The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1911-12-07

Was nardly prepared Tor the sud
den termination of the trial of
the Mcnamara brothers for muir
der in connection with the Los
Angeles Times dynamite outrage.
Whatever the trend Of opinion as
to the guilt or innocence of the
accused men, there were such
powerful influences behind the
defense that no one expected
there would be plea of guilty
entered. 1t was unexpected, too,
in view of the tedious and pro-
longed and persistent maneuvers
in empaneling the jury. 1t is
not explainable as yet excepting,
upon theory, but by adopting a
process of elimination the conclu-
sion is reached that something
quite extraordinary occurred to
bring about the admission OF
guilt. There was no evidence of
a breakdown on the part of the
defendants, and the states case
had evidently not been strength
ened by direct evidence in addi-
ton to what had become public
property.
I There has been only one devel-
opment that can at the present
time form the basis for anything
like satisfactory explanation
and that is that the revelations
of the "dictaphone," said to have
been attached in the Jail, stam-
peded the defense. The story
that, it is said, went over those
) wires gave the prosecution infor-
nation that not only doomed the
McNamaras, but that night have
imperiled others Influential in the
defense. Before such disclosnr-
es the outcome of the trial was
accurately for seen. The McNa-
maras would have been found
guilty. The possible ENHANCEMENT
of others likely exerted a mighty
influence upon their decision to
plead guilty. 1t will be recalled
that the "dictaphone' story on
ly came out Thursday. The next
day the pleas Of guilty were en-
tered. The McNamaras could no
longer maintain their bluff of in
nocence. Their attorneys were
powerless to aid them further.
Whether or not, in view of these
late disclosures any others would
have been directly implicated is
as yet matter of public conject-
ure. The facts may never be
known. 1t is not unreasonable
to conclude, however, that any
other parties who may be either
directly or indirectly guilty of a
crime that took the lives of 2C
employees of man engaged IL
a controversy with certain union
agencies, breathed easier wher
the plea of guilty was entered
The public will form its own opin
ions as to any other involvements
y
The Developments in this case
find a parallel along certain lin
es for those in the Haywood -Moy
er-Pettibone case tried in Boise
s In general way the same in
strumentalities were behind thu
defense in both instances and its
counsel employed much the same
methods. This is italicized in the
public mind in connection will
the position of Ortie McManigal
, the confessor in the Los Angeles
dynamite outrage, and in the pos
ition of Steve Adams in tn,
Steunenberg assassination in Ida
, Adams, it will be remembered
had made a full confession. L
was if anything stronger than th'
confession Of Harry Orchard ant
it was corroborated by the con
fession of Adams wife. Mr.. Dal
row, leading counsel for the de
fense in the Idaho case, shrewdl,
worked upon Adams through hi
; wife and through local attorne.
then brought his uncle into th'
game. Adams finally repudiatet
his confession. Almost step b,
step the same proceeding wa
: followed in the Los Angeles case
: Mrs. McManigal was brought OF
4 and an effort was made through
: her to cause her husband to g.
| back on his confession. Then hi
l uncle was requsitioned. TIL
same program over again-but il
: Los Angeles the prosecution, a
claimed, had the "dictaphone,