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Image / Postcard view of Los Angeles Times Building bombing

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Title
Postcard view of Los Angeles Times Building bombing
Alternative Title
Los Angeles Herald Examiner Photo Collection
Date Created and/or Issued
1910
Contributing Institution
Los Angeles Public Library
Collection
Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection
Rights Information
Images available for reproduction and use. Please see the Ordering & Use page at http://tessa.lapl.org/OrderingUse.html for additional information.
Description
Title supplied by cataloger.
On October 1, 1910 at 1:07 am, a bomb exploded in an alley adjacent to the LA Times building known as "Ink Alley". The south wall facing Broadway Street collapsed, the blast weakened the second floor, which also collapsed under the weight of its machines, onto the first floor, in turn, falling into the basement. A fire resulted due to the natural gas lines that were located beneath the bombing site, and barrels of ink ignited. The explosion and subsequent fire destroyed the building, trapping and killing 20 employees who were working the night shift printing that day's edition, and many more were seriously injured. Charged in the crime were two brothers, James B. ("J.B.") and John J. ("J.J.") McNamara, members of the Iron Workers Union; they were arrested in April 1911. A third man, Ortie McManigal, was also implicated and would later agree to testify against the McNamara brothers. Noted attorney Clarence Darrow was hired by the American Federation of Labor to defend the brothers; their trial was set to begin October 11, 1911. Darrow initially believed the McNamaras to be innocent, but upon learning of their guilt arranged a plea bargain to spare them the death penalty. James McNamara got a life sentence, and John received a sentence of 15 years. Following their trial, they were sent to San Quentin State Prison. James B. was transferred to Folsom State Prison for a time, and then sent back to San Quentin for medical reasons, where he soon died of cancer on March 9, 1941. His brother John J. died in Butte, Montana two months later, on May 8, 1941.
Postcard view of the Los Angeles Times building after the bombing that took place October 1, 1910. The structure is located at First Street and Broadway. Photograph used for an article dated May 17, 1929.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print (postcard) :b&w ;9 x 14 cm.
Photographic prints
Identifier
00093008
Herald Examiner Collection
HE box 3501
CARL0005010281
http://173.196.26.125/cdm/ref/collection/photos/id/28712
Subject
Los Angeles Times Building
Los Angeles Times (Firm)
Los Angeles Times Bombing, Los Angeles, Calif., 1910
Newspaper buildings--California--Los Angeles
Bombings--California--Los Angeles
Sabotage--California--Los Angeles
Lost architecture--California--Los Angeles
Herald-Examiner Collection photographs
Postcards
Photographic postcards

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