Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-12-08
CONFESSION BY DYNAMITRRs.

murder in the first degree in Judge Walter
bordwelrs court at Los Angeles, CAL, last
Friday. His brother, John J. Mcnamara,
secretary of the International Association
of Bridge and Structural Iron Workers, en-
tered plea of guilty to having dynamited
the Llewellyn Iron Works in Los Angeles
on Christmas day, 1910.
James B. McNamaras confession clears
up absolutely the tragedy of the explosion
and fire which at LOT o'clock on the morn
ing of October |, 1910, wrecked the plant of
the Los Angeles Times and caused the
death of q persons.
For nineteen of these deaths the McNa-
mara brothers were indicted. and John B.
Mcnamara was on trial specifically for the
murder of Charles j. Hageerty. machinist
whose body was found nearer than that
of any other to the spot where the dyna-
mite was supposed to have been placed.
The great contention that the Los An
eeles Times was not dynamited is dead
beyond resurrection or argument
Ortie f. McManigal who confessed to
having actually blown up Lewellyn Iron
Works at the direction of John J. McNa-
mara, will be brought to trial, but it is ex
pected the State will recommend a light
sentence because he turned States evil
dence. John j. Mcnamara did not actually
blow up the Llewellyn works, as an Access
sorry, but was so charged as an accessory.
Bribery charges against Bert H. Franklin,
a detective employed by the Mcnamara
defense, probably will be dropped now as
irrelevant to the main issue.
On Tuesday last Jas. B. Mcnamara was
sentenced to the penitentiary for life and
J. J. Mcnamara to is years by Judge Bord-
well. who said to the prisoners in passing
sentence upon them that such diabolical
crimes as you have confessed stamp you
as murderers at heart and you deserve no
clemency."
In statement discussing the Mcnamara
brothers plea of guilty Detective Burns.
who unraveled this mysterious crime after
months of investigation, says
lHC lldu Dccil
made to bride the States witnesses was
what precipitated the confessions on the
part of the Mcnamara brothers. The out
come is a great victory for the people, who
believe in fair play.
Ever since the arrest of the McNamaras
the witnesses for the State have been har-
assed on every side. They have been
chased about the country in an effort to
have them lay off
'ln number of instances, money has
been offered in an attempt to spirit wit
nesses away. But in each instance they
failed. Finding that the State had woven
an impenetrable net around them, the
McNamaras decided upon the step they
took today. 1t was no surprise to me.
Il feel that have gained great per-
sonal vindication by the McNamaras' con-
fessions. Especially after men occupying
such exalted positions as Samuel Gompers
and others have repeatedly charged me with
planting the dynamite at Los Angeles.
Following them every socialist paper in the
country. and every labor paper has so often
printed stories of 'frame-ups in the case
that some good people were beginning to
think that the prosecution was not on the
square.
Il had absolutely no personal feeling
against either defendant was employed
by Mayor Alexander. of Los Angeles, to
80 out and get the dynamiters of the Times
| building.
Il got them, and got evidence enough
to convince jury, any jury in the world,
of their guilt. This evidence turned over
to Prosecuting Attorney Fredericks. He
conducted his part of the case very ably.
Within few days shall 60 to the
coast to continue my labors in the dyna-
hitting cases There is more evidence to
obtain in connection with other men who
have yet to be called for trial. These men
have taken part in the dynamitings and
are equally culpable with the McNamaras."
The New York World thinks the case of
the McNamaras should be an impressive
lesson to organized labor of this country
and caustically comments as follows upon
the case:
The Mcnamara confessions are the
deadliest blow ever dealt to organized
labor in the United States not because
the guilty men were labor leaders not
because their crimes were committed in
the name of organized labor and through
the machinery of organized labor but
because organized labor by the incredible
folly of its officers and spokesman, made
itself the champion. the defender. the very
shield of this gang of cold -blOoded scOun-
drels and murderers
when the McNamaras were charged
with the Los Angeles Times murders,
Samuel GOmpers. president of the Amer
lean Federation OF Labor, denounced their
arrest as the first act Of a tragedy con-
templating the assassination of organized
labor. Frank Morrison. secretary Of the
Federation. declared il was an infamous
outrage Labor leader after labor leader
rang the charges upon these accusations.
Inc mCNdihdIdS "Cic martyrs. ihcy were
kidnapped from indianapolis by corrupt
hirelings of ruthless capital. They we're
to be railroaded to the eallows by perjured
testimony, by brbed witnesses and by
venal courts, in order to intimidate honest
workingmen and keep them under the
heel Of heartless despOtism.
mot the McNamaras but organized
labor is on trial shrieked the agitatOrs
and Socialists in chorus. If organized labor
was on trial at Los Angeles. where does il
stand now? Is ii willing to take the re-
sponsibility for the Mcnamara confessions ?
Is it willing to justify the Los Angeles
Times explosion with its q corpses? Is it
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