The book is about the October 1, 1910 bombing of the "Los Angeles Times" building by union members. Iron Workers Union leaders James and John McNamara plead not guilty. The detective who found out that the bombers were the McNamaras was Billy Burns, the head of Burns Detective Agency. The book also includes a considerable amount of information about the defense lawyer Clarence Darrow and film director D. W. Griffith, who were involved in the case.