The Detroit times., 1914-09-17
FIRST DIRTY MONEY lever
TOOK BURNSSAYS Gilman
DECLARED WHEN ARRESTED

Gil He stated that he wanted a
thorough investigation made. The
mayor mentioned an alderman that
was "all right" Mr.. Burns forgot the
name. The mayor voiced his sus-
picion Of Gilman. but told Burns to
leave him alone as the alderman was
too slick to be caught"
81 did not like the idea OF the
mayor selecting those members OF
the council to be investigated" said
Burns. II told him would look for
corruptions and report to him"
DID Thompson say Gilman led IN
the defeat OF the Thompson fran
chise?"
"No. he did not. had no con
'ersation on that matter until some
! line later and Glinnan's name was
not mentioned"
| Attorney Mcnamara tried hard to
get Burns to admit that Thompson
discussed with him Glinnan's activity
In the defeat of the franchise, and
the boom started for Honest Tom
for mayor. Mr.. Burns answered
mo" to a number of questions along
this line.
Mcnamara then read list OF
names, asking Burns to select the
honest aldermen" named to him BY
Thompson.
He recalled Owen and Vernon. and
hesitated over several other names.
did Thompson spur you on, by
telling you that you would not get
Glinnanr'
II rather attributed It to his lack
OF knowledge Of our business was
the answer.
Burns said Van Dyke told him the
police commissioner, Frank "A. Croul
was all right" Burns could not re-
member that Andrew A. Green was
present In the meeting on Feb. 8.
Regarding the price for his work
Burns said Thompson asked him II
$4,000 would be enough. He said he
could not name definite figure and
firally received $1,000 as q retainer
The understanding was that Green
would finance the investigation and
would be reimbursed by citizens, he
said.
The next meeting between Mr.,
Burns and the mayor was two weeks
later. During the interim he did not
receive any correspondence from the
mayor, Green or Van Dyke.
Mr.. Burns second conference In De
troit was also In Van Dykes ONCE.
Attorney Mcnamara switched OF to
ask Burns where he first met "Bren.
nan" Burns said In Turkish bath
house in San Francisco. He denied
that Brennan was rubber" In the
bath house
Getting back to a continuation OF
the narration OF the second conference
In Detroit, Mr.. Burns said Van Dyke
and the mayor were present. Bren.
nan was In the city. but not at the
meeting, which was held In the morn.
Ing.
He was unable to fx the date Of
this meeting.
did anybody come to the meeting
after the mayorT
Mr.. Green may have called.
I, Burns said that the progress OF the
investigation was talked over IN the
meeting. He said he came on because
he thought sunicient progress was not
being made In the work"
II came to arrange cover or set.
ting" he explained.
Did Thompson mention q plan to
have bill introduced In the council
for garbage plant or one for 3 SEQ
ond bridge over Belle Isle?" was
asked.
Il don't remember" answered
Burns. 1--WE discussed settings and
suggested the Wabash deal"
/. did Thompson mention wabash
petitions for closing of streetsf"
Yes"
Then Thompson was first to men.
tion the Wabash?"
Burns hesitated and finally an.
swered, Eyes"
did Green say he knew Mr.. De.
lano Of the Wabash"
"Yes."
Burns insisted that he would not
permit the mayor or anyone else to
tell him how TO arrange the setting.
II new Mr.. DeIano personally and
was confident that could arrange II
myself" said the witness.
Continuing McNamara asked: did
the mayor say that Gilman was the
leader OF the council and II you got
him you got them ally
Something along that line"
A third meeting was then referred
to, as was also q meeting between
Burns and Brennan In Cleveland. This
meeting took place early In March.
Did Brennan In his reports say he
found any corruption among the aid.
ermen?'
yes"
Reference to schreiter by Burns oc-
casioned q laugh and the Judge order
ed the officers to preserve order.
This trial 10 not a farce" roared
the judge.
Objection was made by the defense
to the conversation with Schreiter and
was sustained on the ground that II
was hearsay. This gave the defense
great satisfaction az II II along the
line OF McNamara's argument against
the admission of Schreiter's testi.
mony. relative to conversations with
Gilman.
After quizzing Mr.. Burns about his
efforts to get into communication with
Delano. Attorney Mcnamara led up
to the fourth meeting In Detroit be-
tween the detective and his employers
Burns ref,rsed to be frightened or
confused by the onslaughts Of the de-
Tense. He insisted In answering all
questions In his own way, exercising
care TO keep within the bounds OF
court etiquette at all times. On sew.
eral occasions Burns attempted to
deftly take the lead from Attorney
McNsmara and get his own versions
and tidelights on some important hap
penings into the record. Attorney Nc
Namara was very careful In handling
the detective. who 10 at home In the
witness chair.