The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1912-01-31
GUILTY" PLEA
TO JURY BRIBE
FOR Detective
Attorneys EmpIOye in McNa-
mara Case Denies Promise
of Immunity
ISpeeial Dispateh 10 The Call


OS ANGELES. Jan. SO.-Bert H.
Franklin. charged with attempt
4 ing to bribe Robert F. Balm.
juror in the J. B. Mcnamara
g case. and George \. Lockwood pros
pective juror, wiz plead guilty. accord
ing to information from an authentic
g source.
Later ne will appear as the principal
witness against Clarence Darrow, chief
row is tried on a charge of completely
in the same bribery attempts which led
TO Franklins downfall
Franklin's trial has been set for Feb
ruary ~, but it may be postponed and
his appearance as a witness against
Darrow precede the determination OF
his own case. While Franklin still de-
MES having made a confession and the
district attorneys chief deputy, Joseph
Ford. declines to make statement. it
appears certain that the two men have
had frank discussion and that each is
confident he understands the other.
Willingness TO Testify
In this connection it is significant
that while before the grand jury
Franklin did not take advantage of the
immunity provision that he could have
invoked to save himself. After the
provisions of the new law were read
he did not say that he declined TO
answer because his answers would in
criminate him. Instead he expressed
Willingness to answer all questions and
did so. This suggests an understand
ing as to future procedure both in his
case and that of Darrow.
Did you make a confession to the
grand jury. supplying the alleged facts
on which Clarence Darrow was in
dicted for jury briberyg
will you become the states star
witness IN the prosecution of Darrow,
under an agreement of immunitv?''
These questions were put today to
Franklin and his reply was:
IF am placed on the witness stand
shall tell the truth. l will not per-
jure myself for anybody"
Immunity Pact Denied
eAt the same time be maintained that
there was no understanding between
him and the prosecutors with regard
to Immunity. As to reports that he
had confessed to the grand jury his
alleged part in the corruption of Nc
Namara jurors, Franklin said he had
not been before the inquisitors long
enough to tel much.
You can take it from me-" he said,
) emphatieally. Bert Franklin never will
go to the penitentiary- No lenieney has
been promised me and there is no ar
rangement at all between me and the
district attorneys office. ". Joseph
Ford. the assistant district attorney.
has never been at my house nor my
office. and I have not been to his house
nor to his Office either, since a few days
after I was arrested and went then to
obtain some property of mine
cat present 1 expect to go to trial
February q on the two bribery charges
pending against me. I expect jury to
be drawn then and the trial to proceed
regularly.
Knows Rights Under Law
IF I am put on the witness stand in
this or any other case shall tell the
truth. I will not perjure myself for
anybody. But I know my rights within
the law, and I shall take advantage of
them
II have not seen Ford since the day
!. appeared before the grand jury.
6 was in the grand jury room about I'VE
minutes. A man can't tell very much
in that time. can he? I might have
been asked about the Lockwood case
and not thing about the Balm case.
a witness who did not know his rights
3 might have told about one case, only
to be prosecuted later on the other"
Ford refused to comment upon
Franklin's statement, nor would he
say anything about a conference he
held with Superior Judge Frank r.
Q Willis. before whom Franklin's cases
are scheduled for trial Judge Willis
also declined to speak of the meeting
Ford stated. however. thta the grand
jury would not resume its investiga-
tion this week and probably not for 10
days. by which time John ID. Fredericks.
district attorney. is expected to return
from the east to resume charge of the
investigation.
The absence of Fredericks during the
inquiry which resulted in the indict-
ment of Darrow was commented upon
generally today it being the belief that
the district attorney wished to avoid
seeming to attack his former adver-
sary in the trial Of James r. McNa~
9. mara.
o Fredericks' assistants said that when
he resumed charge of the grand jury's
work every angle of the alleged ma
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