The Detroit times., 1912-11-18
ACCUSED ALDERMEN
FIGHT CHANGE OF VENUE


modified and made TO show where he
Intended taking the trials; second
'ilat he wanted to present a1idayits
showing that IL would be financial
burden on his client and the other de-
.endants. II they had TO take wit
f.esses TO another county; and third.
ne wanted the prosecution To bring
some proof TO show a reason for the
claim that hostility or bias existed,
which would prevent fair trial
1ere.
His argument bristled with the typi.
cal Hunt sarcasm, which gave rise To
"cveral perfectly gentlemanly tins
With Mr.. wilkins. none the legs in
ierestins on account OF their polite
aDd quiet nature.
Hunt remarked, that speaking only
tentatively, he wanted to know
whether. II the prosecutor by incap.
able handling OF the cases had
created hostility to the prosecution,
the prosecutor could limp into court
and ask for a change OF venue
He also wanted to know why Mr..
shepherd was not In court To person
ely conduct the case, and demanded
an adjournment until Shepherd could
se present.
He also said that as Hugh Shepherd
had signed the motion, he was an
issue In the case and could not elm
mate himself.
dive to fight another day" said Mr..
Hunt. with infinite sarcasm, but We
insist that the sultan be here In peS-
son on this little Bulgarian battle
Aeld."
Then he referred back to q session
before the attorney-general in Lans-
ing, when Mr.. wilkins started 70
speak for Shepherd, and the attorney.
general insisted on hearing from
shepherd In person.
Hunt Cites Presidents.
Contending that the local case did
cpot require q change Of venue, Mr..
Hunt referred to the Rosenthal case
IN New York. where "the very founds
tons of civic life were involved;
where the newspapers carried heac.
lines a foot deep and where the
rhine occurred In the heart OF the
city" He added: They got jury
He next referred to the Los Angeles
Times disaster, which was fed 20
babies with their milk" so general
vas its discussion. They got n
Try"
Frank G. Andrews case was also
referred TO. Andrews being pointed
cut as newspaper owner, bank direct
IT, police commissioner, financler and
society leader, but they also got
jury in that case, Hunt said,
Attorney Mcnamara then took the
floor and seconded Mr.. Hunts three
motions also referring 10 his 70 affi-
uavits as the strongest possible EVIL
dence that a fair trial could be held
sere. tie said that each Of those men
swore that they themselves could act
a. jurors, and that all we're men OF
unquestioned integrity. He also
played up" the question OF where
the prosecution intended taking the
cases, and asked whether a within OF
The prosecutors could drag the de-
PENDANTS from amongst their friends:
put them to heavy expense, and inn
pair their defense in that way"
He declared that he was prepared
10 show, IL delay were granted, that
the newspapers, which the rrosecu-
zion had claimed had biased the pub
ether counties as well as in Detroit,
.Ld he could see no BENEFITS to be
derived from change Of venue on
mat count.
Mcnamara added that the newspa-
pers had already convicted" the al
dermen, and that to all intents and
purposes had already started them
doing time" He referred to a car
toon OF Tom Gilman. on his knees In
supplication before Judge Phelan, ana
said II was all done to prejudice the
public. and remove any presumption
OF innocence. But, he added, the al
dermen were not asking a change or
venue.
wilkins Is Foxy.
Which was promptly taken up by
Attorney wilkins a moment later,
Wilkins daily remarking that that
was an excellent reason why there
should be a change OF venue. as thu
prosecutor was an officer OF the court,
sworn to see that justice was admir-
istered as evenly to defendant as to
prosecution.
AS to the motion to force the pros
ecutipn to name the place to which
IL was proposed to take the cases,
Attorney wilkins remarked to the
court that II was up to- the court
alone TO say~where, and no motion
OF the prosecution would be of any
value, hence there was no need or
the two weeks delay.
I'VE might recommend Kalamazoo
county. and your honor could prompt
ly designate Oakland county" said
Mr.. wilkins. I'VE trust to your hon.
or's Judgment and discretion and
calm common sense. II the minds or
the people are inhamed against the
defendants as my brother McNa-
mara, states. that Is proof that they
should not be tried here.
Il anticipated just this procedure.
II is play for delay, just as the ad-
journment from two weeks ago was
play for delay"
Then taking up the 20 afhdavits,
Mr.. wilkins declared that he doubted
whether the 73 men knew they were
signing, when they made the affida-
Wits
us II possible that 7S men of high
standing in the community. and un-
questioned integrity, could swear that
they had read all that was printed
and we're not impressed" asked
Mr.. wilkins.
Gives Hunt Job.
He then took delicate, but h1rd
fall out OF Mr. Hunts sarcastic refer
ences to the prosecutor. by stating: