The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1911-12-06


dletments viii Re Dismissed Ac-
cordlng to Agreement with the
Prosecutor - Clarence barrow,
Chief Counsel for the Defense,
Says the County Had Dead Open
and Shut Case" Against His
Clients and Believes He Saved
James B. McNamara's Life in Ad.
vlsing a Plea Of "Gullty"-Detee-
tive Burns Worked Up the Case.
Los Angeles, Cal.-James b. McNa.
mara pleaded guilty to murder in dy,
namiting the Los Angeles Times
Building on Oct l, 1910, and causing
the deaths of twenty-one men.
John ]. Mcnamara, Secretary-Treas.
urer Of the Structural Iron Workers
Union, pleaded guilty to dynamiting
the Llewellyn Iron Works in Los An.
geles on Christmas Day, 1910.
James B. McNamaras confession
clears up absolutely the tragedy OF
the explosion and fire which at 1.07
O'Clock on the morning of October /,
1910, wrecked the plant of The Los
Angeles Times" at First street and
Broadway, and caused the death OF
tventy-one persons. For nineteen OF
these deaths the Mcnamara brothers
were indicted, and J. b. Mcnamara
was on trial specif lilly for the mur
der of Charles NJ. Haggerty, machin
list, whose body was found nearer
than that of any other to the spot
where the dynamite was supposed ia
have been placed
While the lives of the prisoners are
saved the great contention that THE
Los Angeles Times" was not dynamit
ed is dead beyond resurrection or ar.
gument.
AS the two brothers sat together in
the county Jail refusing to see any
one or make any statement, an inter.
est second only to the occurrence it.
self hung about the question with
reference to James B. McNamara-
why did he confess?" To this op.
posing counsel gave the same answer.
Confession Best Thing to Do, Says
Darrow.
He confessed because he was gull.
ty, and that's all there is to it," de-
clared District Attorney Fredericks.
He was counselled to confess be.
cause that was the best thing he eauld
do, in the opinion Of counsel" said
Clarence S. Darrow, chief of counsel.
II will say now that there was no
other reason or motive in it. I've
studied this case for months. 1t pre-
sented stone wall"
Darrow's statement was made
sQuarely in the face Of the charges
that the recent arrest of Burt H.
Franklin, an investigator employed by
the defence, and two others with him,
might have precipitated situation un-
tenable save by confession of the pris.
oner. Negotiations have been on for
weeks" asserted Darrow, and this
was corroborated by District Attorney
Fredericks. I'VE expected at one
time that Jim would confess last
Monday, but he did not" said Oar
row.
Darrow also denied that external
pressure was exerted from union labor
sources and Socialist sources, as Gen
eral Harrison Gray Otis charged in a
formal statement.
A brotherly affection, bordering on
worship, it became known, brought
about James B. McNamara's confes-
sion. A desire to save his brother
from the necessity of confessing any
thing at all held back day after day
the word that would end the trial
Tried to Protect j. J. McNamara.
"Joe' is not in on this deal,' the
pale faced man reiterated with insist
ence born of one great idea. 81 don't
care what happens to me-"
His state of mind was known to
District Attorney Fredericks. who
about 1t continually
with Mr. Darrow and the latter's col
leagues, Messrs. Lecompte Davis, Jo-
Beph Scott and Cyrus McNutt, of In
diana. A solution finally was found
In the proposition that John J. McNa.
mara plead guilty to the dynamiting
OF the Llewellyn Iron Works, for
which he and Ortie McManigal Jointly
were indicted
All proceedings were Jumped in a
lew minutes. At the morning session
OF court District Attorney Fredericks
obtained an adjournment until after.
noon.
AT the afternoon session the court.
room was packed, many attaches of
Fredericks's office being present.
Judge Bordwell came into court at
III o'clock with rush. He advanced
to the bench, slammed book and his
notes and sat down with a frown on
his face.
AS is his custom, he announced the
case: The people of the State of
California VS.. j. B. Mcnamara, charg-
ed with murder. Defendant in court.
are you ready to proceed, gentle
men?"
seNed with District Attorney Fred
ericks was his entire staff. Facing him
was Clarence S. Darrow and three as
soclate counsel for the defendants.
james B. Mcnamara at first took a
seat to one side, as usual, with two
deputies but soon Attorney Joseph
scott beckoned to him. The two men
sat together for few minutes
Just previous to his entrance Judge