The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-12-05
James McNamara Sentenced for Life While His
Brother John gets Fifteen Years in Prison
for Their Confessed Crime.
.G0MPERS NEVER SAID ANYTHING MUCH
James B. McNamara Wrote His Confession Last
Night in Jail and Took Much Pains with
the Important Document

LOS ANGELEo, Dec. 0.-in ne prom
ise has been kept
The word of the district attorney
which is alleged to have been given
that the lives of John J. and James
B. Mcnamara might be saved in order
that the famous murder case could be
disposed of prior to the municipal
election OF this city was kept today
when James B. Mcnamara, the con-
fessed slayer OF twenty-one working
men was sentenced to San Quenten
prison for the rest OF his natural life.
His brother John j. Mcnamara. sec
retary Of the iron workers was sent to
the same prison for fifteen years.
If the men live however, and prove
exemplary prisoners they will come
under the operation OF the state par
ole law within seven years.
The scene in court when sentence
was pronounced was dramatic in the
extreme.
Judge Bordwell took special precau-
tions and suddenly announced a
change in the place of sentence from
the hall Of records to the hall of JUS
tice.
When tho two prisoners we're finally
smuggled into the latter place a
very small room-they were badly
broken men.
All tho bravado, swagger and def.
ance was gone and James appeared on
the verge of collapse. He shook and
trembled as he arose to hear his
doom, but later regained his compos
nre and was quite calm when Judge
Bordwell sentenced him.
The judge first asked him II he had
not at first tried to get dynamite of a
higher explosive character than sc
percent. Receiving negative answer
the court said:
There is no comfort in the asser
tion that you did not intend to take
life. Those bereayed by your crime
would look at this statement now as
mockery.
"a man who would put sixteen
sticks of eighty percent dynamite ir
building filled with combustibles
and which was known SO to you
meant murder and nothing else. There
is no question in the mind of the
court that you are murderer and as
such should be punished.
James b. Mcnamara you are 1
murderer at heart and well deserve
the gallows, but in view of the reques
OF the state, the Judgment will be tina
you be sentenced to San Quenten pris
on for the balance of your natura
life"
James was in state of almost com
plete collapse when he sat down
There was not an instant's delay. A.
the first prisoner sank into his chair
John stood up His face was study
His ewes were deep and sunken.
Frederick was asked if he had an,
recommendation to make and asked
for lienency although he said he dit
not think this man was entitled t
mercy.
Judge Bordwell Immediately sen
fenced John to fifteen years. He re
peated his excoriation of James bu
added: "You are fully as guilty as HI
and deserve no consideration,
Position of Gorpers.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 5.-The exac
position occupied by Samuel Gompers
president of the American Federation
OF Labor. In the Mcnamara case wal
outlined today by Clarence Darrow
chief counsel for the defense who stat
ed to the United Press that at no tim
had Gompers ever asked whether tn
accused men were innocent or guilty
Asked whether he had ever told TIL
federation OF labor chief that tn
brothers were innocent, Darrow re
Piled: NO because Gompers neve
asked me-
'Do you know how much Gomper
knew about this case?" he was asked
81 do not. Never at any time hat
he mentioned either the guilt or IN
nocence of the men,
"Do you know whether Gomper
knew the men were to plead guilty!
Il do not"
DO you think there Is any likel1
hood of Gompers being arrested Il
connection with the case?'
- do not, because | am certain n