Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-01
Dramatic Scene When
Chief Dynamite PIotter
Answers Judge.
GRINS AT OLD FRIENDS
Trial of Governments ConSpir.
aCy Suit is Begun at In
dianapoIiS.

indianapolis, Ind. Oct. stationed
within the rail Of a small court room,
where they occupied almost half the
space, the defendants charged with
completely in the Mcnamara "dyna-
mite plots" were placed on trial in the
federal court today. Judge Anderson
at 9:45 ordered called consolidated
case No. 3. United States versus Frank
N. Ryan. ct al"
At the outset Ortie McManigal plead
guilty. Eugene Clancy and Olaf .Tviet-
more, San Francisco, pleaded not
guilty. All the other defendants upon
their arraignment last March pleaded
not guilty.
ONE UNABLE TO APPEAR.
Daniel j. Brophy of Brooklyn was
unable to appear on account of a brok-
en- leg. His absence left so men to
set aside an order consolidating the
cases was sustained. This separated
the various indictments. but left
the defendants to be tried together
McManigal entered the courtroom
grinning His eyes twinkled keenly as
he glanced at the other defendants. He
closely scrutinized the men with
whom, he asserts. he once associated.
but against whom he is now a prose-
cutting witness. AS he looked not a
sign OF recognition other than McMan.
igals inscrutable grin passed between
them.
ADMITS HE rs GUILTY.
"Ortie f.. McManigal. do you plead
guilty or not guilty to the charges
against you?" asked Judge Anderson.
The scene was dramatic. All the win
dows OF the court room had been cur
tanned to exclude outside annoyance
and padding of the walls had been pro-
vided TO deaden the noise. This SEEM
ed to intensity the silence. a score
OF attorneys leaned forward to hear
the prisoners reply McManigal rub
bed the back OF his hand across his
chin and grinned again. :" plead guilty,
your honor" he said. McManigal's S
plea qualified him as a witness for the
government. for which purpose he has
been imprisoned IS months, but II oc-
casioned no surprise, for he already
confessed his operations as a member
Of the Mcnamara "dynamiting crew
THREE ARE DISMISSED.
On motion of the government the
- -,
Andrew Kavanaugh OF Springfield, Ill,
and J. w. Irwin of Peoria were
dismissed The government announced
Il had no evidence against them to
warrant their trial. All the men have
been identified with the Ironworkers
union.
SELECTING A JURY.
The Glotion of the defense for sep
arate trials for each of the defendants
was overruled. A motion of the dis
trict attorney for a reconciliation oi
the cases was sustained with the un
Outstanding that the government Sc
loct the definite number OF counts
which we're to stand. dismissing al
other counts. The work Of selecting
n jury then began.
Several talesmen said they were
convinced the defendants were guilty
One admitted he waited to get of
Jury service pretty bad The judge
said: Il will not permit any qualified
man TO evade service"
HOPE TO FIND GUILTY.
whoever participated with the Nc
Namara brothers in the series o.
dynamite and nitroglyce-in explosions
which preceded and followed the
w1ecking OF the Los Angeles Time:
building Oct l, 1910, when 21 per
sons were killed, the government
hopes TO disclose in the trial which
bCgins today before Judge 4. B. An
derson OF 81 men.
Letters, already embodied IN an in
dictment and made public, are to bC
used by the government to support II:
contention that the officials at In
dianapolis carried on an extensive
correspondence In locating Jobs
that were TO be blown up and tC
which dynamite or nitro-glycerin wal
TO be carried
The governments charges do not
directly involve the question OF crime
in committing the explosions, but con
oern the transportation of explosive!
on passenger trains or otherwise il
violation OF the interstate reguls
tions.
United States Senator John W
Kern is 70 be the chief counsel FOL
, the defendants. District Attorne!
Charles W. Miller and Clarence Mich
o'S. his assistant. who prepared The
case LetoTe the grand jury, viii ap