Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-02

James B. McNamara's confession
clears up absolutely the tragedy of
the explosion and fire which, at 1:o7
o'clock on the morning of Oct. /, 1910.
wrecked the plant of the Los Angeles
Times and caused the death of q
persons. For nineteen If these deaths
indictments were returned against the
Mcnamara brothers. J. B. Mcnamara
vas ON trial specifically for the muir
der of Charles NJ. Haggerty, a ma
chinist whose body was found nearer
than that of any other to the spot
where the dynamite was supposed to
have been placed.
Both mems sentences were set. to-
day. for Dec. 5. when it is expected
District Attorney John d. Fredericks
will ask for life Imprisonment for
James b. Mcnamara, the confessed
murderer, and probably 14-year SEN
tence for his brother. The mems lives
arc considered savedN
The great contention that the Los
Angeles Times was not dynamited is
dead beyond resurrection or argu-
ment.
Tonight. as the two brothers sat to-
gethcr in the county all, refusing to
see anyone to whom to make state
ment, an interest second only to that
occurrence hung about the question:
Why did James b. Mcnamara con-
fess p"
To this, opposing counsel gave the
same answer.
HE confessed because he was guilty
and htats all there is to it, said Dis
trict Attorney Fredericks.
He was counselled to confess be-
cause that was the best thing he
coul3 do, in the opinion of counsel"
said Attorney Clarence S. barrow,
chief counsel for the defence. Il will
say now that there was no other rea-
son or motive in it. I've studied this
case for months. 1t presented a stone
wall.
Darrow's statement was the most
interesting, because of the charges
that the recent arrest of Burt II.
Franklin, an investigator employed by
the defence and two others with him,
might have precipitated a situation
untenable save by a confession by the
prisoner.
Negotiations have been or for
weeks" asserted barrow and this was
corroborated by District Attorney
Fredericks. I'VE expected at one time
that Jim would confess, last Monday,
but he did not Mr. Darrow added.
Darrow also denied that external
pressure from Union Labor and Social
ist sources was exerted. as Genera
Harrison Gray Otis charged, tonight
in formal statement, or that the mu
nicipal election to be held, next Tues
day, in which Job Hartman, one OF
the defence's counsel. is a candidate
for mayor, carried any weight. 1t was
learned that Hartman was not con
suited at all in the deliberations.
1.-The trial has nothing TO do with 10
cal issues" said Hartman. Il wa
not called into conference, because tn
other attorneys said they did not wan
the local situation brought into it !
kne% nothing of it until after it hap
pened."
telegram from Darrow to Andrew
Gallagher, San Francisco Labor
leader, confirmed this declaration.
A brotherly affection bordering or
worship, it became known, tonight
probably brought about James r. Nc
Nanara's confession. A desire to save
his brother from the necessity of con
Tossing anything at all held back daS
after day the word which would end
the trial
Hoe is not in on this deal" the
pale faced man reiterated with insis-
tence 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 talked
about it steadily with Attorney Oar
row and Darrow's colleagues, Attorney
| Lecompte Davis, Jos. Scott and cyrus
McNutt If Indiana. The solution final
| ly was found in the proposal that John
j. Mcnamara plead guilty to the dy>
namiting of the Llewellyn Iron Works
| for which he and Ortie McManigal
were jointly indicted.
! All of today's proceedings were
j Jumped in a few minutes. At the
morning session of court. District At
torney Fredericks obtained an adj
journment until the afternoon. This
was considered plausible because of
warrants for registration frauds
known to be likely in connection with