The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-12-02
He Pleaded Guilty to Los osAngeles
Times ExpIosion--John Plead
ed Guilty to Blowing Up the
LIeweIIyn Iron Works, Also
in Los Angeles, and Will Get
Few Years Sentence.

Los Angeles, Calf, Dec. 2.--Startling
as was the sudden confession of guilt
yesterday on the part OF John ]. Me-
Namara and his brother, James B. Nc
Namara, one of causing the Llewellyn
Iron Works explosion and the other OF
the Los Angeles Times disaster, more
amazing to the people to-day was the
information that big business men
brought about the surrender in novel
way. That the application of the golden
rule and the principle of conciliation,
founded on religious convictions, started
the ball rolling towards admission of
guilt by the MeNamaras was the theory.
supported and confirmed by dozens Of
business men who participated in the
movement which to-day stands out fore
most as the reason for the abrupt CON
chsion of the trial, which was begun
nearly two months ago.
But despite this, the chain Of unex-
pected incidents produced wide speeula-
tion. Clarence S. barrow, chief counsel
for the McNamaras, reiterated to-day
that compromise was best for all con-
cerned. Speaking about the confession
of James B. Mcnamara, which cleared
up absolutely the tragedy of the explo-
sion and fire which at l:07 on the morn
ing of October /, 1910, wrecked the plant
of the Los Angeles Times and caused
the death of 2l persons, Attorney Dar-
row said;
"He was counseled to confess because
that was the best thing he could do, III
the opinion of counsel | will say now
that there was no other reason or motive
in it. Ive studied this case for months.
1t presented stone wall"
Darrows statement was made as look
ing squarely in the faces of the charges
that the recent arrest of Bert H. Frank
lin, an investigator employed by the de-
fense, and two others with him, might
have precipitated situation untenable
save by confession of the prisoner.
Negotiations have been on for weeks. !"
asserted DaTow, and this was eorrob-
GRATED by District Attorney Fredericks.
eve expected at one time that jim
would confess last Monday, but be did
not said Darrow.
Denies External Pressure.
Darrow also denied that external
pressure was exerted from union labor
and Socialist sources, as Gen. Harris
Gray Otis charged last night in formal
statement, or that the municipal election
to be held next Tuesday, in which Job
Hartman, one of the defense's counsel,
is candidate for mayor, carried any
weight 1t was learned that Hartman
was not consulted at all in the delibera-
tions. White, gaunt and hoarse, Harri-
man leaned against the wall of his Office
and confirmed this.
A brotherly affection bordering on wor-
ship, brought James B. McNamara's con-
fession. A desire to save his brother
from the necessity Of confessing any
thing at all held back day by day the
word that would end the trial.
Joe is not in on this deal" the pale
faced man reiterated with insistence
born of one great idea. Il don't care
what happens to me-"
His state of mind was known to Dis
trict Attorney Fredericks, who com
municated about it continually with At
torney barrow, and Darrow's colleagues.
A solution finally was found in the prop
osition that John j. Mcnamara plead
guilty to the dynamiting of the Lew
elIyn Iron Works, for which he and
ortis McManigal jointly were indicted.
Therefore, in Judge Bordwell's court
yesterday afternoon John j. Mcnamara,
secretary of the International Associa-
tion of Bridge and Structural Iron
Workers, entered plea of guilty to
having dynamited the Llewellyn Iron
Works in Los Angeles on Christmas dav,
1910, and James b. Mcnamara pleaded
guilty to murder in the first degree for
the death of Charles NJ Haggerty, a
machinist, whose body was found nearer
than that of any other to the spot where
the dynamite was supposed to have been
placed for the Los Angeles Times ex-
plosion.
The sentencing of both men was set
for December 5, when it is expected that
District Attorney John d. Frederieks
will ask for life imprisonment for James
b. Mcnamara and probably IA years for
his brother, John j. Judge Bordwell is
said to favor life Imprisonment for
James and few years for John. Both
the McNamaras maintained cheerfuluess
4a.dnv formal 81 ~ tLax,,