Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-02

they did. District Attorney Fredericks
said today that 1T never was settled Till
1t happened
Frankly. I did not know that it was
really going to happen till the last min
ute. though / had every reason to ex-
pect it." he said.
He added that strong pressure was
Drought to bear upon the defense in the
last twenty-four hours before the con-
fessions, but would give no details. In
formed that business interests were re-
ported to have taken a hand in set
Ting the trial, the district attorney was
inclined to minimize the report.
Guilty, and We Knew It."
I'VE gave them our ultimatum that
both must plead guilty." he said. These
men were guilty and we knew it. They
had a pretty good idea of some of the
things we knew about, and they. perhaps
saved many a revelation by their action
What the district attorney chiefly de-
sired at all times was that both men plead
guilty. 1t was said that James B. was
ready to confess earlier If he could clear
his brother of all charges but the prose-
cutor was unwilling that the state should
overlook the matter of John Us guilt,
though it might be merciful in the recon-
mendation for sentence
For long time 1t has been apparent
to those who have studied the case that
James b. cared little about his own life
and gladly would have gone to his death
if by such action he could have cleared
his brother. In arguing with James B.
counsel showed him that to stand trial
alone and bear a conviction might not
save John j. and that the easiest way
was for both to confess and to make an
effort to get light sentence for John j.
and life Imprisonment for James B.
Attorney Scott. for the defense. today
said that ]. j. Mcnamara had been pre-
vailed on to plead guilty to the minor
charge in connection with Llewellyn iron
works explosion for the sake of saving
his brothers life.
Brothers Help Each Other.
isn't 1t fact" he was asked, that
the entire framework of these confessions
was to save John j.. the brains of the
dynamiting conspiracy. from death?'
No" he answered, lit was each
brother doing something for the other.
James B. pleaded guilty to the murder
charge because it would be waived against
John j. The elder brother. John j., in!
turn agreed to plead guilty to the Level
Ign indictment, because the ultimatum
was that he, too, must plead guilty to the
conspiracy charge If he had not James
b. might have lost his life for the state
wanted pleas of guilty from BOTH
That the sentences will be a COM
promise Is generally admitted, and that
business men started the compromise
contract is generally accepted.
Just how far, however. the committee
of business men who gathered In the
hope of suggesting a way-to settle the
Mcnamara affair was Influenced by the
gospel and religious principles, which
are supposed to have brought about
the entire surrender Of the McNamaras,
assertions today varied from one ex-
treme to the other.
Says Gospel of Christ Did It.
The Los Angeles Tribune featured the
closing of the Mcnamara case as hav-
ing been brought about by the gospel
of Christ.
The Los Angeles Examiner announced
that the Mcnamara defense crumbled
as a result of the arrest Of Bert Frank
lin, while the Los Angeles Times, the
newspaper whose plant was destroyed
and twenty-one employees killed. spread
Naniaras were forced to confess through
absolute proof. and likewise dwells at
length upon the theory that the Frank
lin affair was "too much for the de-
fenSe."
That other persons implicated in
be arrested in San Francisco and In
dianapolis, and that the McNamaras
may be called to testify. was one Of
the reports early today. A story that
again was current was the reported
tampering with the sworn jurors
To Push Bribery Charge.
1t was this Phase Of the case which it
was thought early yesterday halted court
proceedings, and members of the prosecu-
ton are said to have admitted that they
had worked for some time on an investi-
cation along this line.
The state, however, announced it's in
tention OF pressing the Franklin case to a
finish, and Is said to be still working on
clues which may result in further revela-
tons at the preliminary examination of
Franklin next Monday.
The McNamaras passed the night with
a heavy guard at their cell door. Five
armed men were stationed near them as
they slept. An extra force patrolled the
street outside the jail, and no one was
permitted to loiter In the vicinity.