The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-09-09
nth, Who Proves Very Clever
(tness, Wakens Sleepy Court
pom With Picturesque Tale
Of Bribery
ENTITIES 1000 HE
HANDED "HONEST TONI
PENDANT Pushes Deeply When
Money is Produced in
Court

here was q distinct furry of ex'
ment among the few spectators
sat through most tiresome
hing hour and half of the Gilman
Tuesday morning, when Walter
urns, the detective who bribed the
rmen, while posing as w. ]. Bren.
land agent of the Wabash rail-
took the stans, a, 1866 o'clock.
lrns, the man with the truly re-
kable memory for Incidents. con
atoms, names and places, Is one
he best witnesses who ever testi-
be courtroom filed up with spec
3. as though word had been
he'd forth that the star witness
about to testify. Sleepy specta-
woke up and listened eagerly as
hs told, In his even, precise style
story of his dealings with Aid.
man.
Burns Begins His story.
hrns said he came here as an en-
9 OF the William ]. Burns Detec'
agency.
What work did you take upY
IA Prosecutor Frazer.
Investigation" said Burns.
H what?"
X legislative conditions in the city
" He told of how he had worked
Attorney Rufus G. Lathrop, OF
wabash railroad, on legislation
osed by the Wabash. but said
Mr.. Lathrop did not know that
witness was d detective.
told OF establishing his office at
400 and 40 Ford building, ana
he knew Gilman. The first per-
he talked with on the Wabash
kers was Edward r. Schreiter.
kcil committee clerk.
Talks with Gilman.
first talked with Gilman. May
e12. telling Gilman that he would
to have a talk with the alderman
4 wabash matters. July i, he
a Gilman how the latter felt
n the Wabash, and Gilman said
vas favorable, but that Burns, or
hnan. as the aldermen knew him,
rht have lot Of trouble with the
Z boys"
" 8. Burns, Attorney Lathrop
others. inspected Lafayette-blvd.
bIinnan's ward. That afternoon
nan told Burns that application
the closing OF Seventh-st. had
made In 1909, but had been
ed down. Gilman said that Wa.
officials blamed him for the iaii.
witness said Gilman remarked
there were rumors OF graft, In
ing a Woodward-ave. liquor deal
and that he. (Glinnanl. had
bhed his hands Of the whole busi
ly II. Gilman approached Burns,
meeting OF the street committee
made an appointment with Burns,
was to "be alone" in his otfice In
Ford building. In the office, Gin
asked why the petitions had not
presented. and said: Some OF
boys are holding out"
asked which, said the witness,
told him I had money to reim-
Ie the aldermen for their votes.
DISCUSSES Graft with Gilman.
had list Of aldermen, and asked
to tell me how much to pay each.
Nal. How about $100g Gilman
All right, but give each one the
e amount :.
asked him how much he wanted.
he said. oh. don't want any
r. but I told him ! would give
$50 for his vote In favor OF
Ing Seventh-st. I told him had
led with Aid. Theisen and had ar
led to pay him $500. Gilman sail
las too much. I asked Gilman II.
hiding his $3.50, I would need more
n $3.50 to take care Of the toys,
Gilman said, Il had better make
$4,000.
suggested that he tell the boys
Brennan Is all right and he
he would see about It,"
urns told Of preliminary negotia-
& with Gilman. and finally
hight his narrative down to July
the fatal day Gilman arrived at
Ford building office at 2 o'clock.
Hands Gilman $1,000.
counted out $1,000 said the wit.
handed II to him, and said
Re Is $1,000 for your vote on the
bash matters He said. Thank
Then we sat and talked until 2:25
bn he walked out to the hall and
accosted by Detective Bert High
Detective Burns described the bills
$50 bills, 20 $40 bills, and 10 SIC
B, and there was a pause as Prose
|or Frazer picked up a white en-
bpes, which was identified by
bnty Detective Coffin, sealed and
Fixed Exhibit 49,"
J was handed, sealed, to Burns
b drew out another sealed package
|Fked, $1,000, taken by I. j. Coffir
IN Thomas z. Gilman, In the Ford
|lding, in presence OF Assistant
bsecutor Jasnowski, Detective VII
b J. Burns, and others"
That inner seal was marked ,ex
Ne IA, wrapper within was ex
ht Is, and the bills we're counted
the witness, as the spectators
lned their necks
Burns identifies Money.
There are 10 $50 bills, such as
BE to Aid. Gilman" said witness
There are 20 $40 bills, such as
be to Aid. Gilman" and so on
Rough the list Each time the wit
bs carefully inserted, after bills
bch as I gave Aid. Gilman" Aid
)nnan's face flushed deeply as thu
|ney was handled. He chewed gun
)lently, but sat stolidly In his chair
d stared at the witness. with onl,
bored expression.
Detective Burns then identified hi
|ls, by serial numbers, plate pic
res, etc, all of which were recordet
fore the money was handed to Aid
Imam.
Deputy City Clerk Guy Ingalls, tool
, stand at the opening of the ses
- - rwIfn az