Life — November 30, 1911 — page 14: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

940 Our McNamara Investiga- tion HE MeNamara case being under investigation, Detective Burns was called to the stand. “You consider this a very important case, do you not, Mr. Burns?” “T do. It is epoch-making.” “And you expect to prove a great many things, of course?” “Oh. yes, a great many things.” “In the first place, you expect to prove that you are a great detective.” “Well, of course, it is hardly neces- sary to prove that, but——” “Tt is just as well to have it as widely known as possible. Then, in addition to that, you expect to prove that organized labor is a bad thing?” “Hardly that. This is merely a case of —” “Just a moment, Mr. Burns. You have no personal feeling against the McNamara brothers, have you?” Not at all. It is purely profes- sional.” “And, of course, it is not intended to prove that dynamiting is wrong.” “Oh, no. We have no opposition on that point.” “That is to say, if this were merely a case of ordinary dynamiting, there would have been no great furor over RESISTING AN OFFICER Carsten t ber p> REJECTED it. There have been numerous cases of dynamiting in New York, Chicago and other cities which excited but passing notice.” “Yes, I have heard of them, but——' “They could not be made a part of the war between capital and labor. And so, if this were merely a case of deciding the guilt of these men, the trial would, have been over long ago, instead of dragging out until next May, as is prophesied.” “Tt may be that the newspapers have played up that side of it, but that was not my——” “Isn't it true that you expect to prove, through the McNamaras, that organized labor is not only ready, but anxious to go to any inhuman lengths to accomplish its purpose and terror- ize employers?” “T must say that organized labor should be carefully watched by com- . petent detectives at all times.” “ And you expect to prove that Gen- eral Otis and the association of em- ployers are gentle and temperate and much-abused; that while they are struggling at all times to help labor when labor follows their advice, the laboring man is ungrateful?” “Of course, there is an clement of all this in the matter.” “In short, while organized labor will go to any lengths, organized cap- ital is generous and kindly and yield- ing, and may be relied upon to con- duct itself in an upright and just manner regardless of _ consequences. Isn't that true, Mr. Burns?” “T really think that—— “And don’t you also expect to prove that, even after the McNamaras had been arrested, organized capital made no effort to arouse prejudice against them; that every effort was made to consider these men innocent until they were proved guilty; while, on the other hand, the friends of McNamara were unfair and unreasonable in de- liberately setting out to arouse public interest in their favor?” “Yes. That’s the thing I can’t stand.” “And now finally, Mr. Burns, do you think you could lay aside your prejudice, no matter what the evidence might show and no matter how much money there might be in it for you?” “Do I have to answer that?” “No, Mr. Burns, you don't have to incriminate yourself. You are ex- cused.” Ellis O. Jones, comicbooksed