The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-12-05
PLEAD GUILTY
JAMES B. Mcnamara Corfesses 10 Blow.
ing Up tie Times Building.
BOLT FROM A CLEAR SKY

T Eeaonshrdu etaon shrdlu cmfwyp
The Explosion Mt Los Angeles, CAL,
Which Destroyed The Times Build
ing and Killed Twenty-One Of the
Papers Employees, is at Last
Cleared Up.
James B. Mcnamara pleaded guilty
to murder in the first degree in Judge
Walter Rordwells court at Los An
geles, Cal, Friday. A summary of
The days happenings included many
sensational incidents. James B. Nc
Namara pleaded guilty to having
placed a dynamite bomb under the
Los Angeles Times building in Octo-
ter, 1910, and caused the death of 21
persons. ~.>~.
John J. Mcnamara, secretary
tt easurer Of the Association OF
Bridge and Structural Iron Workers,
brother Of James B., did rot enter
plea at this time to the indictment
similarly entered against him for The
Times explosion, but when lie is ar
ranged next Tuesday it is virtually
Cert ain proceedings against him for
this charge will be dismissed, as the
State admits 1t has no evidence con-
Meeting John J. Mcnamara directly
Eith this particular disaster.
John j., however, pleaded guilty to
the charge of having caused The ex-
plosion Of the Llwellyn Iron Works,
in which no fatalities occurred.
District Attorney John D. Fred
erirks will recommend life imprison-
llent for James B., and ten years for
John j., but Judge Walter Bordwell
alone can fix the sentence.
Ortle E. McManigal. who con-
fessed to having actually blown up
the Llwellyn Iron works there in
December, 1910, at the direction of
John J. Mcnamara, will be brought
to trial, but it is expected the State
will recommend light sentence be-
cause he turned States evidence.
The scene in the court room Fri
day was one Of protracted tension.
Sensation followed sensation with
such rapidity that the gaping crowd
hardly realized Whit happened in
those few minutes of formal pro-
cedure.
In less than twenty minutes the
big case was disposed OF, but for
hours previously there had been a
feeling that something startling
would develop, and so closely guard
ed was information that spectators
rere prepared for anything except
the thing presented.
It was not thought that after the
vigorous battle waged thus far, one
side would lay down its arms so will
irgly, so freely and even so happily
ior both prisoners smiled, chewed
gum and appeared as they nave on
other days, confidently unconcerned.
Even the district attorney was not
sure until just before noon that the
end was in sight.
There were to be developments in
the court room, he told his associates,
and all brought their wives and
fr ends. In the crowd were detec-
tlves for both sides, many women,
ard even a. baby thai emitted whine
almost simultaneously with the an
noGncement Of the pleas Of guilty of
John Mcnamara. A mass of heads
leaned forward eXpectantly as tho
hour fo rthe reconvening OF court
approached.
Waiting was a squad Of newspaper
men who had waded to no avail
through maze of possibilities Fri
day to determine the reason for the
s..dGen halting of the mornings pro-
ceedings. Three little boxes conceal
ing telegraphic wires were prepared
for the developments, and less than
two seconds after the word "guilty'
left the mouth Of each defendant the
news was being flashed across the
land.
Seated with district Attorney Fred
ericks was his entire staff. Facing
h:n was Clarence S. Darrow and
,hree associate counsel for the de-
IcnGants. James b. Mcnamara at
first took 4 seat TO one side, as usual,
with two deputies. but soon Attorney
Scott bcckoned to him. The two
mel, sat together for few minutes,
and SCOTS arm was about the pris-
oner's neck and he counseled cour-
age for the supreme crisis.
It was James B. Mcnamara who
balked at entering into an arrange
nrcnt to plead guilty if 1t might af-
feet his brother. He was willing to
sacrifice himself, but he wanted his
brother to go free. The attorneys,
however, convinced him that the bet
:cr course was for both to plead
guilty and take their chances Oh q
i::crciful sentence.
Word that John ]. Mcnamara was
coming caused the first ripple OF en-
element He had not visited the
court room since October II, when
the trial was begun, and the cases Of
the McNamaras were severed.
When he entered it was generally