The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-12-02
JAMES MNAMARA PLEADED GUILTY tn
WRECNNG Los ANGELES Times IN WHICH
TNENTY-0NE PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES
John MNamara Pleaded Guilty Dynamtine the Lew
enyn Iron Works--Chain of Facts Were Tiehtenine
About Accused Men, Presenting Stone Wall
:4. Impossible to Batter Down

Los Angeles. Dec. e.-The McNa-
mara brothers. James B. and John j.,
who late yesterday pleaded guilty in
court here. the former to murder In
connection with the blowing up Of the
Los Angeles Times building. and the
latter to dynamiting the Llewellyan
iron works, passed the night with q
heavy guard at their cell door. Five
armed men were stationed near them
the street outside the jail and no one
was permitted to loaf in the vicinity.
Asked as to when the compromise
agreement was finally settled upon by
which the McNamaras we're to plead
as they did. District Attorney Freder-
icks said today, "it never was settled
until 1t happened.
Frankly did not know 1t was real
ly going to happen until the last min.
nte though I had every reason to ex-
pect it,
He added that strong pressure had
been brought to bear. on the defense
in the twenty-four hours just preceding
the confession. but he would give no
interests were reported to have taken
q hand in settling the trial. the district
attorney was inclined to minimize the
report.
I'VE gave them our ultimatum that
both must plead guilty" he said.
These men were guilty and they
knew 1t. They had q pretty good idea
Of some things we knew about. and
they perhaps saved many a revelation
by their action"
Attorney Scott for the defense today
said J. ]. Mcnamara had been pre-
vailed on to plead guilty to the minor
charge in connection with the Llewll-
yen iron works explosion for the sake
Of saving his brothers life.
Isn't 1t q fact" he was asked. that
the entire framework of these con-
fessions was to save John j.. the
brains Of the dynamiting conspiracy.
from death?'s
NO." he answered. 1T was each
brother doing something for the other.
James B. pleaded guilty to the murder
charge because there wonld be a
waiver against John ]. John ]. In
Llewellyn Indictment because the ulti-
rnetum was thai f1e, too, must plead
guilty to the conspiracy charge. II he
had not, James B. might have lost
his life, for the state wanted both
men to. plead guilty" "..
That the sentences will be a COM
promise Is generally admitted and that
the business men started the compro-
mise is generally accepted.
Fatigued and worn. his face deeply
lined and pale. Clarence 8. Darow, the
veteran Of many legal battles in which
labor has been involved. today Is a
man as he read the CONF
ments Of the labor leaders throughout
the country on the pleas Of guilty. He
declared that this was not the time
to make explanations.
Organized labor was not hurt and
the leaders would not be SO bitter 1t
they knew the facts" he said. It is
believed Darrow meant the compro-
mise effected was much more extensive
than had hitherto been hinted-name-
ly. that the state Of California had In
its possession Information that would
have involved other prominent per-
sons and that the agreement to get
the McNamaras to plead guilty saved
practically score Of indictments and
prosecutions.
James b. McNamara's confession
clears up absolutely the tragedy Of the
explosion and fire. which at 1907
o'clock on the morning of Oct. 1. 1910.
wrecked the plant Of the Lo. Angeles
Times ct First and Broadway and
caused the death Of 21 persons. For
10 Of these deaths the McNamaras
were indicted: J. B. Mcnamara was
on trial specifically for the murder Of
Charles ]. Haggerty. q machtntst,
whose body was found nearer than
that Of any other to the spot where
the dynamite Is supposed to have been
placed.
The date Of the sentence for both
men il set for Dec. s, when it is ex-
pected District Attorney John D..
will ask for life imprison-
ment for James B. McNamara. con.
fessed murderer. and probably II
years for his brother.
While John ]. did not enter a plea
ct this time to the indictment entered
against him for the Times explosion.
similar to that against his brother, 1t
is virtually certain that when no is
arfaigned next Tuesday. proceedings
against him for this charge will be
as the state admits 1t has
no evidence connecting John J. Nc
Namara directly with this particular
disaster.
The mems lives are considered
saved. The contention that the Los
dead beyond resurrection or argument.
Tonight as the two brothers sat
together In the county jail refusing to
see any one or make any statement,
second only to the occurrence
itself. hung about the question with
reference to James B. McNamara,
why did he confess ?"
Why He Confessed.
To this the opposing counsel gave
the Same answer.
He confessed because he was guilty
and that's all there is to it,. declared
Attorney Fredericks.
''He was counseled to confess, be.
cause that was the best thing he could
do. in the opinion Of COUNSEL" said
Attorney Clarence B. Darrow. chief Of
for the defense. II will say
now that there was no other motive
In 1t. I've studied this case for
It presented a stonewall."
Darrow's statement was made a.
looking squarely in the faces Of the
charges that the recent arrest Of Bert
H. Franklin, the Investigator. employ
ed by the defense. and two others
with him. might have precipitated a
untenable. save by the con-
fession Of the prisoner.
Negotiations have been on for
weeks" asserted Darrow. and this
was corroborated by District Attorney