Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-06-12
Wife Of Convicted Labor Lead
er Is Charged With Death
of Victim of Dynamite Ex-
pIosion in Frisco,
ANARCHIST CONSPIRACY
EXISTED, STATE SAYS
Purpose of Crime Was to Dis
courage Patriotism and Pro-
mote Hatred of Soldiers and
Officers.
toy aoss,.s ,evss.l SPECIAL LEASED wrss,

tsy nosn,rs JOURNAL SPECIAL LHAssp wIRsl
San Francisco, Calf, June IL
Taking of testimony in the trial ol
Mrs. Rena Mooney for murder grow
ing out Of the bomb explosion here
last summer that caused the death
of ten persons, was begun today. The
prosecution in its opening statement
said it would endeavor to prove that
Mrs. Mooney purchased twenty
pounds of nitre, a material used In
the manufacture OF nitroglycerlne
eleven days before the explosion.
Duncan Matheson, captain of de-
tectives, was the first witness, his ex-
animation being conducted by DIS
trict Attorney Charles M. Fickert. ON
oss-examnation he testified that ne
had obeyed orders to keep jitney
buses and other traffic off Market
street during the preparedness parade
along whose line of march the bomb
exploded. The state contends that
tile alleged conspirators drove to the
scene Of the explosion at Market and
Stewart in jitney bus, from which
they took out and deposited at the
corner suitcase containing the
bomb Matheson said he was about
lGU lScl ltOIu tIC SNSic Va s'N W
Ilosion when IL occurred.
Dust and White Vapor.
ION hearing the report of the cx-
plosion 1 turned and saw white
yapor, which was followed by a cloud
of dust" he testified. When !
reached the scene / saw Mrs. Myrtle
Irene Van Loo on the street, She was
wounded. Near her were her two
children, whea wereesalsaa Wounded.
The sidewalk was Uttered with
debris, the dead and injured"
Mrs. Mooney is charged specifically
with the murder of Mrs. Van Loo.
District Attorney Fickert intro
duced twelve pictures of the expio-
sion scene as evidence after Matheson
had identified them. On cross-ex-
animation the defense offered in evil
dence large picture showing Only
one brick dislodged IN the wall of the
building at Stewart and Market
streets Some of tie pictures Offered
by the prosecution showed larger in-
dentations.
One of the pictures, Captain
Matheson admitted, had not been
taken until three days after the e&-
plusion.
What State Contends.
Captain Matheson was asked by
Attorney Maxwell McNutt of the de-
tense If a chemical examination had
been made to find smudgS on the
wall or sidewalk at the scene oil the
explosion. Matheson said there had
been an examination of pipe ana
pieces from the bomb by the city
chemist
Assistant District Attorney Louis
Ee,rarl took an hour and a half IN
which to make his opening state
ment.
1--WE will show that Mrs. Van Loo
came to her death as the result of an
explosion caused by criminal ana
premeditated acts, said Ferrari. and
we will show the connection the
defendant had with the murder and
how she encouraged, abetted and as
sisted IL the crime.
Conspiracy Alleged.
1.-TWO distinct lines OF evidence VIII
be employed to connect the defendant
with the commission of the crime'
first, her direct aid and, second, that
d conspiracy existed between MRS
Mooney and the others indicted to
commit the offense."
terrari said the state would under
take to prove a conspiracy running
back to 1918, In which he said the
state would seek to show anarchy as
an object, and labor unions were
"catspaw" for its attainment. The es-
tablishment here of a paper called
The Blast" was, he said, step In
the conspiracy
Ferrari directly charged that the
alleged bomb conspirators agreed TO
do everything possible to discourage
patriotism and love of country ana
cause hatred and contempt among
the people for soldiers and police Of
ficers.
Asks First Degree Verdict.
In conclusion, Ferrari declared the
state would expect verdict OF iirst
degree murder, which is punishaole
by death in California.
In answer to a question asked py
the defense, Ferrari said he had not
determined whether Frank c. Oxman
would be called as witness against
Mrs. Mooney. Oxman. who was
star witness for the state In the trial
of Thomas Mooney, convicted of mur-
der in the first degree. Is under ar
rest on a charge of attempted subor-
nation OF perjury in connection with
the case.
The jury was ordered locked up by
Judge Emmett Seawell, who advised
the Jurors he was taking this action
in the interest OF justice.
Mrs. Mooney was surrounded by
friends throughout the day.
The court room was crowded ana
many could not gain admission.
The state was expectedj to put more
policemen on the stand tomorrow.