Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1911-12-08
M'NAMARAS PLEAD
GUILTY TO MURDER
ADMIT BLOWING UP OF TIMES,
THUS CAUSING DEATH OF
TWENTY-oNE PERSONS.
Secretary of international Bridge and
Structural Workers and Brother Take
All Blame for Crime and May Get
Of With Prison Sentence.

Los Angeles,-JameS B. Mcnamara
pleaded guilty to murder in the first
degree in Judge Walter Bordwell's
court on Friday. His brother, John
J. Mcnamara, secretary of the Inter
national Association of Bridge and
Structural Iron Workers, entered a
plea of guilty to having dynamited the
Llewellyn Iron works in Los Angeles
on Christmas day, 1910.
James B. McNamara's confession
clears up absolutely the tragedy of the
explosion and fire which, at los
O'Clock on the morning of October l.
1910, wrecked the plant of the Los
Angeles Times at First and Broadway
and caused the death of twentyone
persons. For nineteen of these deaths
the Mcnamara brothers were indicted
and j. B. Mcnamara was on trial spe-
officially for the murder of Charles j,
Haggerty, machinist, whose body
was found nearer than that of any
other to the spot where the dynamite
was supposed to have been placed.
Clarence barrow, leading counsel
for the defense, says proof was over
whelming and that he had been labor
ing for two weeks to bring about con
fession.
District Attorney Fredericks will
recommend that Jas. B Mcnamara be
given life sentence and that John
J. go to prison for fourteen years.
Ortie McManigal, who confessed
soon after his arrest is likely to escare
with light sentence.
The mother, brother and sister OF
the two men refuse to believe them
guilty of the crimes they confessed.
Samuel Gompers declares his credu-
lily has been imposed upon and tears
came to his eyes as he read the news.
The Central Labor union Of st. Jo-
seph, Mo-, demands that the dynamit
iers receive the death penalty,
Friday night, as the two brothers
sat together in the county jail, refus-
ing to see anyone or make any state
ment, an interest second only to the
occurrence itself hung about the ques-
ton with reference to James B. Nc
Namara, why did he confess?"
To this opposing counsel gave the
same answer.
"He confessed because he was guilty
and that's all there is to it, declared
District Attorney Fredericks.
He was counseled to confess be-
cause that was the best thing he could
do, in the opinion of counsel" said
Attorney Clarence S. barrow, chief OF
counsel Il will say now that there
was no other reason or motive in 1t
I've studied this case for months. Il
presented a stone WALL
Darrow's statement was made after
looking squarely in the face OF charges
that the recent arrest of Burt IL
Franklin, an investigator employed By
the defense, and two others with him
might have precipitated situation un
tenable save by confession of the pris
oner.
Case Settled by Use of Golden Rule
Los Angeles, Cal.-The principles o
the teachings of Jesus Christ, as the.
were understood by crowd OF hard
headed Los Angeles business men
settled the Mcnamara murder tria
This was learned Friday from unim
peachable authority and was cor
frmed by Clarence S. barrow chic
counsel for the defense.
Lincoln Steffens, magazine write
and student of political affairs, brough
from the Golden Rule town" of Tole
do, Ohio theory of Christianity il
politics which was presented to Lead
ers in Los Angeles business life, dis
cussed and finally adopted by them, b
barrow as counsel for the McNs
maras, and finally by the prosecution
The plan was first broac he'd to on
or two men; these sounded others, an
In the end the great influences benin
the business and political life of Cal
Tornia and of the state accepted j
For this reason, 1t was declared, tn
Mcnamara trial, instead of bein
pushed to desperate conclusion, wit
Inevitable uncertainty, anger an
countercharges. came to conclusio
gladly accepted by the defense. whic
was not in a position to propose 1t.