The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-10-17
Gilman, FIGHTING BRIBE
CHARGE, TAKES STAND TO
TELL STORY OF HIS LIFE

utati0n In the community was good.
AS estimator-at-iarge do you run In
the Eighteenth ward?" asked Frazer.
IL do" answered Bolton and he was
then excused.
DR.. M. A. Layton was the last char
acter witness called. He said he re-
sided at 1880 Fort-st. west. and has
been acquainted with Gilman for Is
years, being the alderman's family
physician. He gave Gilman good
character. The prosecutor dismissed
him with few perfunctory questions.
Aid. TON" Il. Gilman, the defend
ant. was then called to the stand. Glin-
nan said he was AZ years old. was
born in Canada and came to Detroit
i6 years ago. locating In the township
OF Sprlngwells. He said he attended
school very little. He said he went to
a little public school. one room. locat-
ed out In the woods"
II attended II a little In the summer
time--in the winter had to work"
he said.
He first went to work on the Can
ada Southern railway as a messenger
when about III or ~ years old. In less
than two months he was promoted TO
a position as car checker with increas-
ed salary. This position he, held over
two years.
After this he went to the Goldsmith.
Bryant a Stratton Business college In
Detroit paying his tuition by collect.
ing rents for Mr.. Goldsmith. He re-
ceiyed scholarship. After fall and
winter In college he went back to car
checking.
How did you get back and forth
to SCHOOL," he was asked
The alderman fought TO regain his
composure. He wiped his eyes.
Il walked" he said In a choky
voice.
After he went back to the railroad
he made the acquaintance of a Wa
bash boss" and took Job car check
ing with that company at an increased
salary. Later he was made yard
Clerk. he worked in this capacity for
two or three years and then-in 1886
was appointed night master-a re-
sponsible position.
he resigned this job To 20 to Chi
cage, but did not 80 and went TO the
Ann Arbor railroad as a freight brake
man ana conductor, running between
Howell Junction and Mt Pleasant. He
remained here q short time.
Being dissatisfied with the lob. he
came back to Detroit and went to
work for the Lake Shore & Michigan
southern as a switchman. He injured
his left hand while working for this
railroad, losing the index finger and
crushing several bones.
Continuing, Gilman said that he
quit his position after the accident
and went to- work for the Grand
Trunk. braking on a mixed" train.
running from Detroit to Mt. Clemens.
and sometimes to Fort Gratiot. On
June "a. 1889. he resigned on the So
iicitation OF the general yard master
OF the Wabash.
He was chief yard clerk for the Wa.
bash for one winter. later being made
secretary To the general yard master.
taking care of the payroll, etc.
In 1892 or 1898 he was transferred
10 the Union Station & Terminal as
sociation. continuing at that employ
ment until made chief clerk. Then
ne became assistant general yard mas
ter.
In 1893 he went back to the Wabash
as chief clerk to the general yard mas
ter, where he remained until Novem-
Der, 1907 or 1908, when he rexigned.
When did you first hold public
position"
In 1892 or 1893 was elected to
the township school board in Spring.
wells. held this position short
time. when the village or woodmere
was organized and | was elected a
trustee
After serving for two years and
seven months, was elected presidents
OF the village OF Woodmere, being re,
elected two or three times. now
i've within q half a block OF the
place lived I'm for 20 years"
when were you first elected alder
man In Detroit?r
When the Eighteenth ward was
taken into the city / took my seat
In the common council in May, 1906.
and have been In the council ever
since. being nominated for reelection
at the present time"
Gilman said he served as president
Of the council for one year, and held
the chairmanship Of the ;committee on
ways and means for several years
He also was appointed member of
ways and means committee OF the
board OF supervisors, handling all the
business OF the board with the excep-
ton of the Is days the board, meets
every year. He represented Detroit
In the convention OF the American
League Of Municipalities, held In At
lanta. He was also chairman OF Re-
publican convention IN Saginaw.
When did you nrst meet Andrew
Green 7"
II met him flrst through railroad
business" answered the alderman.
At this point court was adjourned
for the lunch hour.
Aid. Maurice Heating and former
Aid. Tom Lynch. called to testify
for the defense in the Gilman bride
case. gave the lie TO statements made
on the stand by Walter J. Burns, alias
Brennan Heating admitted that he
acted In the capacity OF agent for the
Wabash in land deal in the vicinity
Of Seventh-st.. but denied having at
tempted to sell the railroad piece
of property. for $4,000. He swore
that several Of Mr. Brennan's state
ments were absolutely untrue"
"Tom" Lynch denied that he had
ever dickered with Brennan for a
bribe. although he admitted that Bren-
nan offered him 800 for his vote be-
fore the wabash petitions were voted
a. = -