Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1912 — JURORS IN TEARS AS DARROW PLEADS [ARTICLE]

JURORS IN TEARS AS DARROW PLEADS

Attorney Makes Brilliant Appeal on Own Behalf. JURY GETS CASE TONIGHT Even Prosecutor Is Visibly Affected as Accused Ends Fight to Free Himself From Bribery Charge. Los Angeles, Aug. 16. —Clarence 8. Darrow, who for the past three months has been on trial in the superior court on an Indictment charging bribery of jurors in the McNamara case, gave one of tbe most brilliant oratorical efforts while presenting his closing argument that ever has been heard in a local court. The case will go to the Jury tonight. The speech was unusual and rendered by an unusual master of the English language., Darrow held his audience spellbound from almost the moment he began speaking until his final plea. Court Is in Tears. There was hardly a dry eye in the courtroom when the famous labor leader of Chicago concludes his pleadings. Two of the jurors, Williams and Lammers, shed tears; Associate Counsel Appel sat at the attorneys' table and cried like a child, and even District Attorney Fredericks wasi visibly affected. At times Darrow used sarcasm, to be followed In a few minutes by eloquence. He was one minute a child; the next, a giant denouncing his enemies with fierce investive. Bit by hit he analyzed the testimony which had been presented against him and denounced Franklin and Harrington, the state’s chief witnesses, only charging them with corruption, treachery and perjurjy. Makes Final Plea to Jury. “Gentlemen of the jury,” said Darrow, in making his final plea, “the only question you have to decide is whether I gave Franklin $4,000 on the morning of November 28. You can't have sat here for three full months without having some idea about the truth of the evidence. Do you believe Franklin? Remember, I must be convicted beyond a reasonable doubt. “If you convict me It must be on Franklin's statement that on November 28 Job Harriman gave me $4,000 and I gave it to him for the bribery.” Just before concluding Darrow recounted the events leading up to the close of the McNamara case, and answered the allegations that had been made against him that he had sacrificed the McNamaras to save himself. Tears rolled down his cheeks and his voice grew husky as he told how he had induced the McNamaras to plead guilty to save their lives, and to “end the war,” when he realized that the case was hopeless, despite the fact that he knew he would suffer. Fredericks Closes for State. To take the jury after Darrow’s wonderful appeal had touched their feelings as it was apparent that it had, was the 1 task of District Attorney. Fredericks, when he began the final appeal for the prosecution. Referring to Darrow’s plea, Fredericks commented; “I want to tell you, gentlemen,” he said to the Jury, “that you have listened to one of the most marvelous addresses, orations or pleas, ever delivered in any courtroom when you listened to Mr. Darrow. Plausible, eloquent, his thirty-five years of training back of it, his tremendous interest In it made it indeed a wonderful plea. “But that, gentlemen," he continued, “only reflects the ability of a man and has mighty little to do with his guiß or innocence* If you would pay attention to that, it would mean thati a man of his ability could commit crime all at his pleasure, and he could not be convicted for it.”