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N0KFQ > TODAY 21.10.14 16:01l 58 Lines 2685 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 38472_N0KFQ
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Subj: Today in History - Oct 21
Path: IZ3LSV<IW0QNL<JH4XSY<JM1YTR<JE7YGF<XE1FH<N0KFQ
Sent: 141021/1457Z 38472@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.60
Oct 21, 1910:
A bomb explodes in the Los Angeles Times building
A massive explosion destroys the Los Angeles Times building in
the city's downtown area, killing 21 and injuring many more.
Since Los Angeles Times publisher Harrison Otis, a virulent
opponent of unions, believed that the bomb was directed at him,
he hired the nation's premier private detective, William J.
Burns, to crack the case. In addition to printing numerous
editorials against unions, Otis was the leader of the Merchants
and Manufacturing Association, a powerful group of business
owners with extensive political connections.
Burns' investigation led him to the Bridge and Structural Iron
Workers Union and their treasurer, John J. McNamara. In April
1911, after Burns got a confession out of Ortie McManigal, who
had allegedly been the intermediary between McNamara and two bomb
experts, he personally arrested John McNamara and his brother in
Indiana. Without any legal authority, Burns also managed to get
the brothers to California, where they were to be prosecuted.
Union members and left-wing supporters rallied around the
McNamara brothers. After a large defense fund was raised, union
representatives pleaded with Clarence Darrow to take the case.
Darrow, who was the best defense attorney America had to offer,
had already gotten "Big Bill" Haywood, the union leader of the
Industrial Workers of the World, off on murder charges in Idaho a
few years earlier. Offered $50,000, he reluctantly took the case.
Even though public opinion supported the McNamaras, Darrow's own
investigation was turning up evidence to prove that the brothers
were actually guilty. Even worse, members of the defense team
were trying to bribe the jury just to keep up with the
prosecution's own bribery tactics. Darrow worked out a deal with
Otis and the prosecutors that the brothers would plead guilty to
escape the death penalty, which they did.
Nevertheless, this resolution was not satisfactory to either
side, and Darrow got caught in the middle. Otis arranged for
Darrow's prosecution on bribery charges, and the union deserted
the great defense lawyer. Not only did they refuse to pay his fee
for the McNamara case, they refused to assist in his defense.
Earl Rogers, a notorious drunk, but also a brash, formidable, and
effective Los Angeles attorney, took Darrow's case.
After a long trial, Rogers secured a mistrial for Darrow, who was
later acquitted after a second trial. Darrow went on to try even
more distinguished cases, including the Leopold and Loeb murder
trial and the Scopes evolution trial.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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