Brands It A Falsehood

Judge Newkirk on the Recent Judson Interview

"BILL" NOT IN IT

Says the Judge in the Matter of His Appointment on the B. of P. W.

Ex-Judge Newkirk brands as a falsehood the statement in the Detroit Journal of Tuesday, to the effect that "Bill" Judson had cornered enough votes in the common council to prevent his (Newkirk's) confirmation if his name had been presented for the office on the board of public works tendered him last week by the mayor.

"Now that the matter has become public, I might as well explain it fully," said Judge Newkirk today.

"Last Monday morning an alderman came to me and said that some of Mr. Ferguson's friends again wished to have his name presented to the common council for the board of public works office. He said that the mayor was willing If I was, and asked me to wait for a week until it could be found if the council would confirm Ferguson's appointment. I told the alderman to go ahead, that I was perfectly willing to wait if Mr. Ferguson's friends wished him to have the office. That was the reason my name was not presented to the council on Monday night and not because 'Bill' Judson had enough of votes in the council to defeat me. If my name had been presented I would have been confirmed, at least that's what I have been told by a number of the aldermen."

"Why does Judson oppose your candidacy?" was asked.

"I am sure I don't know," was the reply, "except that he is sore because I supported Mayor Copeland for congress. Why shouldn't I? We were school boys together, and have known each other intimately ever since. When the mayor wlthdrew, then I supported Mr. Wedemeyer."

Referring to Judson's alleged statement which appeared in the Detroit papers relative to him controlling four members of the board of regents, Judge Newkirk said that despite Judson's denial, he knew he had made the statement attributed to him.

"When Mayor Copeland appointed Mr. Sawyer city attorney," said the judge, "I was walking on the street with Judson one day, when he told me that he would make things warm for Copeland if he insisted on having Mr. Sawyer appointed to the city attorney's office. At that time Judson was opposed to Sawyer. I asked Judson how he could make it warm for the mayor and he then told me that he controlled four members of the board of regents. I laughed to myself at the ludicrousness of Judson's assumption."

"Will your name be presented at the next meeting of the council for the board of public works?" "I don't know. My friends have advised me to have nothing to do with the office now," said the judge, "but I have not yet determined what I will do."