In Re Simmons

This is certiorari to review a contempt proceeding. The facts are substantially undisputed.

On July 2, 1928, the criminal trial of Charles Jacoby and others, charged with extortion, was in progress in the recorder’s court of the city of Detroit. The case was notorious, involved what was known as the " Purple Gang,” and was voluminously reported in the local newspapers. Jacoby testified that he had collected money from persons in the cleaning and dyeing business, under direction of Frank X. Martel, president of the Detroit Federation of Labor, and had paid the money to him. That evening a…