Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-05
James ]. Writes State
msnt Of Dynamiting OF
Times Building.
DID NOT MEAN TO KILL
Purpose, He Says, to Scare
0Wners-Court Calls Him
Worse Than Murderer.

Los Angeles, Cal, Dec. 81
James B. Mcnamara was SEN
tenoed to life Imprisonment at
San Quentin prison.
John J. Mcnamara was SEN
fenced to San Quentin for 15
years.
Los Angeles, Dec. flames
B. McNamara's brief confes-
sion, penned by his own hands,
was made public today. He
says. Sept. so, 1910, at
5:46 p. M, I placed in the ink
alley portion of the Times
building a suitcase containing
1e sticks Of 80 per cent dyna-
mite, set to explode at 1 the
next morning. It was my in
tention to injure the building
and scare the owners. did
not intend to take the life of
any one. I sincerely regret
these unfortunate men lost
their lives. If giving my life
would bring them back ] would
gladly give 1t. In fact, in
pleading guilty to murder in the
first degree I have placed my
life in the hands of the state"
FURNISH IMPORTANT FACTS.
The confession is probahlx.sthe
only written statement Of the case
that win ever be made by the writer
or his brother, John J. Mcnamara,
who plead guilty OF dynamiting the
LleweIlyn Iron works.
James B. Mcnamara, life impris-
onment at San Quentin prison. John
]. Mcnamara, Imprisonment for Is
years in San Quentin.
END OF STATES CASE.
These were the sentences passed
by Judge Bordwell upon the self
confessed dynamiters today, and so
was closed, as far as the state is
concerned, one OF the most sensa-
tional cases ever brought before the
court. The trial. suddenly stopped
by the confessions of the McNamaras.
attracted attention In every section
OF the country, especially at labor
centers because of the great interest
taken by the unions who, believing
in the innocence Of the accused men,
contributed literally to the defense
funds. Hours preceding the final
scene in the famous case crowds
gathered In the building where court
was held.
vERIFIEs STATEMENT.
When ali was ready Judge Bord-
we'll mounted the bench. a moment
later Attorney Darrow. chief counsel
for the defense followed by Lecompte
Davis and Joseph Scott entered. Be
hind them trailed the McNamaras.
After the usual preliminaries, Nc
Namaras confession was read. Re
spending to the courts inquiry, Nc
Namara said the statement vas cor
rect The court made formal a
statement reciting the indictment
for murder OF Charles ]. Haggerty
upon which Mcnamara plead guilty.
Mcnamara declined to make any
further statement. Prosecuting At
torney Fredericks made a formal
statement declaring there was no
dickering or bargain in the matter.
MURDERER At HEART.
Judge Bordwell, addressing the
defendant, commented on his decla-
ration that he did not intend to De
stroy life. ''The circumstances are
against that statement" the court
said. "A man who will place 16
sticks OF dynamite in a place where
you. knew gas was burning
in many places. and knew
many were toiling. must have had
no regard for life; must have been
a murderer at heart and undeserving
Of clemency."
JOHN J. - SILENT.
For reasons other than such q
plea OF non-intent. Judge Bordwell
declared he would impose the pen
atty OF Imprisonment for life. John
]. Mcnamara came next. The Llew
ellyn Iron works indictment was
read to him by the Judge. He said
he had nothing to say. District AT
torney Fredericks, however, said
that as in the other case, a plea OF
guilty permitted consideration. but
pleaded that the defendant. John ]
Mcnamara, be given a few years
OF freedom at the end of his life
RETURNED To JAIL.
Judge Bordwell declared the st-ict-
= ures against James B. Mcnamara
would also apply TO him. Clemency,