The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1911-10-12
GREAT DYNAMITE
| TRIAL IS BEGUN
Case Against Two Mcnamara
Brothers Is Opened.
BOTH SIDES FULLY PREPARED
Los Angeles 10 Scene Of Drama In
Struggle Between Labor and Cap
itaI-May Consume Many
Months.

AOo ah5CiCos SoAsp WV - w 49,
the way prepared by a preliminary ex-
animation of prospective jurors, Judge
Walter Bordwell began today the
hearing of the case against John j.
Mcnamara, secretary of the lnterna-
tional Association Of Bridge and
Structural Iron Workers, and his
brother, James Bryce Mcnamara.
They are charged with wholesale
murder by dynamiting, in connection
with the destruction of the Los An
geles Times building at First street
and Broadway on the morning OF Oct.
/, 1910, in which disaster 20 men lost
their lives. The trial is being held in
the new Hall Of Records.
District Attorney Charles. D. Fred
ericks, In charge of the prosecution,
declares that the web of evidence
against the two men Is conclusive.
Many Witnesses to Appear.
For almost six months the district
attorney, assisted by agents OF the
William J. Burns detective agency,
has been preparing for this trial AL
most a million dollars has been spent
by the prosecution and 400 witnesses
have been summoned to appear
against the two Mcnamara brothers.
Ortie E. McManigal, structural iron
worker, former Spanish-American war
veteran, and informer, has been In
daily consultation with the district at
60 he IL, t month MpMani-
gal is a self-confessed dynamiter, and
1t is upon his testimony that great
portion of the states case has been
build. Today McManigal, who is held
in jail here under grand jury indict-
ment for dynamiting the Llewellyn
iron works in this city, said he was
prepared to testify, and that he would
convince the jury that he was truth
full.
Trial May Take Many Months.
No authoritative estimate has been
given yet as to the number Of months
1t will take for the jury to hear the
prosecution and the defense The
work of selecting the jury has been
estimated at two months, and upon
this basis it is believed by some that
II will take at least six months to hear
the first case. Attorneys for the de-
Tense have made no announcement as
to the number of witnesses they will
call. 1t is generally believed, however,
that about 200 will be summoned by
them before the Anal arguments
The legal batteries for the defense
are being directed by Clarence OAR
row, philosopher, labor leader and
writer. Associated with him are LIE
Comte Davis, who has been promi.
nent in almost every criminal case in
southern California during the last
ten years; Joseph Scott. former presi-
dent of the chamber of commerce,
prominent Catholic layman. president
of the city board of education and
known through the state for his ora
tory and ability as a pleader: and Job
Hartman, Socialist candidate for may
or. Besides these lawyers a corps OF
detectives. under the direction OF At
torney John l.. Harrington OF Chi.
is assisting. Three weekly newspapers
are being published in the interests
of the Mcnamara brothers here. 1t is
estimated that at least $1,000,000 has
been spent by the defense in the COM
plete preparation of their case.
Line Of Defense Not Yet Known.
No intimation has been given as to
the line OF defense which will be
presented. Many rumors have it that
Mr.. Darrow and his associates will
argue the case without calling a sim
gle witness. The most generally
accepted theory is that the defense
will admit a number Of points in evil
dence which will be made by the pros.
ecution, and that they will endeavor to
present an explanation which will
show that the entire case is a con.
spiracy to injure union labor. 1t has
been openly charged that McManigal
is an employe of the Burns detective
agency, and that he was employed a
number of years ago This charge
has been denied by Burns and every
other officer interested in the prosecu.
tons case.
Great care is being taken by the
district attorney and by the lawyers
representing the defense that only
unbiased jurors shall be empanelled
Special Investigators have been can,
yassing the county for months and the
leaning OF almost every prospective
Juror has been determined. AS a re-
suit OF these inquiries it has been
announced that the jury will undoubt
eddy be composed of farmers.