Omaha daily bee., 1911-12-07

]
! Namara, under sentence of life imprison-
ment. had other troubles added to his
lot today. when he became defendant in
a $4,000 damage suit. The suit is brought
by Louise NJ. Sawyer widow of Robert
L. Lawyer a telegraph operator en-
ployed by the Los Angeles Times and
killed in the explosion which wrecked
! that building on October 1, 1910.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 6-Subpoenas
for the Mcnamara brothers to appear be-
| fore the federal grand jury had not been
issued up TO noon today and Oscar Law
| Ter, in charge OF the governments in
vestigation into the alleged dynamlting
conspiracy, was debating with his as
sistants about the best way to secure
the desired information from the two
prisoners.
There is some question, il is said, as to
the competency of testimony of a con-
fessed murderer, such as James B. Nc
Namara and some indecision as to the
best way of bringing to the attention of
the grand jury facts in the possession of
John ]. Mcnamara.
! Mr. Lawler and Edward A. Reagan,
assistant United States district attorney
here, wrestled with the legal phases of
the matter today and as the grand jury
does not convene until tomorrow It is
| expected that no decision would be
reached before then.
The brothers spent a gloomy day in
their cell, looking out upon bleak rainy
streets.
| Sheriff Hammell has orders not to
move the prisoners until he hears from
Mr.. Lawler.
Interest today centered not only on
the grand jury proceedings that are to
come, but upon expected revelations in
the Franklin bribery case, which will be
continued on Monday. These two things
constitute the angles Of the big case
still remaining.
THE disposition OF Ortte McMan'gal has
not yet been determined upon, but It is
foregone conclusion that ne Will testify
before the federal grand jury before he
! is brought to trial by the state and In
his case at least the question Of compe-
tency will be avoided Malcolm McClaren,
the local representative OF the detective
agency which arrested the McNamaras
and McManigal conferred at length with
Mr.. Lawler today about the details Of
McManlgars confession, which was the
first big factor in the case against the
McNamaras.
NIcNamaras in Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA, bee. 6.--The McNa
mara brothers were responsible for ex
plosions here which damaged structural
iron work on several building operations
according to William j. Burns, the de-
tective who today arrived in Philadelphia
from Cleveland.
yes" said the detective. II am posi-
tive that both of them were responsible
for the explosions here on structural
iron work during the last few years, and
others are implicated"
Mr.. Burns says the investigation here
involved the explosion which occurred
about a year ago In the cafe OF Harry
Edwards, fight promoter, which was be-
ing reconstructed. and another that dam
aged the iron being placed In position for
the Philadelphia Rapid Transit company 3
elevated road on Delaware avenue AMI
on Market street. The work was being
done by the American Bridge company.
In these explosions no person was killed
! or injured. Following the explosions,
sticks of dynamite were found in an alley
near the building of the Pittsburgh Plate
Glass company IN the center OF the city
Burns says he has knowledge that one
Of the McNamaras was registered at a
central hotel at the time the explosion
in Edwards Place occurred.
He also said Ortie McManigal told him
he came here under instructions to blow
up a railroad bridge, but when he found
the structure was near several tenement
houses ne feared there would be loss OF
life.
Asked if any further arrests would be
made in what the prosecution at Los An
gees alleges to have been big conspir
acy case, Mr. Burns replied in the af-
firmatiye, but he would not mention
names.
''Win the arrests include any past or
present member Of the Structural Iron
Workers union?'
II 60 not care 10 say, but I will say
this-the national board Of the associa-
tion appropriated certain sums TO John
j. Mcnamara, and in my opinion they
knew the money was to be used for
dynamiting purposes