorney
generals office. At pm. follow
ing more discussion. Cole signed the
complaint and the warrants were
issued.
In newspaper interview Senator
Diggs categorically denied the
charge OF soliciting a bribe and
stated "Mr. Donaldson OF the De-
troit bank at Gratiot and st. An
tome called me and said he would
ike for me TO meet an official OF
his bank Mr.. McGonagle and Mr.
Donaldson came 10 my Office and
began 10 explain their interest in
The banking bill. Nothing was said
about any finances and Mr.. McGon-
agile said he wanted to know how
he other legislators of Wayne
county felt about the bill ! called
up Blondy and he came up and dis
,ussed the matter without any ref
erence TO money. Following the
the men left and that was
all to it,"