The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-02
James Mcnamara COnfesses to
Murder of Haggerty.
John Says He Blew Up LleWelyn
Iron Works.
TO PRISON FOR LEE.
Will Be the Sentence of the
Murderer.
His Brother viii Probably Be
TO PRISON FOR LEE.
His Brother viii Probably Be
Given IA Years.


covered by the state Journal in a two
colnun story in the postscript edition
issued at o'clock last evening. It Gre
ated a sensation and the street sale was
large both at the news stands and by
newsboys. The story also appeared in
all the night mail editions of the State
Journal and was complete in every de-
tail connected with the destruction by
dynamiting of the great newspaper
building in Los Angeles and the killing
of q men
IFrom Fridays 8 o'clock Postscript Editionl
Los Angeles, Dec. flames B. Nc
Namara pleaded guilty this afternoon
to murder In the first degree in con-
nection with the death of Charles J.
Haggerty a victim of the Los Angeles
Times explosion and fire
His brother, John J. Mcnamara,
Jointly indicted with him pleaded
guilty to dynamiting the Lewellyn Iron
works They will be sentenced next
Tuesday. December 5.
James B. Mcnamara probably will
get life imprisonment. John ]. Nc
Namare it is rumored will get 4 years.
, Each pleaded guilty on the charge for
(which he was extradited from India
napolis.
No other way.
Within fifteen minutes after court
opened this afternoon one of the
greatest criminal trials of modern
times had ended so abruptly that many
officials who supposed they were in the
heart of the case did not know it was
gong to happen.
The prisoners were taken back to
jail, Judge Walter Bordwell retired to
his chambers and opposing counsel
went to their rooms.
The McNamaras have pleaded
guilty because they are guilty. was
District Attorney John D. Frederick's
crisp comment. IF I'd have seen any
way out of it we would not have done
it, said Attorney Darrow, after court
adjourned. We've had it under con-
sideration since a week ago Monday"
\ Attorney Darrow stood around the
proom after court adjourned and men
crowded around him.
I'VE have been working on this for
two weeks and it has been the great
est strain of my life. The Times
Building was blown up by James B.
Mcnamara with nitroglycerine to be
sure. but the bomb touched off the gas
and gas really did it."
Gas Really Did 1t.
Did you have to wrestle hard with
the McNamaras to get that admis-
sion 81 he was asked.
somewhat but the facts have been
overwhelming. Every loop hole was
gathered in by the state. AS far as I
am concerned l felt that sooner or
later it had to come. Things were
happening in which big people were
int rested. The movement was i'm
pelIng They wanted the matter clear
ed up and feared further bloOdshed
unless we Obliterated the incident from
Los Angeles at once. Of course. I feel
that I have helped the McNamaras by
getting them to plead guilty insofar as
they will not be sentenced to death
Life imprisonment will be meted out to
James B. and John ]. viii get of with
a slight sentence
District Attorney Fredericks inti-
mated that he would recommend life
Imprisonment for James B. and that
John ] probably would have to serve
a short term The matter was prac-
ticalIy arranged early to~ay by agree
ment between counsel
DO you think union labor will
suffer p asked reporter of Darrow-
just an Incident.
"Oh. no. its Just an incident in the
evolution of things Because one does
wrong does it mean all the others are
wrong As a matter of fact i'm Ms
AIamara did not mean to kill anSAody-
1shey have told me the whole story and it
Is substantially as it has been told in
the press except 1 reiterate that there
was really no criminal intent. It was
meant as a scare to the Times and
doubt whether there wac enough ex-
plosfve to really do the damage that was
done but of course gas helped. Yet the
crime is the same no matter what the
intent.
Tuesdays election?" Darrow was asked 4
Don't you Know this will hurt Job
Harriman's chance to be elected mayor?' !
L know but we could not take any
chances Maybe the state would have 7
backed out of their agreement Lives |
were at stake md think we saved them" |
How 1t Was Done
s'It was evidence gathered by the !
State of California that brought about ;
this plea" Darrow said when asked /
what means he believed to have beeen /
most effective
"Tl1at Nvas evidence" he added en-
phatizing the was"
Attorney Joseph Scott of the defense |
told of the lSng argumentatiye sessions 1
with James B. Mcnamara in which /
counsel urged him to plead guilty
Plea Is Withdrawn.
"I'n plead guilty all right" he finally /
Agreed, .if you will leave Joe (J. J. |
AcNamara) out of it,
I'VE can't do that" he was told. Its
both or neither May be you win be
Maybe I will said James B., chew
ing gum. cit wont look nice and it
won't feel NICE" said an attorney
sharply.
IT don't mind hanging for the prin-
ciple involved said the man stub