The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-10-13
JAMES NJ 'NAMARA
PLACED ON TRIAL
Prosecution Contends Explosion Was
Caused By Dynamite = Defense
Says il Was From Gas.

! Los Angeles. Cal oct lz-James
IB. Mcnamara vent on trial on
charge Of murder here yesterday be-
fore Judge Walker BordweH IN the
superior court amid circumstances as
Iaastere and simple as proyerbial vest
Tern justice. District Attorney John D
Fredericks, for the prosecution, elected
to try him for the murder Of Charles
IJ. Haggerty a machinis-, who. with
twenty other men. met death IN az e1-
plosion and FIRE which wrecked the
Los Angeles Times building October ].
1910
This case was picked from nineteen
indictments because Haggerty's body
was found nearest the spot where the
explosion occurred. The nineteen
charges Of murder are against James
3. Mcnamara, his brother. John ].
Mcnamara, secretary Of the Interna-
tional Association Of Bridge and Struc-
/ tural Iron Workers; William Caplan
and u. A. Schmidt, both at large. and
four unidentified persons specified as
John Doe. Jane Doe, Richard Roe and
John Siles.
The prosecution contends that the
lexplosion was caused by dynamite;
|the defense that it was caused by gas.
The new Hall of Records. in which
the trial is being held, is only a stones
throw from the scene Of the explosion
Counsel for the defense. headed by
Attorney Clarence s. Darrow of Chi
Icago. in questions TO the jury and argu-
iments to Judge Bordwell. sought 70
depict a mighty. contest between or
Iganized labor. the McNamara's being
union men. and its oppents. without
much opposition from the prosecu-
Iuon. Attorney Lecompte Davis. ex-
aiming jurors. headed straight for
this point Are you aware that there
lis a bitter warfare between capital and
Ilabor?" he asked z. T. Nelson. the first
yenireman examined
Yes" said Nelson.
And that most men have taken
sides?"
Yes"
Have you the opinion that labor
unions as they exist are proper, or that
they are inimical and a menace "
To this the prosecution objected be
cause counsel in asking the opinion
Of the witnesses on evidence that may
larise during the trial"
He may answer" said Judge Bord-
well and Nelson said he was mot pref
Iudiced."
Futher questions We're met by the as
sertion from Attorney w. ]. Ford Of
the prosecution. that this is not
Iunion labor trial"
DO you take the Los Angeles
Times" and DO you read the weekly
page devoted to animadversions on
labor? were other questions put.
Nelson still was being questioned
when court adjourned until Friday
morning Today is a holiday.
1 It was not until court opened yes
terday that the defense could make for.
nal demand for separate trials for
James Mcnamara and his brother
John. Hence the brothers. handcufed
together were taken to court All Los
Angeles knew about this. but when
Iseyen deputy sherifs. beside the jailer
and an assistant, left the jail with the
prisoners, they found an empty street.
except for newspaper photographers
and few stray spectators.
In the court room. where only
moderate crowd of spectators gather
ed. the formal opening of the case was
not heard ten feet from the bar.
Case 6,939-James B. Mcnamara"
said someone casually, after District
Attorney Fredericks had announced
his selection, and the trial was on.
John j. Mcnamara was allowed to
remain during the brief morning ses.
sion. but in the afternoon the younger
! brother sat alone against the rail. In
the afternoon the tables of counsel.
which had been arranged in one long
line. were changed to face each other.
Following brief recess in the after
noon, G. c. Kemp, a venireman. was
excused because of physical inability
TO stand the strain of long trial. w.
\. Spalding, secretary of the civil serv-
ice commission of Los Angeles. was
excused by consent of the prosecution
after he had refused to plead exemp-
tion on official grounds and the defense
had refused to challenge him.