The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1911-12-08
CONFESSION OF
THE MCNAMARA
Written Confession is Short
and to the Point.
LEAVES NO DOUBT AS TO
SINCERITY.
Sentence of Judge B0rdwell Full Of
Pointed Reproof Of Outrage and Its
Attendant Tragedy.


Los Angeles, Dec. 5.-James B. Nc
Namara's brief confession, written by
his own hand yesterday, was made
public today 1t reads as follows.
81, James B. Mcnamara, having here
tofore pleaded guilty to the crime OF
murder, desire to make statement OF
the facts, and this is the truth On the
night of September 80, 1910, at 5.45 p.
M, l placed in the ink alley, a portion
of the Times building, suit case con-
tanning 16 sticks of dynamite set to
explode at 1 o'clock the next morn
ing. 1t was my intention to injure the
building and scare the owner | did
not intend to take the life of anyone.
l sincerely regret these unfortunate
men lost their lives. If the giving of
my life would bring them back | glad
ly give it. In fact, in pleading guilty
to murder in the first degree | have
placed my life in the hands of the
state.
JAMES B. MCNAMARA"
1t is probably the only written state
ment of the case that ever will be
made.
There are two sentencence," said
Fredercks, with deliberation, which
the court may pronounce, possibly Of
equal severity. One is death and the
other life Imprisonment. However, in
the minds of a great many persons
and possibly in the mind of the defend
ant, | do not know but | assume, the
sentence Of Imprisonment for life
would be considered in some degree a
less punishment than the punishment
of death There has been no dickering
or bargaining in this matter. Counsel
on the other side are well aware of
the usual custom of granting some de-
gree of consideration to defendant
who has pleaded guilty, not on the
ground of mercy, but on the ground OF
service to the state.
"This defendant has pleaded guilty
BY so doing he has settled that which
for all time in the minds of a great
many would have been doubtful
question He has served the state in
other ways and it is my judgmen,
that some small degree of considera-
ton should be extended to him be-
cause of that fact"
To that point the prisoner was calm
and unmoved, but suddenly the judge
startled him.
Court Asks Question.
"The court" began Judge BordWell
turning to the prisoners an inquirins
look, desires to ask you one question
You have stated in the writing which
the district attorney has read, tina
you placed Is sticks of dynamit'
known as 80 per cent pure in tn
Times building and caused it to be ex
ploded The question | ask you is this
Did you seek to purchase for tina
same purpose, dynamite OF highe
percentage?"
The defendant paused and seeme
to lose his composure; finally h
spoke: mo, your honor; no, sir
''You did not"
mo, SIR
No Ray OF Comfort.
"There is very little or no ray G
Judge Bordwell, Gin the assertion b
you that you did not intend to destro
life The widows and orphans an
the bereaved parents will look upo
that statement at this time as a mock
cry The circumstances are agains
you in making any such claim.
man who would put 16 sticks of 80 pc
cent dynamite in building full {
explosives, do not now refer to tn
explosive of which you may had ha
no knowledge, l really mean combu!
tible material; l say that man VIII
under these circumstances, woul
place dynamite charge of that quar-
tity in such building in which yo
as a printer, knew gas was burning
many places, and in which you kne
there were scores of human beins
working, must have had no regal
whatever for the lives OF his fellow b
ings. He must have been murders
at heart.
Deserved the Gall0ws.
"You we'll merit the maximum pul
ishment prescribed by law
The prisoner quivered and his he'
dropped. He twisted his fingers in h
hands behind him, and then lifted h
head again.
THAT the judgment Of the court do
not condemn you to death upon Il
gallows is due to the existence OF
extenuating circumstances whateve
but because 1t appears to the court t
part Of wisdom to do otherwise.
ut is the judgment of the cou
that as a punishment for the crime
murder in the first degree, to viii
you have pleaded guilty. you shall
confined In the state prison OF Il
state in San Quentin for and duri
your natural life.