The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-04
NO CLEMENCY IS
BURNS POSITION
SAYS M'NAMARAs SHOULD BE MADE
TO TELL ALL THAT THEY /,
KNOW.
NO RIGHT TO MERCY
CLAIMS THEY HAVE NOT TURNED
STATES EVIDENCE, BUT GAVE
UP ONLY WHEN
BEATEN.
BY WILLIAM }. BURNS.


INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 3.--No Glenn
ency should be shown by the court to
the McNamaras unless they come
through with all they know about the
dynamiting outrages. They pleaded
guilty because they were guilty ana
they knew they would be convicted.
They changed their mind about max
ing q fight because they reached the
conclusion that they might get on
easier by pleading guilty. But don't
just see why they should.
Here IL the proposition. AZ have
said all along, we had overwhelming
evidence against them. but We were In
no way indebted to them for what
to the prosecution. On the other hand
they started u great fight and q large
defense fund was raised to try TO get
them free from the charges which they
vehemently denied. We worked up
our case. and had II complete VITA
every loophols covered. When they
and their attorneys came to realize
this. they saw that the jig WA up.
Then came the scramble to save them
selves.
Now 1t IL not my place to suggest
to the court what II should be when
the fate Of the McNamaras 10 solely
in his hands, but II does seem to me
that the proposed ciemency would be
inconsistent unless something besides
mere plea of guilty were given to
warrant It, When q man gets Glenn
ency for turning States evidence 1t
In hA hn1r. he Stnt
convict others.
Should Tell All.
BY pleading guilty to the crtmeA
charged against them are the McNa-
maras hoping to convict others? Not
a bit Of 1t. and il liz pretty well un-
derstood by this time that there are
Others l say that on my own re-
sponsibility from what l know persons
ally. You will see that my statement
will be borne out officially when the
Federal grand Jury goes through the
evidence 1t has at its command. The
McNRmaras could aid still further IL
they would tell all they know. II
they do not they are protecting or
trying to protect some one who has
been guilty Of crime also, and
doesn't 1t seem a little bit strange that
men should be the objects OF leniency
when they are Withholding knowledge
of criminality?
1t may be that by pleading guilty
THE McNamaras have saved the Calf
fornia authorities great expense which
the trials would have entailed, bUV
that Is hardly an adequate excuse for
leniency when there were still other
violators OF the law unpunished. And
besides the McNamaras did not plead
guilty in order to save California ex-
pense. They pleaded In order to save
themselves for their own attorneys ad.
mltted that they were UP against II.
So II the McNamaras or their at
torneys acting for them, wish leniency
they should do something to merit It
They should make a full and com.
plete confession OF the whole dynA
hitting business. We have evidence
against many others anyhow, ant
many Of these will do doubt be con.
| victed 30 the McNamaras keepinl
silent would not save them, but IL they
should tell all they knew II Nigh
make the process a little shorter.
Il am not employed by tho gov
| eminent, and have nothing directly I,
do with the dynamiting cases befor,
the Federal grand jury at rndianapo
| liz, but as I have said before I wisl
| to place at the disposal OF the dis
! trict attorney at Indianapolis any an,
| all Information bearing on the case
\ that the Burns agency has In ito DOS
session or knows about And infor
nation for the public along that lin
must be obtained from the Federa
/ authorities.