In 1911 , he helped defend union members John J. and James B. McNamara after they were charged with bombing the '' Los Angeles Times '' building and causing the deaths of 21 people . The McNamaras eventually confessed : John went to prison for life , and James served a 10-year sentence . For daring to defend the brothers , '' Times '' publisher Harrison Gray Otis ( a virulent opponent of labor unions ) attacked Scott in the paper 's pages for the next several years . In 1913 , Scott sued Otis , the '' Times '' , and the Times-Mirror Company for libel . After three separate trials , Scott won judgments of nearly $ 70,000
bombing
Los Angeles Times bombing
Joseph Scott (attorney)