Omaha daily bee., 1911-10-12
JOHN ]. RETURNS TO PRISON
Secretary of Iron Workers Accom-.
panies Brother to Court Room.
EXAMINATION OF rALESMEN
Less Than Forty Left Out of One
Hundred and Twenty Five.
FARMER CLOSELY QUESTIONED


LOS ANGELES, oct. u.-Jamee 3. Nc
Namara OF Cincinnati was placed on trial
for murder here today before Judge Brod-
well in the superior court
Clarence s. Darrow, chief counsel Tor
the defendants. announced that he
wished to sever the cases and Immediately
District Attorney John Fredericks chose
James B. Mcnamara for trial
The prisoner Is 20 years old and unnar-
ried lie is charged with causing the
death Of nineteen OF the twenty-one men
killed In the explosion and fire which
wrecked the Los Angeles Times plant.
Not only did Mr. Fredericks elect to try
James rather than his brother, John j.,
secretary of the International Associa-
ton OF Bridge and Structural Iron Work
ers, but he decided to go to trial on
the indictment charging the prisoner with
the death OF Charles J. Hagerty, a ma
chinlst. 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
almost within the shadow of the unfin-
ished hall OF records, In which the trial
Is being held and the whistles OF engines
working on the foundation Of the new
Times building sounded from time TO
time through the open windows of the
court room.
Defendant Has Four Lawyers.
Counsel for the defense gathered about
the prisoner, headed by Attorney Clarence
g. Darrow OF Chicago. Associated with
him sat Joseph Scott Le Compe Davis
and Job Hartman. oil Of Los Angeles.
Mrs Darrow sat near her husband.
District Attorney Fredericks handle
the prosecution, aided by the assistant
regularly employed in his own office.
AZ delay, seemingly interminable to
eager spectators, occurred at the opening
OF court while procession of veniremen
explained TO Judge Bordwell why they
should not be asked to serve. This was
the end of preliminary hearing in which
the Judge rapidly weeded out half the
| first venire OF 125 men before the trial
formally opened.
The McNamaras were brought into
court together and remained until Jarnes
B. Mcnamara was selected for trial
when John j. was returned to his cell
In the county jail
Twelve veniremen we're placed IN the
Jury box out Of the velre which originally
numbered i25. but which today contained
less than forty
District Attorney FTedericks read the
indictment to the veniremen, pointing
out the prisoner and explaining the case
briefly, so that the veniremen might
know in general what 1t was about should
they be called upon to become trial iu-
rors"
lie Compile Davis, for the defense.
asked the usual questions concerning
| qualifications.
Following the completion OF prelimi-
nary arrangements recess was taken az
II o'clock until 2, when James B. Nc
Namara was brought into the court room
by Sheriff Hammel., unaccompanied by
his brother, John ]. The latter today
saw tho last of the court chamber until
he is formally placed on trial. which
probably will not be for at least several
weeks,
Veniremen Examined.
Court reconvensd at 2:O6 O'Clock and
the examination OF talesmen was con
tinued.
z. T. Nelson. a farmer, 81 years old was
the first man questioned.
Are any Of your sons in any contract
ing business?'
No" answered Nelson.
Are any OF your sons In any way con
neoted with organized laborr'
mot that I know Of"
do you belong to any labor union or
any branch or Organised laborf'
No"
'I presume you are aware OF the bitter
warfare going on between organized labor
and capital7"
Yes"
Are your sympathies with organized
labor or notf''
Organised Labor Involved.
Ray Horton, counsel for the prosecu-
| ton, objected 10 the question. and Mr.
Davis launched into a defense OF his
question 10 the court, declaring that ths
case was lone thai involved organised
| labor"
'I have no doubt" said Mr. Davis, that
the prosecution VIII bring In as a motive
the attitude or organized labor. The con-
tention will be that organised labor caused
the explosion to get even, I think II
would be proper 10 ask II a man had any