The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-10-19
THE CHARACTER
Of EXPLOSION
IS MATERIAL
Whether Times Was Blown
Up By Dynamite or Gas
the Crux
THREE TALESMEn were
EXAMINED YESTERDAY


One Was Excused and the Other Two
Were Temporarily Passed-Man Ex-
cused Did Not Appear on the As.
sessment Roll of the County.
Los Angeles. Oct. ls.s-Edward c.
Robinson, venireman who says he is
opposed to labor unions and believes
the Los Angeles Times was blown up
by dynamite, underwent an extensive
examination today in the Mcnamara
Compe Davis. who was seeking basis
for challenge for. cause.
Counsel and spectators alike GEN.
tered their interest in the courts ex-
pected decision in the big issue as to
whether Veniremen who believe the
Los Angeles Times was destroyed by
dynamite but is unprejudiced regard
Ing the guilt Of James b. Mcnamara,
may or may not be accepted as a
juror. No one but the judge knew
at the opening Of the court at what
time this ruling would be made, but
Its importance cannot be over-esti-
mated. in the opinion of the legal men
who have hcen following the proceed
ings.
The eagerness to know who shall
say whether Mcnamara Is RESPONSE
ble for the death for Charles J. Hag-
gerty, one of the twei ty-ore men who
lost their lives In the explosion and
holocaust which destroyed the plant
Of the Los Angeles Times a year ago,
attracted large crowd Of spectators
early today. Huddled about lii groups,
hundreds of earnest spoken men and
women stooG about the hall Of records
for an hour before court convened in
tent on goining entrance to the court
room
Three ,talesmen were examined and
one was excused in the trial yester-
day.
What is considered one of the big
issues Of the trial-whether a man
who believes firmly that the Los An
geles Times building was DESTROYED
by dynamite. is thereby disqualified
from serving on the jury-rested in
the hands Of Judge Walter Bordwell,
who presides over the trial instituted
to show whether James B. Mcnamara
caused the death of c. ]. Haggerty, q
machinist. who lost his life in the
Times explosion and fire.
Opposing counsel see no hope in
securing jury until this point is de-
cided.
Attorney Clarence 8. Darrow and
other counsel for the defense holding
that the Times explosion was caused
by gas and that Mcnamara could not
have brought 1t about for this reason.
argued today in court that a fixed be-
lief in the dynamite theory preju-
diced the rights of their client and
that the talesman who held n would
not be a fair Juror.
District Attorney John D. Freder.
icks, for the state. compared the sit
uation to the case Of burned barn
which is Of record.
"A man believing that the barn was
burned, let having no opinion as to
whether the defendant burned it, was
allowed to serve as a juror" he said
Similarly talesman may believe
that the Times building was destroyed
by dynamite and still have an opinion
IN mind regarding the defendant in
the case, as these men say they have
rs this your idea Of fair Juror ~
asked Attorney Darrow Of Freder.
icks, after Otto A. lesson had testi-
ned that he believed the Times wae
dynamited by members or officers OF
trades unions. and that he Thought
he had prejudice against unions
but had no prejudice toward McNam-
ut certainly is." replied Freder-
icks
well. like your idea Of fairness, u
said Darrow in a low voice.
Judge Bordwell promptly interven.
ed and ordered the examination to
proceed.
Charles d. chaffee, the man ex.
cused, was challenged for cause. be.
cause his name was not on the Los
Angeles county assessment roll.
George w. Mckee, the other man
challenged. had the dynamite ex-
mus toward union labor.
A new line OF inquiry was develop
ed by the defense in the examination
Of Edward F. Decker, a Landscape
gardener.
"You could give a fair verdict?"
asked Attorney Darrow.
"You wouldn't be afraid Of any dis.
favor Of the public?"
"or loss Of money!"
cor loss Of business?"
"No."
Decker was passed for the time.
Edward c. Robinson, the talesman
under examination when court ad-
journed last night. said he was preju-
diced against the way labor unions
''are conducted In California" be-
cause Of strikes. He said he did not
know whether he considered strikes
legal or illegal. but his prejudice was
we'll fixed.
At '2:3O o'clock the examination d
Talesman Manning was again taken
up.
Manning said he was not acquainted
with General Harrison Grey Otis, pro-
prietor Of the Times nor with any of
the management Of the paper, and
that he seldom came to town. being
busy on his farm. He had no ac-
quaintance with Felix Zeehandelaar,
secretary Of the Merchants and Man
ufa acturers' association Of Los An.
geles.
At this point Attorney Darrow
switched his questions to Ernest F.
Decker. a landscape gardener.
Ever work for General Otis?"
$50"
mir. Chandler" referring to Har-
~ Chandler. General Otis son-in-
Law.
$50"
Ever belong to a union?"
"Yes. in '98 to the electrical union" :"
Have any difficulty with them?"
$50. they went out on a strike and
went into other business"