Norwich bulletin., 1911-12-06
Judge BordweI| Speaks Plainly in Imposing Life
 Sentence on James B. McNamara
THE PRISONER HAS A FEW NERVOUS MOMENTS
Observations of Court Appeared Forecast Death John McNamara Escapes with Term of Fifteen Years Lawyer Darrow Says it Would Have Meant GaIIows
 For Both if Case Had Been Fought Out by Defence.

for all time in the minds of a great
 many would have been a doubtful ques-
 tion. He has served the state in other
 ways, and it is my judgment that some
 small degree of consideration should
 be extended to him because of that
 fact.'
 To that point the prisoner was calm
 an dunmoved, but the judge startled him.
 Court Interrogates James.
 .'The court" begsn Judge Bord~ell, turning to the prisoner with an in 1 Quiring look, desires to ask you one question, and one only, MT. McNamara. You have stated in the writing which 1 the district attorney has read that you placed sixteen sticks Of dynamite ] building and caused it to be exploded. 1 The question I ask you Is this: Did you seek to purchase for the same purpose dynamite of a higher degree of i percentage?
 1 The defendant paused and seemed to l lose his composure. Finally he spoke: l No, your honor; no sir
 You cid not?"
 NO, sir"
 "Must Have Been Murderer at Heart |" There is very little or no ray of comfort MT AIcNamara,'' continued Judge Bordweu. '-in the assertion by you that you did not intend to destroy life. The widows and orphans and the DoreaN6Q parents VIII LOOK upon that sta tenent at that time as 8. mockeTy. A man who would put sixteen sticks of so per cent. dynamite in a building full of explosives q do not now refer to the explosives of which you may have had no knowledge, l really T7ean conrbustibIe materiaI), I say that a man who. under these circumstances. would place a dynamite charge of that quantity in such a building, in which you as printer, knew gas was burn ing in many places and In which you knew there were scores of human be- ings toiling. must have had no regard whatever for the lives of his fellow beings. He must have been g. murderer at heart.
 You well merit the maximum pun ishment prescribed by law
 McNamara Becomes Nervous.
 The prisoner quivered and his head dropped. He twisted his fingers in his hands behind him and then lifted his head again.
 That the Judgement of the court | does not condemn you to death uoon | the ga1lows is due to the existence of | nc extenuating circumstances what | court the part of wisdom to do other | wise
 Tt is the judgment of the court that l as a, punishment for the crime of n1ur- | der in the first degree. to which you | have pleaded guilty, you shall be con | fined in the state prison of this state | at San Quentin for and during your natural life. You may be seated"
 Apparently relieved as much as one | could be with a life sentence confront Ing him, the prisoner sat down beside his brother, who then rose.
 John McNamara Called.
 After the court had read the indict- nent charging that John J. AIcNamara 1ad pleaded guilty to having caused 1 he destruction of the Llewellyn Iron works in this city, the district attor- ley began a brief statement and James B. whispered to John J. that | le could sit down while the district at orney talked. The man about to be was plainly moved by what he court had said to his younger brother.
 The Plea for John McNamara.
 '"There were no lives lost in this ase," remarked District Attorney and while the destruction f property was considerable, 1t was lot great He cited the custom of where a defendant pleaded utility, and continued:
 AThe extreme penalty which the aw would inflict for this offense would e life imprisonment, and all l would ] uggest in that connection would be l hat the court take into consideration | he probable fife remaining to this de- ( enGant, and leave him. at the end of l is term. a few hours of freedom, not g matter of mercy not Gs a matter
 
 e has earned or is entitled to, but s ecause I believe it is a wise policy i f the state, when a man surrenders imself, gives up and pleads guilty nd because of other services rendered : , the state that some small consid- "a tion. not much. but some, be ex- : ended" ' The defendant rose again
 John McNamara Sentenced. f t.Mr. McNnmara," said Judge Bord- a l1~x ( arlls to your brother and in no small c egree, sir, they undoubtedly apply to ou. And, as in his case, the fact that 1 c le court may not mete out to you the a sgree due to any doubt that you rper- I it: but simply because 1t appears to f 2 the part of wisdom to do other ise. The judgment the court now -onoUnces on your plea of guilty to is charge is that you be confined in si e state prison in San Quentin for t' e period of fifteen years. You may a seated IT The district attorney indicated that was customary to ask the occupation IT the defendants. tC The brothers were again asked to 1 m SC. al ,uestioned as to Their Occupations. James said he hoped" Eis trade ii IS printing and John said "struc- cc ral iron worker The proceedings l ct en were over. o' The prisoners were led quickly back in the jail oy Sheriff Hammel. Around sT e table where counsel had been seat to the spectators gathered, some con re atulating the prosecuting attorney. th
 Federal Attorneys Busy. " Late in tha afternoon, Oscar Lawler. g pointed today to act as special -, osecutor for the government in it's 1 1c Festigation of the alleged dynamieinE NN rls 5iracies. talked at length with 1 = strict Attorney Fredericks and ta .mbeIs of his staff. = Edward A. Began, assistant United ] - ates district attorney, Joined them a short time. When he returned his office it was said, the subpoenas re drawn for the appearance of the st .Namara brothers before the federal 1 C. md jury. which adjourned today un- of
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