The labor world., 1917-02-03
MOONEY BAL TIE
LOOKS LIKE VICTORY

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, Feb. L.
The trial of Thomas J. Mooney has
ceased TO be a trial of Mooney and
become openly and plainly battle on
the part of the corporation tool pros
ecution to defend itself from the
brand of shame-the shame of the
'frame-up.''
Witness Smashes Frame-Cp.
DR.. David E. Stafford who per-
formed the autcpsies on the bodies
of nine of the ten persons killed by
the explosion Of the bomb during the
prepare iness parace, was the first
witness called by the prosecution. He
created sensation, throwing the
prosecutors into CONSERVATION and
rage by plainly stating, under oath.
air and could not have occurred in
any other way. The prosecutors did
not intend to let Dr.: Stafford testify to
those facts, having put him on the
stand solely to recite the horrors Of
death and destruction to impress the
jury; but DR.. Stafford is a scientific
man, and Prosecutor Cunha is a
stupid man; therefore Cunha asked
more than he intended, and DR.. Staf-
ford told the truth.
The back of the frame-up is
broken!
The horde of hired convicts anc de-
generates, ready to swear to seein:
Mooney and Billings with a suitcase.
will be cheated of their reward. 70,
the very first witness for the prosecu
ton has demolished the suit-cas Sc
theory. The suitcase was introduced
into this trial probably only because
of the psychological effect had by the
word "suit-case," since the McNa-
mara trial.
When DR.. Stafford quietly stated
the facts that the wounds upon the
victims showed clearly that the en-
rlosion occurred in midair and not
upon the sidewalk, Assistant District
Attorney Cunha's face became tivid
with shame and then black with
anger. Titk tkcrt's jaw dropped, and he
sank six inches lower in his chair,
lowering. his eyes. A hurried consul.
tation between the excited group Of
corporation tools, commissioned to
hang Tom Mooney, and then thcr
tempted to impcach their own witness
by calling another doctor to deny DR..
Stafford's statements.
In one of the many fierce clashes
between lawyers. in which, as usual.
the assistant district attorney was
made ridiculous, someone could con
troll himself no longer and gave way
to a loud laugh. Cunha turned
angrily. and shouted: ~ will let you
know that this murder trial is no
joke" The big voice of Bourke Cock
ran filled the room with "No, but the
district attorney is a joke"
Cochran. who volunteered to cross
the continent for Moneys defense
for Justices sake. is of such magnetic
personality as to dominate in every
discussion in which he takes part.
The examination Of jurors is fin
ished, and in it Cochran has appar-
entity accomplished the wonderful feat
of digging out of every mind the fear
some pre-. ldice that exists against
"rhe Labor Agitator." The prosecu~
ticn, having introduced the subject Of
anarchy in the examination of the
first juror, Mr.. Cochran took the sub
ject up and beat the prosecution at
the game until they wished that the
subject had never been opened. Cock
ran, 1il;: self q national figure in the
Democratic party. dragged the sub
ject Of anarchism into the light Of day
ard did not accept any juryman until
he was willing to admit that no man
should oe hanged for his opinions. be
lie anarchist or otherwise. and was
willing 10 promise that hc would try
the defendant solely uron the fact
that he did or did ,o'll:::it C
crime When it is understood that
Mooney IS rot an anarchist and never
has been, and that this will be clearly
shown i'm the trial, the ridiculous
position of the prosecution in the
matter is clearly seen.
MII 4 DISHES ;