The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-10-12
JAMES B.
MNAMARA lST
Trial For Times Dynamiting
Opens
BOTH BROTHERS IN COURT
The Trouble Expected in Getting the
Jury-Two or Even Three
Panels May Be
Needed.
BOTH BROTHERS IN COURT

Los Angeles, Cal, Oct. l2.--James D.
Mcnamara, secretary of the Interna-
tional Association Of Bridge and Struc-
tura Iron Workers, will be tried first
for the murder of nineteen men killed
in the explosion which wrecked the Los
Angeles Times building year ago. This
announcement was made before the
opening of court yesterday by District
| Attorney John ID. Fredericks, who de-
clared that should the defense exercise
its privilege Of having the brothers tried
separately, he should elect to begin by
placing james B. Mcnamara in the pris-
oners bar.
Clarence S. barrow, chief counsel for
| the defendants, announced that he
wished to sever the cases, and immefi-
ately District Attorney John s. Fred
erieks chose James b. Mcnamara for
trial. The prisoner is twcnty-nine years
old and unmarried. He Is charged with
causing the death Of nineteen of the
twenty. one men who were killed in the
explosion and fire which wrecked the
Los Angeles Times plant. Not only did
| Mr.. Fredericks elect TO try James, rath-
err than his brother, John j., secretary
of the international Association Of
Bridge and Structural Iron Workers, but
he decided TO 90 to trial on the indict-
ment charging the prisoner with the
death of Charles j. Hagorty, a ma,
chinist. whose body was found close to
the spot at which the explosion is alleged
to have occurred The site OF the old
Times building lies elmost within the
! shadow of the unfinished Hall of Rec
ords. in which the trial is being held,
and the whistles OF engineers working
on the foundation Of the new Times
| building sounded from time to time
through the open windows Of the court
ROOM Counsel for the defense gathered
about the prisoner, headed by Attorney
! Clarence S. Darrow Of Chicago, Asso-
ciated with him sat Joseph Scott, Le-
compte Davis and job Hartman, all
of Los Angeles
Judge BordweIl's first action was as
anticipated, the denying of the motion
\ bv counsel for the defense for a change
of venue. declaring that he was not
preiudiced in the case. District Attor-
ney Fredericks handled the prosecution,
aided by the assistants regularly en-
ploved III his Office. A delay seemingly
intermnable to eager spectators occurred
at the opening of court, while q process
sion of veniremen explained to Judge
1 Bordwell why they should not be asked
to serve. This was the end of a pre-
liminarv hearing. in which the Judge
rapidly weeded ont over half the first
yenire of 1875 men before the trial form
Ially opened The McNamaras were
| brought into court together and re-
manned until James 3. Mcnamara was
selected for trial. when John J. was re-
turned to his cell in the county jail
After few minutes parley, Attorney
Lecompte Davis. for the defense, faced
the waiting yeniremen and made the
! first speech Of the trial.
aThe court suggests that | inform you
! that when YOU enter the jury box you
will remain there or be locked up until
the end OF the trial" he said. III you
want to see your wives or attend to
yorr business. YOU had better do so be-
fore this afternoon"
At ten o'clock, both John ]. Mcnamara
and his brother, James b., entered the
court room with Clarence barrow, their
chief counsel Both men were smiling
and shook hands with many attorneys
at the bar The prisoners We're without
handouts. The brothers were handcuifed
when they left the jail and during the
walk across the street, through to the
court and into the hall OF records. Scores
Of photographers took snapshots, but
few other persons gathered to see the
men. They were accompanied by Jailer
George Gallagher and an assistant and
were followed by seven deputy sheriffs.
Court convened at 1915 o'clock, hav-
ing been delayed in opening by the ar
ranpcment OF seats District Attorney
Frederieks and Attorney Darrow greeted
one another and began alloting seats for
assistants along the tables facing Judge
Bordwell. Judge Bordwell first received
the excuses OF several yenire men whom
he had instructed to return yesterday.
Counsel for the defense, headed by
Clarence S. barrow of Chicago, in ques-
tions to prospective iurymen and in ar
guments to Judge Bordwell, sought to
depict mighty contest between or
gained labor and its opponents, without
much opposition from the prosecution.
The entire day was taken up in the
examination of veniremen. and as to-
day is state holiday no session of
court will take place.
-9zr, .