South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-06-21
SINN FEINER
OUTLINES HIS
OWN DEFENSE
Jeremiah 0'Leary, Indicted on
Charges of Conspiracy to
Commit Treason, Makes
EVaSiVe Statements.

NEW YORK, June 21.-whre
shielding his brother, John J.
O'Leary. from charges Of crimnally
aiding his escape from trial last
month for alleged violation Of the
espionage act, jeremiah A. O'Leary
outlined i'm federal court Thursday
the defense he will make at his
impending trial on indictments
charging conspiracy with German
agents and four American associates
10 commit treason against the
United states These indictments
were found after ne fed from the
Jurisdiction OF the court
Pictures self "a Nervous Wreck.
During his testimony the Sim
Fein leader pictured himself as on
the verge of nervous collapse when
he fed 20 the west May Z. He was
labOring under the obscession. he i'm
dicated that government agents
had entered into conspiracy 10
have him sent 70 prison.
Deserted by his counsel Henry A.
Wise, who had been advised by gov
eminent agents, the Sim Feiner as
serted, not TO connect himself with
the case. as it misht jeopardize his
professional reputation Jeremiah
O'Leary said he became convinced
he could not obtain other advisers
who could defend him properly. and
that this so preyed on his mind that
he became thoroughly disorgan-
lied"
Against the advice of his brother
the witness said. he left New York
with Arthur L. Lyons. an employe
of his law office, for st. Louis and
there decided that he would not re-
turn Ito be prosecuted" The pub
lie mind had been SO poisoned
through "prejudiced" newspapers,
he declared. that his trial, had he
returned. would have been a politi-
cal hippodrome for the newspaper
tiends.
said No Collision With Brother.
Throughout d long cross eXami-
nation O'Leary reiterated his state
ment that there had been no collu-
sion between himself, his brother
and Lyons relative 10 his flight. He
declared John was given the inn
preston that his brother had gone
to Newbdrgh. y. Y, 10 fish, rest and
recuperate and that he intended re-
turning for trial.
An hour or so before train time,
O'I,eary declared. he was persuad
ed by Lyons not to go TO Newbursh,
but TO accompany Lyons TO Reno,
New. instead.
Lyons Advised Trip for Health.
He had arranged, OLeary testi-
fed that Lyons should represent
him in trial of a divorce action
then pending in Reno and declared
this was the object of his assist
ants "trip. Lyons took the bull by
the horns" O'Leary declared,
bought two tickets for ST. Louis
without consulting him and then
prevailed upon him 10 20 west. in
sisting that the state of his health
demanded rest away from his as
sociates and interests in New York.
The defense laid much emphasis
on testimony tending TO show that
O'Leary. since his return from Sara,
Wash. Tuesday in custody of fed
eral officers. had had no emporium
itv OF comforting with his brother
his counsel or others interested in
Johns behalf. relative TO the testi-
mony he would give Thursday. Then
Earl 3. Barnes. the assistant dis
trict attorney prosecuting the case.
ELECTED from the sim Feiner
statement that he had read i'm this
mornings New York American an
interview with T. B. Fielder. attor-
ney for John ]. O'Leary. which gave
FEEDERS version of the testimony
Jeremiah was expected TO give az
the trial THURSDAY IF he told the
truth"
Cell Carpeted With Newspapers.
This paper. O'Leary said. he hal
seen at the Tombs prison where he
has been confined. Papers spread
upon the floor of his cell as "a
makeshift carpet" and which We're
dated as far back as June > fur
nished him with information as to
the progress of his brothers trial
the witness admitted.
smiled During Hearing
O'Leary maintained his cOmpos-
urc throushout the DAYS question
ing. A smile ovcrspread his fea-
lures most of the time. but once or
twice he became nettled when ques-
toned as 10 the persecution" he
claimed 20 have feared from the
government.
Telling OF the reluctance OF New
York lawyers 10 defend him, OLeary
declared the American bar was rap
idly becoming "un-Americau i'm
that il was "too susceptible 10 pop
ular prejudices and opinion" and
would not take the case of men
"unjustly accused Of political Of
lenses"
Justice John Goff OF the New