The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-10-16
Defense Counsel Insists Client
Was Victim of Plot, 'Devilish
As That of Judas and
Caiphas"
CHARACTERIZES BRENNAN
AS "UNMITIGATED LIAR"
Will Call Aldermen Heating and
n Lynch to Impeach Testimony
of Detective


Declaring that his client was the
victim OF a plot las dark and devilish
as that devised by Caiphas. the high
priest, with Judas Iscariot, who mas
Queraded as Christ's apostle to bs
tray Rim" and declaring that the only
difference between Burns and the be-
trayer was that Judas hanged him
self, while Burns set up an agenct
In this city to bring further ruin and
devastation over the wrecked home or
Tom Gilman Attorney James Nc
Namara. chief Of counsel Tor the de-
tense OF Honest Tom" Gilman.
charged with accepting bribe, out.
lined the defense's case In his open
ing address TO the jury.
Mcnamara began at 9:35 TO make
his address.
MAY IL please the court and gem
tlemen of the jury II now becomes
the duty OF the defendant and his
counsel to tell you their side OF the
case. to give you the facts upon which
you will ultimately be asked to acquit
the defendant
"You gentlemen have been here for
weeks listening to testimony and at
times II may have become irksome--"
Il object TO this bunkum," inter
rupted Frazer. and ask the court to
have Mcnamara confine himself to
statements he expects to prove"
Il object to that remark. which IS
entirely .disrespectful." said McNa-
mara. sharply.
y The court warned the prosecutor to
address his remarks to the bench and
told Mcnamara TO 90 on, after assur-
Ing the jury that Mr.. Mcnamara was
not talking bunk.
Mcnamara continued:
We'll show you that Tom Gilman
was sacrificed to make a holiday for
Andy Green and payday for Burns.
1T was plot as dark and devilish
as that devised by Caiphas, the high
priest, with Judas Iscariot, masquerad-
ing as Christ's apostle, to betray Him
which has made the latter name one
Of historic horror, even to this day
only Judas hanged himself and Burns
has set up an agency in this city to
bring about further ruin and deyasta-
ton over the wrecked home OF Tom,
Gilman.
We shall show you that II is a
mere matter OF money with Burns TO
create q criminal and then destroy
him. II was Tom Gilman yesterday:
tomorrow II may be you or I that this
man. with his machinery OF lies. win
attempt to destroy"
Mcnamara then told how tom"
Gilman. IS years old, came to Detroit
when q boy. worked as q railway mes
senger, walked six miles to attend
school. became q car checker, and
later q conductor and brakeman. In
1889 he was yard clerk for the Wa
bash, later becoming assistant gen.
eral yard master.
He resigned In 1898 to become
member OF the school board. From
1901 to 1903 he was president of the
village OF Woodmere. and became a
member OF the common council OF the
city of Detroit In 1906.
Mcnamara than described Glinnan's
activities in the council and empha-
sired the fact that Gilman was elect
ed alderman In his ward after his ar
rest IN the graft case two years ago.
and Is now the Republican nominee
for alderman in hts ward.
Mcnamara next told OF the friend
ship and business connections between
Green and Gilman.
Green was q supporter OF the
Thompson franchise" said MCNAMARA.
TON Gilman used his powers to
defeat the franchise. although Green
urged Mr.. Gilman to help get Il
through, and wrote him letter after
letter. When the Issue was settled
by the people of Detroit, Mr.. Green
and Tom Gilman came to the part
ing OF the ways Green became Gin
mans enemy
after the defeat Of tho franchise. when
Thompson's political popularity was
1t low ebb. Mr.. Thompson sent to the
Burns detective agency, thinking that
was the kind Of man to bring into
the fleld to see II Tom Gilman could
not BE- eliminated politically from the
city Of Detroit.
"At that time there were In the en-
ploy Of the city efYicient detectives
employed for the very purpose OF fer
reting out crime and Furnishing the
perpetrators. They were not taken
SON and his Kitchen cabinet.
when Burns came here he report
ed, not to the mayor who sent for
him. but to Van Dyke, and received
his instructions from nm. The mayor
rived they found out that Mr. Burns
was not moved BY patriotic motives.
At the first meeting they talked over
the aldermen that Mr. Thompson put
on the blacklist, and we will show
you mat Mr.. Gilman was the man
they wanted TO set. Then Mr.. Green
was brought In TO finance the plot
Brennan was then sent TO Detroit By
Burns. and he also reported TO Van