Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1911-10-11
MCNAMARA TRIAL
BEGINS TODAY
James is the First of the
Brothers to Undergo
the Ordeal
BOTH DEFENDANTS SMILING.
Scores of Photographers Take
Their Pictures on the Way
from Jail.

(By Special Leased Wire to New Mexican
Los Angeles, Calf, Oct. 11.-Jas.
B. Mcnamara, of Cincinnati was
placed on trial for murder here today
before Judge Walter Bordwell of the
superior court.
Jim to Be Tried First.
James B. Mcnamara. the younger
brother of John J. Mcnamara, secre-
tary of the International Association
OF Bridge and Structural Iron Work
ers, will be tried first for the murder
of nineteen men in the explosion that
wrecked the Los Angeles Times build
ing a year ago. This announcement
was made before the opening of court
today by District John D. Fredericks
who declared that should the defense
exercise it's privilege of trying the
brothers separately, he had elected to
begin by placing James B. Mcnamara
into the prisoners bar.
Both Brothers Smile.
At II O'Clock, both John ]. McNa'
mara and his brother, James B., en-
tered the court with Clarence Darrow,
their chief counsel
Both men were smiling and shook
hands with many attorneys at the bar.
The prisoners were without hand
cuffs as they entered the court room.
They were handcuffed when they left
the Jail and during their walk across
the street, through the court house
and into the hall of records.
Scores of Photographers.
Scores of photographers took snap
shots, but few other persons gather
ed to see the men. They were accom-
panied by Jailer George Gallagher,
and assistant, and were followed by
seven deputy sheriffs.
Court convened at 1918 o'clock
faving been delayed in opening by
tie arrangement of seats. District
Attorney Frederick and Clarence
S. Darrow greeted one another and
began alloting seats for assistants,
at long tables facing the court.
Judge Bordwell first received the
excuses of several of the veniremen
whom he had instructed to be present
today. The case was called at 10:46
a. m.
Case Severed.
Clarence S. Darrow, OF Chicago,
chief counsel for the defendants, an
nounced that he wished to sever the
case, and Immediately District Attor'
Iney John Fredericks chose James B.
Mcnamara for trial
The prisoner is 29 years old and un-
married. He is charged with causing
the death of 10 of the 21 men who
were killed in the explosion and fire
which wrecked the Los Angeles Times
plant.
For Killing Hagerty.
Not only did Mr.. Fredericks elect
to try James, rather than his brother,
John j., secretary of the International
Association of Bridge and Structural
Iron Workers, but he decided to go
to trial on the indictment charging
the prisoner with the death of Charles
J. Hagerty, machinist, whose body
was found closest to the spot at which
the explosion is alleged to have oc'
Cured The site of the old Times
building lies almost within the shadow
of the yet unfinished Hall of Records
in which the trial is being held, and
the whistles of engineers working on
the foundations of the new Times
building were heard through the open
windows of the court room.
! ! Counsel Gather About Accused-
| Counsel for the defense gathered
about the prisoner, headed by Attor,
ney Darrow. Associated with him
sat Joseph Scott LIE Compte Davis and
Job Hartman all of Los Angeles. Mrs.
Darrow sat near her husband.
District Attorney Fredericks han
died the prosecution, aided by sew
eral assistants.
Venire Weeded Out.
A delay occurred at the opening OF
court, while procession of venire
men explained to Judge Bordwell why
they should not be sked to serve
This was the end of preliminary
hearing in which the judge rapidly
ueeded out over half the first venire
of 125 men before the trial formally
opened
The McNamaras were brought into
court together and remained unit
James B. Mcnamara was selected fol
trial, when John j. was returned tt
his cell in the county Jail.
Recess Taken.
After a few minutes parley Attor
ney LIE Compte Davis, for the defense
faced the waiting veniremen and said
The court suggests that inform yol
that when you enter the jury box yol
will remain there or be locked up un
til the end of the trial. If you wan
to see your wives or attend to you
business, you had better do so befor
this afternoon" Recess was takel
at 11:1O o'clock until p. m.
SURVEY OF MISSIONS
AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE