The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-12-06
Credits Steffens and His Friends
With Bringing About Settle
ment of the Case
SAYS HE WAS CONCERNED
ONLY ABOUT HIS CLIENTS
Nothing Except the Welfare of the
Accused Men Entered Into the
Motive Which Terminated the
Trial

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 2.--All Known
angles in the unexpected termination
of the Mcnamara murder case were
summed up tonight by Clarence S.
Darrow, chief counsel for the de-
fence in a statement to the Associated
Press. Darrow's statement is as fol-
lows;
mo motive of any sort entered in
to the disposition of the Mcnamara
cases except the welfare of the men
accused of murder. Knowing, as L
did, the action taken would save the
lives of the accused men, 1 had no
ore right to refuse it than a doctor
would have to forbear an operation
on a patient to save his life
Steffens a Harbinger OF Peace.
"A committee of Los Angeles peo-
pie, beginning work November 20,
made it possible to accomplish the re-
suit. These suggestions were brought
to me first by Mr.. Steffens on that
day and thereafter as the matters
proceeded until the final determine
ton. How much their efforts had to
do with the states attorney 1 cannot
that negotiations were begun by the
attorney for the defense.
81 expected the final action every
day after this movement was COM
menced, and it was taken the first
minute that an understanding was
reached" '.-t.. ..F.
1T was impossible to delay action
beyond the time an understanding
was reached on account of the immi-
nent danger we were in for two weeks
OF having the matter become public
property and thus making the end diff
ficult to achieve"
(Signed.) Clarence S. barrow"
To Ask Leniency for James Is.
1t could not be learned tonight that
any change in the local situation as
to James M. Mcnamara This matter
under the law is in their hands. Judge
Bordwell, the judge, may hear and
the district attorney may make sug-
gestions as to penalty to be imposed.
District Attorney Fredericks said to-
day he had not decided whether he
would ask for clemency, but he added:
when a man pleads guilty, partic-
uarly in this case, it saves the state
great deal of money and work. The
state always is willing to take this in
to consideration.
While Bordwell has refused to COM
nit himself in any way, friends close
to him say he is pleased with the
manner in which the trial terminated.
Darrow's Health Is Bad.
Friends of Attorney barrow fear he
is on the verge of physical break
down. He, however, is optimistic
about his health, declaring he has
faith in is strength. He keenly feels
the unfriendly comment of the labor
union leaders and others on his action
but says that when the truth is known
they will approve his action.
He stated he never told Gompers
or any one else that ]. B. Mcnamara
was innocent, but he had always be-
lieved that John ]. had nothing to do
with the Times explosion, though he
learned is connection with the Level
yam explosion. The most difficult of
all attacks to bear, it was apparent,
was that which involvs the Mcnamara
defense fund.
No Money to Turn Over
Darrow confirmed the fact that
$3.50, 900 had been raised for the two
brothers, and had been at his disposal.
Confronted with the statement that
labor leaders demanded that much of
this should be refunded, he answered
he could not see how it could be done,
money flies fast, very fast," he said,
land in case like this it has wings.
OF course, the trial to date did not
cost much, but preparation for hand
ling witnesses and evidence exhausted
much of the fund. A great part has
already been spent and an accounting
will be rendered as to every detail.
We have been UP against it for funds
right along. We have been wonder
Ing some time how we could get very
far with the means at our disposal"
Defendants Take Things Calmly
The Mcnamara brothers spent the
day quietly They wrote many let
tiers and walked about the corridors
for exercise. They read the newspa-
pers account of yesterdays events,
and according to their jailers, their
cheerful air was in no wise affected
thereby