The Libby herald., 1911-12-07
ADMIT DYNAMITING OF Los
ANGELES times and
iron WORKS.
Will Serve Life Term in Penitentiary-
Other Arrests of Prominent Labor
Leaders Predicted-Darrow Said He
Was Powerless Against States Evi-
dence-Confession Saves Their Necks

degree in Judge Walter f. Bordwell 5
court. His brother, John j. Nc Namara
secretary of the international Associ-
alton OF Bridge and Structural Iron
Workers, entered plea Of guilty to
dynamiting the Llewellyu Iron works
in Los Angeles on Christmas day, 1910.
James B. Mcnamara S confession
clears up absolutely the explosion and
fire which at :07 clock on the morn
ing of October 1, 1910, wrecked the
plant of the Los Angeles Times, at
First and Broadway, and caused the
death of 2l persons. For 10 Of these
deaths the Mcnamara brothers were in
dicted, and j. B. Mcnamara was on
trial specifically charged with the muir
der Of Charles J. Haggerty, a machin-
lst, whose body was found nearer than
that of any others to the spot where
the dynamite was supposed to have
been placed.
District Attorney Fredericks asked
for life Imprisonment for James b. Nc
Namara, the confessed murderer, and
IA years for his brother, and that sen
tence was pronounced.
The great contention that the Los
Angeles Times was not dynamited is
dead beyond resurrection or any argu-
ment
"Why did James B. Mcnamara
confess?'
To this was always given the same
answer. "He confessed because he was
guilty and that s all there is to it,
declared District Attorney Fredercks.
"'He was counseled to confess be
cause that was the best thing he could
do, in opinion of counsel,' said At
torney Clarence S. Darrow, chief of
counsel 81 will say now that there
was no other reason or motive in it.
j have studied this case for months. 1t
presented a stone WALL
Darrow S statement was made after
looking squarely in the face of charges
that the recent arrest of Bert II
Franklin, an investigator employed by
the defense, and two others with him,
might have precipitated a situation ur-
tenable save by confession.
Negotiations have been on for
wecks,' asserted Darrow, and this was
corroborated by District Attorney
Fredericks.
First Confessor May Go Free.
Ortie f. McManigal the confessed
dynamiter whose admissions are said
to have been a big factor in the Me
Namaras pleading guilty, will go vir-
tually free if the plans of the state in
his behalf do not 90 wrong
Bert H. Franklin Confesses
Bert III. Franklin, once United States
deputy marshal and chief detective for
the Mcnamara defense until his arrest
on charge of bribng jury talesman,
has confessed
Federal Government Takes Hand.
"The United States government and
California authorities are cooperating
to uncover one of the most gigantic
consplracies ever conceived in the his
tory of this country.
This is the declaration of Assistant
District Attorney w. Joseph Ford, sec
ond in command to District Attorney
John ID. Fredericks. and the man who
was arrested in indianapolis for alleged
illegal extradition of John j. McNam-
ara.
1T is only a question now of whcth-
er the federal government or the state
authorities can bring persons TO justice
most ef1ectually,' continued Mr.. Ford.
Tell Their Opinions.
''l can not talk about it now. but
organized labor was not hurt and the
leaders will not be so bitter when they
know the facts. ''-Clarence S. Darrow
"When the McNamaras pleaded
guilty, counsel for the defense came
to my terms and outside influence did
not prevail upon me. The men were
guilty and they knew it, so they con
fcssed. John D. Fredericks.
''There are others in this case lust
as guilty as the McNamaras. We will
soon have David Caplan and M. A,
Schmidt. There are other prominent
men mixed up in this affair, and I pro-
pose to keep going until / get every
last one of them w. j. Burns.
"The fight has only just begun. This
is only the first chapter. What we want
to find out now is who the men are be
hind the McNamaras, and this we pro
pose doing. '-Walter n Drew.
"No matter how guilty T might have
been, ! never would have confessed },
Charles H. Meyer.
Events Fol1ow Fast
Hints are made that more arrests
will follow in the dynamite outrage
and that developments will be sensa-
tional.
Clarence Darrow makes a statement
of his part in getting the guilty men
to admit their crimes.
Prosecuting Attorney Fredericks de-
clares his course was not Influenced bv
pressure of business men to offer n