The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-10-11
Battle Staged in Los Angeles
to Save Mcnamara Bros,
Union Leaders, of Import
ance to Whole World.
FORMAL OPENING OF
CASE is HELD TODAY
Defendants Acquittal Means
Washing Stigma of An
archy from Labor's Cause
Principals in Court.
(National News Association

(National News Association)
LOS ANGELES. Oct 1.-THE trial
of the Mcnamara brothers, charged
with murder and the destruction of
the Los Angeles Times building began
today at ten o'clock Following a num-
Der of technical questions by attor-
nueys for the defense, but which are
expected to be of little avail, he real
battle for the lives of these men is yet
to be begun. 1t is struggle, the prep
arations for which, all the world has
been awaiting.
1t is fight in which union labor is
most closely interested, for by this
trial either the very heart of it's
strength will be wrenched from it's
bosom, or from it's head will be abso-
lutely washed the stigma of anarchy
John J. Mcnamara, international
secretary of the bridge and structural
iron workers union, and his brother,
accused of being the active captain
of the bomb throwing brigade, which
spread damage and death in all parts
of the land, were both awake early this
morning and anxious to see the trial
begin. Clarence S. Darrow, chief
counsel for the two prisoners, remain
ed silent as to the moves he would
make during the trial. No one knew
when the prisoners entered the court
room whether they would be tried to-
gether or separately.
The two prisoners were guarded
closely by armed men. In every sec
ton of the court .room. more armed
men were stationed. The county Of
ficials declared they would take no
chances of losing the prisoners
through concerted move of sympa-
;hizers who might crowd into the
court room and attempt to carry them
Off
Try Jas. q. First.
James B. Mcnamara will be the first
of the alleged Times building dynamit-
ers to face trial on the charge of MUIR
dering nineteen persons. This was de-
cided shortly after Judge Bordwell
called the court to order
For nearly one hour the two prison
ers sat together in the court room and
then John j. was led back to his coun-
ty Jail cell while James B. remained
to fight for his life and liberty single
handed. Both prisoners wore broad
smiles and exchanged greetings with
acquaintances in the newspaper row.
Just before court convened a messen-
ger informed one of the deputies that
he had letter for one of the brothers
from a woman.
Orders were issued that no missive
of any kind be accepted by the court
officials.
AS the roll call of jurors began at
1915 o'clock smiles that the McNa-
maras had worn vanished, both as
suming a very serious look With their
heads close together they held whis-
pered conversation.
Ortie McManigal did not appear in
court today and district attorney
Frederick announced that he would be
present only when called to the stand.
After the Indictment against James B.
Mcnamara was read by the court, the
clerk called the names of twelve men
included in the list of 43. all that is
now left Of the original 1875 and they
were subjected to severe questioning,
the prosecution contending against the
eligibility of a juror affiliated with la
Dor organizations while the defense
held that membership in the mer-
chants or manufacturers association
disqualified.
1t was a dramatic scene-this crow
ded court room. This cold formal be-
ginning of what will probably be one
of the longest and hardest fought bat
ties ever staged in an effort to send
two men to the gallows.
Hours before the time for the open
ing of court, 10 a. m, crowds had be-
gun to gather before the courthouse,
fighting and jostling to get vantage
points near the threshold when the
doors would be flung open. Men and
women alike struggled for an oppor-
tunity to get into the court room. Al
though superior court was not sched-
uled to open until 10 O'Clock there
were scenes of activity long before
that hour, both in official circles and
among the mobs which gathered
about the courthouse and the Jail to
get glimpse of the prisoners