Evening star., 1911-05-27
DENOUNCED AS FAKE:
Telegram Which Procured
Requisition for Mcnamara.
UNION LABOR oFFICiR-
Attorney Rappaport CriticiseS t.
tective Burns, Declaring He Lied
to California Governor

A fake telegram from Detective Burns
TO the Governor OF California was re-
spons.ble for the issuance Of extradtdoa
papers for John J. Mcnamara. secretary
of the Bridge and Structural Iron Work.
ers Union. who was "railroaded' from
Indianapolis to Los Angeles on a charge
or wholesale murder by dynamite This
statement was made today before the
rules committee of the House by Attor-
ney Rappaport OF Indianapolis. who ap-
peared to indorse the resolution intro
duced by Representative Victor J.. Berger,
the Milwaukee socialist. proposing a con-
gressional inquiry. by special committee.
Into the alleged kidnapping or Nc
Namara.
According 10 Rsppaport. Burns de-
clared in his telegram. one week before
he laid hands on Mcnamara that he
had him in custody in Indianapolis II
is essential in the Issuance OF extradi-
tion papers I'm California. the attorney
explained, that the man to be returned
be under arrest
Branded as a Lie.
He branded this telegram as a lis.
declared that Burns had notified the
indianapolis newspapers Of his great
coup day in advance, so they could
get out extras, and criticised the de-
tective for his methods all through the
Mcnamara case.
II would suggest" said Chairman
Henry. that Mr.. Burns not only pulled
of a coup. but a SCOOP"
Mr.. Berger, who had informed the COM
mittee three separate times that he was
a newspaper man, was provoked to mer-
r1ment at this neat little Jest
Samuel Gompers. president OF tho
American Federation of Labor. who was
to have appeared before the committee
this morning, did not show up, but sent
a letter instead. He protested to the ex-
tent OF five pages against the KIDNAPPING
of Mcnamara and declared that the guilt
or innocence Of Mcnamara did not enter
into the case at this time.
Demands Of Civilization.
''No self-respecting humane citizen"
says Mr.. Gompers. can have any SYM
pathy either with killing or the policy
OF killing. and this without regard
whether the crime has been committed
by high official or one OF the submerged
in the social strata. Our civil zation
presumes the highest regard for human
life and human liberty. The abduction
OF Mcnamara from his home is a crime
against justice. liberty and the rights
OF man. II is not appropriate here 10
refer to the guilt or innocence of Nc
Namara. That many OF our fellow
citizens and i believe In his innocence
is not a question for your committee to
consider
President Ryan OF the Bridge ana
Structural Iron Workers Union. OF which
MCNAMARA was secretary. told the COM
nittee how the police had descended
upon the headquarters OF the organfza-
tion, armed with q search warrant, plac-
ed everybody present under close sur
veillance and ransacked the place.
did they find any dynamite In your
safer" Representative Madison OF Kan
sas inquired.
NO" Mr.. Ryan replied: but there
was $i2 in IL that mysteriously dis
appeared. and that we haven't seen since"
since"
Attorney Rappaport. in detailing his
connection with the Mcnamara case after
his retention counsel. told the com
mittee that Mcnamara and one HaH kins,
who was a member of the unions board.
had been subjected to vile language and
epithets' during their examination by the
police. Hawkins. he said. finally de-
had been arrested. and, as the police had
no warrant for him, he was permitted to
depart.
Conference Denied.
Then Mr.. Rappaport told the committee
how the police had refused to permit him
to confer, even for a moment. with any