Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1911-10-11
A REGIMENT OF ATTORNEYS
PROSECUTOR FREDERIcks AND
oARRow, FOR DEFENSE,
HAVE ASSISTANTS.
Tue YOUNGER MAN is FIRST
J. q. M'NAMARA TO BE TRIED
SEPARATELY; FIRST RULING
AGAINST DEFENDANTS.

Los Angeles, Oct. Thames B. Nc.
Nan1ara of Cincinnati, was placed
on trial for murder here today be-
fore Judge Walter Bordwell of the
superior court Clarence S. Darrow,
of Chicago, chief counsel for the de
PENDANTS, announced that he wished
to sever the case, and Immediately
District Attorney John Fredericks
chose James B. Mcnamara for trial
The prisoner is 20 years old ami
unmarried. He is charged with caus-
ing the death of 10 of the 21 men who
were killed in the explosion and fire
which wrecked the Los Angeles
Times plant.
Not only did Mr.. Fredericks elect
to try James, rather than his brother,
John j., secretary of the International
Association of Bridge and Structural
Iron Workers, but he decided to go
to trial on the indictment charging
the prisoner with the death Of
Charles ]. Hagerty, machinisJ,
whose body was found close to the
spot at which the explosion is al
legged to have occurred.
The site of the old Times building
lies almost within the shadow of the
hall of records in which the trial is
being held, and the whistles of en-
gines working on the foundations
of the new Times building were heard
through the open windows of the
court room.
Counsel for the defense gathered
about the prisoner, headed by Attor-
ney Darrow. Associated with him sat
Joseph Scott, LIE Compte Davis and
Job Hartman, all of Los. Angeles.
Mrs. Darrow sat near her husband.
District Attorney John Fredericks
led the prosecution, aided by several
assistants.
A delay occurred at the opening OF
court. while a procession Of venire-
men explained to Judge Bordwell why
they should not be asked to serve
This was the end OF preliminary
hearing in which the Judge rapidly
weeded out over half the first venire
of 125 men before the trial formally
opened
The McNamaras were brought into
court together and remained until
James B. Mcnamara was selected fos
trial, when John j., was returned tc
his cell in the county Jail.
After few minutes parley, At
torney Lecompte Davis, Tor the de
tense, faced the waiting veniremer
and said:
"The court suggests that inform
YOU that when you enter the jury boz
Won will remain there or be locked uE
until the end of the trial. If yor
want to see your wives or attend te
your business, you had better do 81
before this afternoon
Recess was taken at 1880 o'clocs
until 2 o'clock this afternoon.
James B. Mcnamara, the youngel
brother of John ]. Mcnamara, secre
tary of the international Association
of Bridge and Structural Iron Work
ers will be tried first for the murde
of 10 men in the explosion tina
wrecked the Los Angeles Time
building a year. ago.
This announcement was made be
fore the opening of court today b.
District Attorney John D. Frederickf
who declared that should the defens
exercise its privilege Of trying tn
brothers separately. he had electe'
to begin by placing James B. NC
Namara in the prisoners bar.
At II o'clock both James ]. Nc
Namara and his brother, James E
Mcnamara, entered the court roor
with Clarence Darrow. their chic
counsel. Moth men were smiling an
shook hands with many attorney
at the bar. The prisoners were viii