Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1911-12-14
Investigation by Govern
ment Set in Motion by
President After Talking
With Lawler.
FACTOR IN MOVING
TWO MEN TO CONFESS
Story Of How Department
of Justice Was Brought
Into Mcnamara Prosecu~
tion Just Comes Out.

Los Angeles, Cal, Dec. 49,. rresi-
dent Taft personally initiated the gov
|ernment's present investigation both
here and at Indianapolis, into the dyna-
hitting conspiracy In which the Nc I
Namara brothers figured. The prest.
dent, when he visited Los Angeles on
October 16, was apprised by Oscar
Lawler, then an assistant of District
Attorney Fredericks, OF the strong case
built up by the latter against the Nc
Namaras.
The presidents action in the matter
after his conference with Mr.. Lawler.
was taken forty-eight hours after he
left here. The Mcnamara trial was
then but five days old, but the presi-
dent was convinced, it is said. OF the
array Of facts gathered by the state
and was told that the McNamara broth
ers were not the only guilty persons.
Details OF alleged tampering with
witnesses and evidence In various
parts of the country and the inability
of the state authorities here to bring
all offenders to justice were related
to the president.
/ It was final move on the part of
the people here to ask the nations
chief executive to assist them In aA !,
matter in which they IN ks|
balked on many sldse VI
eral authorities n q
any steps in thek 4 19S &
ders from WASN'T ton, ana Distffct IL
torney Fredericks was unable to 80
to Washington to present the facts. II
was through Mr.. LAWYER, a friend OF
the presidents, that tbs federal action
was instituted.
How Tafts Aid Was invoked.
II cannot discuss any conversation
I have had with the president, de-
clared Mr. Lawler today. Nor can
talk about any of the present phases
Of the governments investigations. It 1
can be stated positively, however, by
the Associated Press, that the presi.
dent was approached by Mr.. Lawler
after District Attorney Fredericks
vainly sought some other way to
bring the federal authorities into the I
case. Fredericks knew, he said, that
federal statutes had been violated. He
knew that there was evidence in
indianapolis which was not accessible
to the state authorities here except by E
the Intervention OF the federal gov.
ernment. He had heard Of the willing.
ness of United States District Attorney
Charles II. Miller AT Indianapolis to
take immediate action, but the author.
ity was needed from some one higher
up.
Mr. Lawler said the president had
told him the circumstances. According
to persons who since have learned the
details of that conference, Mr.. Lawler
pointed out the number of labor lead
ers who were involved
Taft Did Not Consider Political Peril.
The possibility OF political injury to
the president was taken into con.
sideration With union labor lined up on III
the side of the McNamaras at that
time, which was long before the con-
fessions of guilt were dreamed of, 1t
was indicated to the president by
many persons that an unfavorablA
political effect might result from th4
labor element in the country IL he took
definite stand in the Mcnamara
case. The president, 1t Is said, told
Mr.. Lawler that he would proceed re.
gardless Of that. The president was
in favor OF beginning the federal prose-
cution here but 1t was pointed out
that on account of the pendency OF the
states case, a cumbersome situation
might arise. The Indianapolis federal
authorities, he was told, however, wers
anxious to go ahead IL he would say
the word. The president said he would
give his answer in a day OF two.
Immediately after leaving here, the
president was in communication with
Attorney General Wickersham and the
order went forth to u. s. District At.
torney Miller to begin the government
investigation at Indianapolis. The ef.
feet here SO far as the state was con.
cerned, was immediate. District At.
torney Fredericks was elated. Many
witnesses who had been persuaded by
friends Of the defense not to come
here to testify came over to the side
OF the state.
Aided In Fastening Confessions.
As the hand Of the federal govern.
ment was disclosed another circum-
stance was added to the rapidly grow.
ing pile that forced surrender from
the McNamaras. Defense attorneys
admit today that they felt the effect
IContinued on Page 10.)