The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-12-06


Mcnamara pleaded guilty to murder
In the first degree in Judge Bord-
wells court today His brother John
]. Mcnamara. secretary of the Inter
national Association Bridge and Struc-
tural Iron Workers, entered a plea
of guilty to dynamiting the Llewellyr
Iron Work, Christmas day. 1910.
James B. McNamaras confession
clears up absolutely the tragedy of the
explosion and fire which in the early
morning of October 1, 1910, wrecked
the Los Angeles Times plant and
caused the death of 2 persons Both
mems sentences are set for Deem
Der 5, when it is expected District At
torney Fredericks will ask for life i'm
prisonment for Jas. b. Mcnamara
and probably fourteen years for his
brother. The mems lives are con-
sidered saved.
Why Did James Confess
The great contention that the Los
Angeles Times was not dynamited
is dead beyond resurrection. Tonight
itself hung about the question "why
did Jas. B. Mcnamara confess? To
this the opposing counsel gave the
same answer, Because he was guilty
declared Attorney Fredericks He
was counseled to confess because it
was the best thing he could do, in
my opinion of counsel said Darrow
chief counsel for the defense. 81 will
now say there was no other reason
or motive to it. l studied the case for
months. 1t presented stone wall"
Darrow's statement was made after
looking square into the face of the
charges that the recent arrest of Burt
Fl. Franklin, the investigator employed
by the defense, and two others with
him might have precipitated a situa-
ton untenable save by the confession
of tho prisoner.
Negotiations on for Weeks
barrow stated and barrow agreed
that the negotiations had been on for
weeks. I'VE expected Jim to confess
last Monday but he did not" said
Darrow, but he denied that external
pressure, from union leaders and So
tonight in a formal statement or that
the municipal election to be held Tues
day in which Job Harrison, one of the
defendants counsel is candidate for
mayor, carried any weight.
1t was learned that Hartman was
not counseled at all in the delibera-
tions, Hartman confirmed this. THE
trial had nothing to do with the local
issues" He said: 81 was not called
into the conference as the other attor-
lneys said they did not want the local
situation brought into it, | knew moth
ing of it until after it happened"
Brotheriy Affection the Cause
I Brotherly affection, bordering or
worship, it became known here to-
night, brought about James b McNa-
mara's confession Desire to save his
brother the necessity of confessing al
all was all that had held him back
day after day the words that should
end the trial Joe isn't in this deal,
the pale-faced man reiterated. 81
don't care what happens to me. His
state of mind was known to district
! Attorney Fredericks who communet
dppul II continually with Attorney
Darrow and Darrow's colleagues The
solution was finally found in a propo.
sition that John j. plead guilty to dy.
namiting the Llewellyn Iron works
| All of today's proceedings were lump.
| ed into a few minutes. At the morn.
| ing session of the court Fredericks Sc
cured an adjournment until the after.
noon. This was considered plausible
because OF election fraud warrant,
known to be impending in connection
with the coming election until II be-
came known that Lawrence Sullivan
the investigator employed by the de
tense had been in Fredericks' offic,
office and DarroW and Davis had alsC
been there.
Scene in the Court Room
! At the afternoon session of tn,
court the court room was packed
Among these were many attaches o
Fredericks office, Mrs Fredericks oc
cupying a seat inside the rail. Jane
B. Mcnamara sat next to Attorne,
Scott, who slapped him on the bacl
and put his arms around him. Wher
John j. entered the court and tool
a seat beside his brother, there wal