The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-08
Detective McLaren Relates With
CircumstantiaI Detail
The Story of the Trailing of
the McNamaras.
HE TALKED TOO MUCH
J. BIS IndiscretiOn Led Ortie
McManigal to Confess.
Says Dynamiter Tried to Buy
Freedom for Himself.

Los Ango' Dec. S.-"Ive got hum
dreds of thousands of dollars and the
American Federation of Labor back Of
me. 1t took only $4,000 to clear Vim
cent Altman. of Chicago. and if they
could not convict him, they can't con-
vict me-"
This boast, attributed by Detective
Malcolm McLaren to James b. Nc
Namara as the latter was being taken
on a train from Detroit to Chicago on
the night of April 12 last, caused Ortie
f. McManisal. then also under arrest,
to become angered with Mcnamara for
his indiscreet statement and was the
first circumstance that led McManisal
to break from his companion and event
ually confess his connection with vari-
Gus dynaniting explosions throughout
the country.
NcManigaI's real confession has been
saved for the trials of james b. and
John ]. Mcnamara, now under sem
tence of life i'm prisonment and 10 years,
respectively, but this evidence, as well
as all til which had been gathered
by the state, has been turned over to
the United States government. The
federal grand jury heard McManigal's
story all day yesterday and will hear
more of it. laying the foundations for
the probe into the alleged dynamiting
conspiracies that extended from coast
to coast in the last three years.
The McNamaras were not brought be-
fore the federal grand jury, and it may
be that McManigal's story will be re-
garded as sufficient and the other two
Will be removed to San Quentin without
interrogation here.
McManigaIs Story.
Details of what McA1anigal knows of
the alleged piracy were given to the
grand Jury. That his story implicateS
other men in the International Associ-
alton of Bridge & Structural Iron Work
ers became known through various
sources. McManigal alleges that per-
sons other than John J. Mcnamara, the
secretary treasurer. paid him for the
20 Jobs of dynamiting which he says
he accomplished since 1907.
AS question had been raised to
competency Of testimony from convicted
felons, It was considered unlikely that
the revelations of the McNamaras would
be of consequence, for such testimony
could not be used in court against those
indicted. The story of McManigal, how /
ever. VINO has not yet been brought to
trial, will be of great value to the gov
ernment'S .nVestiga tors and the state |
will not try him on the indictments 1
against him until the federal authOri- |
ties are through. Even then. it was |
stated on good authority, District At |
torney Fredericks will recommend his |
discharge on account of signal service |
rendered.
"McManigal never killed anybody; in
fact he took good care never to en-
danger human life remarked Assist
ant District Attorney W. Joseph Ford. !
Malcolm McLaren, the detective who /
J. B. Mcnamara and McMani-
gal. and who has been in close cooper
alton with Oscar Lawlor, the specially |
appointed prosecutor in the federal in
Vestiga ton, stayed outside the grand
jury chamber waiting for McManigal.
While thus waiting, McLaren gave TO
the Associated Press a complete YER
sion, new in important details, of the
and circumstances which led
70 10
Mcnamara in Detroit and how the
thoughtlessness of James B. Mcnamara
on the journey from Detroit to Chicago
gave to detectives ground for persuad-
ing McManlgal to confess. The state
ments of Mcnamara were made, ac-
to McLaren. in the presence of
Detective Sergeants Guy Biddinge- and
William Reed, of Chicago: Raymond
Burns, a son o. William J. Burns and
himself
As McLaren Tells 1t.
McLaren told in minute detail the
dates, hours and places Of his shad-
owing of MECHANICAL for a long period
prior to his arrest. When he con-
fronted McManigal with the knowl-
edge he had thus gained, the dyna-
miter decided to break from his COM
panion and tell all he knew.
About the eth or Sth of April.
ast," said McLaRen, L picked up
at his home in Chicago.
He had just arrived from Springfield,
Mass, where, he said. he had blown
up the municipal tower. He had
stopped at Indianapolis and, he said,
obtained $40O from J. J. Mcnamara
Tor the Springfield job and the one
at Milwaukee.
I'VE shadowed him the next day as
he went down with his wife to the
bank. Our office happened
to be right across the street and 1
-old Mr.. Burns that if he wanted to
get a good look at McManigal here
was his chance. So Burns went north
IF Clark street and doubled back as
came out of the bank. He
got a good look at him. McManigal
hen went to the headquarters of the
IRON Workers union and finally went
home
I'VE trailed McManigal and his wife
he next day again as they walked
With their children. looking into shop
windows and finally visiting a shoe
store 1 had been in McManigal
leighborhood for several days and
vas afraid his children, who had seen
ne, might recognize me and call their
ather's attention to me. I saw Nc
Manigal buy pair Of shoes which he
s now wearing, and I remember he
vas amazed after 1 arrested him when
told him the size of the shoes he
lad on, how much he paid for them
md who was with him when he {
bought them.
''McManigal left home carrying a
and I took a train with him
o Toledo. keeping well away from
lis sight all the time. When We ar
-ived in Toledo, James B. Mcnamara
vas waiting for McManigal at the sta
Jon exit They shook hands and sat
iown in the station for a talk Nc
.Lanigal pulled out map which 1
aw was of Detroit as I passed them
they traced over it with lead pen
/