Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-02
'DARROW TELLS WHY
Says Guilty Pleas Were En-
tered to Avert More BIoodshed
EVIDENCE WAS CONCLUSIVE
Not q Loophole by Which the
Brothers Could Hope to Escape.

chief attorney for the defense. In speak
ing OF the McNamara plea Of guilty.
I'VE have had 1t under consideration
since q week ago Monday. I am glad
1t is over with. It has been the greatest
strain Of my life.
The Times building was blown up by
James B. Mcnamara with nitroglycerin.
to be sure. but the bomb touched or the
gas and gas really did 1t.
Did you have to wyestle hard with the
Mcnamara brothers to get that admis-
sion?" Mr.. barrow was asked.
Somewhat, but the facts have been
overwhelming, Every loophole was gath
cred in by the state. AS far as am
concerned, felt that. sooner or later. it
had to come. Things were happening in
which big people are interested. The
movement was impelling. They wanted
the matter cleared up and feared further
bioodshed unless we obliterated the incl
dent from Los Angeles at once.
"Of course, l feel have helped the Nc
Namaras by getting them to plead, In SO
far as they probably will not be sentenced
to death.
Life Imprisonment will be melted out
to James B.. and John J. will get of with
q light sentence
Did Not Mean to Kill.
do you think union labor will suffer-
was asked.
''Oh. no; it's just an incident in the evo-
luton Of things. Because one does wrong
AS a matter Of fact. Jim Mcnamara did
mt
told me the whole story and 1t is SUBJ
stantially as it has been told in the press.
except reiterate that there was really no
intent to destroy life. 1t was meant as a
scare to the Times, and I doubt whether
there was enough explosive really to do
gas helped. But the crime Is the same.
no matter what the intent"
why didn't you wait until after Tues
days elections" Mr.. barrow was asked.
Don't you know this will hurt Job Har-
rfmans chances to be elected mayor?
IT know, but We could not take any
chances. Maybe the state would have
backed out Of their agreement. Lives
were at stake and I think We saved
them.''
Not One Loophole Of Escape.
In his statement Mr.. Darrow showed
how acutely he feels the burden he has
assumed. and he did not resent the i'm
plication contained in the questions ask
ed by the reporters. He said:
ct have saved a human life out of the
that Jim MCNAMARA will be sentenced to
death by the court. / have been carrying
q terrible burden, knowing that the tolls
were closing in tighter and tighter about
J. B. Mcnamara and his brother. know
ing that the governments case was
growing stronger and stronger and that
ours was being proportionateiy weakened.
LAS the days went by I have looked In
vain for any ioophole through which Jim
might escape and there has not been one.
Not a move of his from the moment he
left his brothers Office in Indianapolis
before coming out here until he was ar
rested by the detectives In the east has
been left uncovered by the detectives for
the state.
Convinced Two Weeks Ago.
Then two weeks ago learned from
the county officers the evidence they had
and became convinced that there was
nothing to be gained by continuing the
fight. Then. besides that. had other
facts that IL they had been discovered
would but have added to the desperate
condition Of Jim's plight.
II say it was two weeks ago that I dis
covered all this, and I at once began to
prepare the case SO could lay 1t before
]. J. and get his permission to throw
down our cards. 1t took me until last
night to convince him how hopeless 1t all
was, and then. not until We had person
ally gone over every detail Of the evil
dence In the hands Of the district at
torney with him and shown him how the
government could check and finally mate
all our moves.
Denies Bribing Jurors.
I have heard that there are charges re.
garding the recent bribery case or the
alleged bribery case Of Tuesday. when
Bert Franklin, one Of our men, was ar
rested by Detective Sam Browne of the
district attorneys staff and charged with
brtbing a juror. 1t has been said that
the defense attorneys were responsible
for that I need not deny that charge to
any man who knows my record. nor am I
going to deny 1t now. 1t is as ridiculous as
1t Is false. .
Jim is going to give out statement
to the press Of the country later, but I
have not asked him to do SO. Indeed, i
have not as yet had any conversation
with him other than to put the matter
Of pleading guilty before him and taking
his assent.
Came Forward "Like q Man"
Then. finally. put the matter up to
Jim, and that weakling came forward
like q man for the first time in my knowl-
edge Of him. He said: VIII It help Joe?'
(his brother), and when ! told him that
it would he added: All right. then, go
ahead: Til plead guilty and be glad to
get 1t over with.
Personally I am heartbroken. I took
the case in the firm belief In the limo
cence of the accused. After l had gone
into 1t q little began to see things as
they were; but then couldn't step aside.
I had to carry the load I had assumed.
knew that 1t would be a frightful blow
to the cause Of labor unionism through
out the country. Indeed. cannot I'M
agine anything that could be more ter
rible blow to that cause, SO l stuck as
you have seen.
but to continue. When I had per-
suaded John ]. Mcnamara that the best
thing we could do under the circum-
stances was to admit guilt and throw
ourselves upon the mercy OF the court
he stood out for long time"
District Attorney, Victor,
inclined to Be MercifuI
LOS ANGELES. December 2-District
Attorney Frederick, who prosecuted the
case against the McNamara brothers,
said:
II am looking for no mans blood. I
am not seeking my pound of fesh-iust