The Detroit times., 1914-10-27
FRAZER PLEADS
FOR CONVICTION
OF Gilman

tce.sissss fro. Page oss.D
WINGED N the sharpsongusd prose
cutor proceeded TO lenounce him 81
q grefter, brlbe taker. and q man
who vas not telling the truth.
~ The defendants wife and daughter.
seated In the rear OF the crowded
court room. presented a pathetic pic
ture a. they listened to the denuncia-
tion OF husband and father. Mrs.
Gilman looked pitifully crushed and
wearied. The daughter was In tears
most Of the time.
The prosecutor emphasized to he
jury the fact that Aid. Gilman 1t the
time Of his arrest and thereafter for
two years and four months--untii ne
took the witness stand In his own
behalf--did not protest his innocence.
even to the members Of his own
!. family.
"An indignant heart could not have
endured silence" was the pithy SEN
tsnce that the prosecutor repeated
over and ovSr again In one fern or
another. During his argument the
prosecutor did not attempt any ora
torical climaxes or startling allu-
sions. He presented a resume OF the
testimony to the jury concisely and
without establishment. driving home
important points by their own weight.
He attacked two OF the Witnesses pro-
duced by the defense, Smiley and Nc
Gurn, former Burns operatives who
were brought over by Glinnan's at.
torneys.
The members OF the jury were at-
tsntive during the prosecutors ergu-
ment and seemed to be weighing
carefully Frazer's remarks. On TWO
occasions, Attorney McNsmara inter
rupted the prosecutors argument,
both times stating that the prose
cutor had made misstatement OF facts
regarding testimony In the case.
Attorney j. Shurly Kennary argued
for the defense when the court re-
convened for the afternoon session at
2 o'clock.
Prosecutor Frazer said: 81
~ have no personal feeling In this
case, and only have feeling OF pity
TO think that one once so prominent
in the city should face jury. charged
with q criminal offense."
The prosecutor then described 10
the Jury the offense charged against
the alderman. that Of accepting
bribe Of $1,000 on July rs, In pursu-
ance with an agreement made on
July IL, to accept the money for his
vote on the Wabash petitions. Brib-
/, cry, said the prosecutor, Is q secret
crime. necessitating q plan or trap"
TO bring about exposure.
Bribery is the worse crime In the
calendar" said the prosecutor the
crime is direct blow at all society;
vicious blow at the government.
mo mans life, property or family
In safe In corrupt government. Hon
esty in the members OF the common
council Is the very safeguard Of your
happiness and security In your homes.
When honesty does not obtain among
o6icials, then you must say goodbye
to q republican form Of government.
"You are sitting here today. as
honest, intelligent, sensible men. pro-
tecting not only the rights Of the de-
sfendant. but defending the govern
ment under which you and others
live. You will have 10 account TO
your own conscience for what IL
right and wrong In this case. You
have got a responsibility on you to-
day, such as few other jurors have
had, II Is our duty as lawyers 10
aid and assist you In arriving at
scorrect verdict In the case. am eo-
Ing to try and wipe away frou the
case, the volume Of testimony which
TO my mind, has no purpose, except
TO confuse and divert your minds
from the real end--to bamboozle and
make fools Of you.
f~The counsel spent Ave days In
cross-examining William J. Burns,
and In all that time you did not hear
for flve minutes about Gilman TAX
ing the money and what he said on
his arrest"
"In 1912 the conditions In Detroit
were such that the mayor. William b.
Thompson, thought they ought TO be
Investigated. He made arrangements
with private oficials to finance the
investigation. He brought w. J.
Burns, the most experienced inyesti.
gator In the country. to Detroit.
"Glinnan was named. among others.
as q man who would stand investiga-
tion, test. II is only the fellow that
10 corrupt that puts up the scream
and holler afterwards. They find
fault because II was said that Gilman
should be investigated. Maybe they
are right and maybe they are wrong;
let US see."
The prosecutor there took up the
testimony OF Walter J. Brennan GOV.
ering the meeting with Gilman in
the Ford building ONCE on July IL.
Gilman wore |. sneering smile while
the prosecutor was dwelling on this
important phrase OF the case.
''It's a poor briber who can't give
reasonable excuse for being In brib-