The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1940-10-26
CHAPTER 1

DHlLlP CONRAD the toughest
district attorney ever 10 address;
a jury in Denton paused a
moment in his summary OF the case
of The People Versus Tom Bar.
land" better known as Run Tom
a big time racketeer. now on trial
for murder Conrad continued and
his deep voice reaching into every
corner OF the court room. The jur-
ors leaned forward IN their chairs
trying not 70 miss a word.
Gentlemen OF The jury on you
shoulders a duty, responsibility
rests. Grayely and with reverent
hearts YOU undertake the burden OF
your obligations. Conforming a
fellowman TO death in the electric
chair is not a pleasant task and we
approach this eyentualty with pro-
found thought and trepidation. Yet,
in our zeal 10 be fair with a fell
bowman We must pause. digress II
you please and consider the crimes
~ Tom Barland We must wander
over the paths strewn with broken
lives and bleeding hearts We must
listen 10 the roar OF machine guns.
i0riuring and numbering innocent
mcn women and children. After
we have done this our duty IS
plain, although no less repugnant.
Try. IL you can. TO see whore our
duties lies Lay aside our trembling
our distate for a disagreeable job
and put Tom Barland where moth
ers and fathers need not fear him
When you have a generous growth
you don't cure II by putting salve
over II. but you call in n surgeon
and with his knowledge OF science
4 cut al thc root Of the growth
knowing full we'll that as long as
4 The roots OF the disease remain the
patient can not regain his health.
You are the surgeon in this case.
gentlemen Of the jury Tom Bar
land Is the cancerous growth. en-
dangering human life II is YOU
duty 10 cut him away--he is the
root"
Four months later. Philip Conrad
Win his friend. Bruce Arnold. Com
missioner OF Public Works, sa,
smoking in the prosecutors office.
five stories IN in the County Build
inc and listened rravely rs the lus-
IN voices Of the city's news boys
echoed through the building "Ex-
IRA Exiar Barland dies in chair,
Extra Extra, Read all about It.
Extra Extra
zThen Bruce laughed qNctly. "Well
Phil. you can chalk up another
victory. CONGRATULATIONS"
Victory Philip answered. II
supposed some folks would call II
that. But TO me its just n job COM
pleted
"Still you can take pride in job
4 Well done. Putting Tom Barland
away wasn't so easy, Phil. l know
that
no, not easy, I had my mo-
monts OF doubt, Tom Barland was
big time with plenty OF ace men
in his employ"
And you got some Of them.
Bruce replied as he crushed the
butt OF bis cigar in the ash tray
on the desk
YES, IL was something like a
spring house cleaning"
You'd better watch your steT
Phil These racketeers have their
sympathizers You'll no doubt ee'
some threatening letters"
Il will get thcm." Philip rrinne'
as he reached over and picked NJ
neat pile Of letters. held them NJ
for Bruce 20 see. Il get on an aver
age Of al least two a day"
What arc You doing ahou
them asked Rruce.
"Nothinr, don't fear those rats
| have received one however fha
got undor the old hide" He open
ed his desk drawer took out let
ter. written on cheap stationer,
and In womans hand writing ant
passed u over 10 Bruce.
Bruce looked surprised This
looks like woman's hand writing
Don't tell me that big Philip Con
rad would LEI a threatening letter
from a woman get his goat"
Suppose you. stop trying TO b.
a mind reader said Philip gruffly
"and read the letter"
Bruce shrueecdlhis shoulders anC
proceeded 70 read the letter
Philip Conrad
District Attorneys Office
Dear sir
Although one % the ciiys lowi,
citizens beg to be allowed 10 Of
fer MY humble congratulations or
your legal victory. In sending Ton
Barland 10 The chair YOU no doub
did a real service to the city ant
the country al large. But II is IN
fortunate that In your zeal to purg,
Z the city and state Of crime YOU ha,
10 send an innocent man 10 prison
You sent Willie Day 10 prison al
an accomplish Of Barland. u wal
not true. Willie pay was hired b,
Barland ~ his private chauffeur
b lie knew nothing Of Barland'i
, crimes. and did not enter into Bar
lands employ for any other reason
than 10 support his wife and twi
children he needed job III
needed money. That iob with Bar
land was the only thing he coulI
find when he was desperately n
need ~ work He wanted 10 quit
but with SIGN wife and two small
children he had no choice. wha
would you have done Being Whit
YOU car hardly be expected 10 IN
: dersiand What is means 70 h