The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-10-29
Charges Fly Fast In
Closing Arguments

Closing Arguments
Attorney James Mcnamara, OF
counsel for the defense. concluded
his argument before the Gilman
jury, Thursday morning. He renew
ed the attack Of the day before On
Walter j. Brennan.
He recalled numerous denials made
by Brennan on the stand; denials thar
Brennan was later compelled to
withdraw when confronted with the
reports that the defense obtained
from the prosecutor on on order
from the court.
Five days after Brennan arrived
in Detroit" said Mcnamara, he SAT
down In his room and wrote that
Tom Gilman, the man he mao
never seen or talked with, was the
biggest crook in the city.
Gentlemen of the jury. can't you
see that this was conspiracy to
send Tom Gilman to the peniten-
tiary?
when the petitions were hled
and In the hands OF the committee
the business men and the merchants
got busy to see that they were pass
ed because they were for the best In
terest OF the city. We needed ad-
ditional railroad facilities. Gilman
went to Pittsburgh to induce the
Pennsylvania line to come TO De-
troit. Members OF the Board OF
Commerce were on that trip. Homer
Warren. a friend Of Gilman, talked
with Tom about the Wabash petit
tions. Gilman told him he was In
favor of them and would work hard
to have. them passed through the
council.
The manager Of a newspaper sent
for Mr.. Gilman and urged him TO
do everything in his power to further
the petitions, and warned him at
the same time to report the use OF
any money in connection with the
petitions.
ION July 8, Mr.. Gilman and At
torney Lathrop, of the Wabash, met
Brennan by appointment.
Mcnamara went on to tell how
Gilman took the rider" prepared
by Assistant Corporation Counsel Ed
mund Atkinson and introduced II In
the common council, first showing
Brennan and Lathrop conditions In
the district where the tracks were
to be built
"If Gilman was not acting in good
faith. would he have taken them
down there to view the premises and
later made an appointment TO meet
Brennan In the corporation counsePs
offce?" argued Mcnamara He also
called the attention OF the jury to
the remark made by Gilman TO Bren-
nan to the effect that IL any money
was used In connection with the petit
lions, he would be against IL. echoing
the warning given him by q newspa-
per editor.
THAT was sufficient warning to
Brennan that Tom Gilman would
not stand for any money" said Nc
Namara. THAT was SUFFICIENT warn
ing to him that the plans for the trap
would fail Brennan had TO make
good. The reason they did not offer
Gilman money for his vote, was be-
cause they were afraid the whole
scheme would fail. That was why IL
was easier to slip the money In his
pocket. They dragged him into a
room. He was SO dumbfounded that
he felt like a mass Of inert flesh.
IF Gilman had been guilty he
would have cried Quit Is the old
trick of thief and a scoundrel Tom
Gilman. crushed and beaten, with all
his hopes blasted. Think OF the pitt
full scene that was enacted in that
room that afternoon. Put yourselves
in his place and think how hopeless
and helpless you would be.
Remember, Brennan said his EN-,
ployers were fly bunch and Bren-
nan had to make good. He took the
easiest way, knowing that all his
plans would come down around his
ears II he offered Gilman money and
that he (Brennan) would have to
start all over again.
"Blinnan knew that his-own ward
was In favor of the petitions. Bush
ness men and newspapers were for
them. Gilman was candidate for
mayor. Don't you see why Gilman
would be In favor OF those petitions?
He knew that back OF the petitions
stood the most solid business men In
the city. Do you think Gilman,
knowing all that, would change mis-
mind between July and July 16?
No. Mr.. Brennan had no agreement
with Gilman on July IL for his vote.
Gilman knew how he would and did
vote long before that"
Mcnamara then reverted TO Andrew
Green's testimony, calling attention TO
the fact that Green put up the money
for the graft investigation and that
Green also wanted 10 be a candidate
for mayor at that time.
Green, Mcnamara said. wanted to
hold up the investigation so he could
use a graft club to compel the alder.
men to support him politically.
Brennan says to this that his boss
would not stand for t." said McNa-
mara. Green told Brennan that he
was paying Burns. and Brennan wrote
to Burns, on July IL. that II looked as
II Green was going to give them the
double-cross.
The Burns agency was In danger