The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-07-14
DEMAND DEATH
OF MRS. MOON,
California Woman is Charged wit,
der in Connection with Bond
plosion at San Francisco l
Last July.

San Francisco, July l4.-Demand b.
the prosecution for the inhiction of tn
death penalty, rarely before asked il
California in the case of woman
widespread interest of labor unions, pub
lie controversy involving credibility o
states witnesses and charges by the de
Tense that important evidence was fabri
Gated, were features which marked th'
trial of Mrs. Rena Mooney for murdel
resulting from bomb explosion her'
last July.
Mrs Mooney, music teacher, wife oi
Thomas j. Mooney, was arrested few
days after the explosion, which, occur
ing at 2:06 p. m. in the course of pre-.
paredness day parade July 22, killed ten
persons and wounded more than forty
men, women and children. At about the
same time the MONEYS were arrested
Warren X. Billings, Israel Weinberg and
Edward d. Nolan were taken into custo-
dy by detectives.
The state contended that the explo.
sion was the elimination of a conspiracy
plot of wide ramifcation, with the five
bomb murder defendants as the ringlead.
ers.
Billings was tried, convicted of murder
and sentenced to life Imprisonment.
Mooney was sentenced to death on a
verdict of murder in the first degree
without recommendation for mercy
Both sentences have been held up pend
ing appeals TO the state supreme court.
The Others are now awaiting trial Nolan
is at liberty on bail.
Dissatisfied with the verdict in the
case of Thomas j. Mooney, union la
Dor organizations, which contributed
largely to the defense fund through the
International Workers Defense league,
caused the appointment of silent
jury" composed of labor men, to hear
evidence adduced at Mrs. MONEYS trial
and render an independent verdict to or
ganized labor.
Mrs. Mooney was brought to trial May
Fl before Superior Judge Emmett Sea
well, of San Rosa, and a jury.
The specific charge against her was
the murder of Mrs. Myrtle Irene Van
Leo, one of the ten victims of the ex-
Dlosion. In addition the defendant was
charged with having been member of
| "murderous conspiracy" to overthrow
he government and bring about a state
If anarchy. Much testimony and many
Exhibits intended to support this theory
we're ruled out by Judge Seawell. Va
ious letters written to and by Mooney,
xtracts from an anarchist publication
allied the BLAST" edited here about the
ime of the explosion by Alexander Berk
nan, an associate of Emma Goldman,
nd other documents, which the state
showed designs of the alleged
roup of conspirators, were admitted.
Alibi was the defense which the de-
endant's attorneys sought to establish
v score of witnesses, who declared
frs. Mooney and her husband had been
n the roof of the building in which they
lade their home more than mile from
he scene of the explosion, throughout
be afternoon. Mrs. Mooney and the
,ur other defendants told of their move
tents in detail on the afternoon of the
omb murders. The defense sought to
rove that others rather than the defend
nts were the persons who had been seen
the vicinity of the explosion by the
ate witnesses.
The states contention was that Moon l
: and the others sought to prevent the
trade because it was a military pre-
lredness measure which might interfere
ith their alleged plot to overthrow the
'vernment and that Billings, accompa
ed by three of the other defendants, u
aeed suitcase which, the state con- b
nded enclosed the bomb, at the spot e'
nere the blast occurred. One witness a
id he saw Billings, accompanied by e
ooney place the suitcase on the side 81
ilk. a
The defense contended that the bomb So
Is hurled from the roof of building pl
d witnesses testified they had seen a m
ack object coming through the air be- ci
re the detonation. nj
Bits of what purported TO have been
ices of an alarm clock, by which the
tie contended the bomb was exploded;
ICES of what purported to have been M
rts of suitcase and other exhibits
n as bullets and jagged pieces of iron
ked up on the scene after the ex-
'sion, were admitted as evidence. E.
Eleven days before the explosion Mrs. pa
'oney obtained about twelve pounds OF de
re. a compound of dynamite, one wit wi
Is testified. A detective testified that Ell,
lets extracted from the bodies of gu
victims and picked up from the side la
Tx were identical with many found pr
Mrs. Moneys apartments. af
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