The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-07-18
CALIFORNIA SEEKS DEATH
PENALTY FOR MRS. MOONEY
Bitterly Fought Case Growing Out Of
Bomb fXplosion.

san Francisco. Cal. July IS De
mand by The prosecution for the in
Fiction Of the death penalty. rarely be
fore asked in California in the case Of
q woman, widespread interest Of labor
unions. public controversy involving
cre5ibNiiy Of states witnesses and
charges by the defense that important
evidence had been fabricated. were fea-
lures which marked the trial Of Mrs.
Rena Mooney for murder resulting from
a bomb explosion here last July.
Mrs. Mooney. a music teacher. wife
Of Thomas J. Mooney. was arrested a
few days after the explosion. which. oc-
curing al 2e6 y. m in the course Of
a Preparedness Day parade July %,
killed ten persons and wounded more
than forty men. women and children.
At about the same time the Moneys
were arrested. Warren X. Billings. Isra-
e. Weinberg and Edward T. Nolan were
taken into custody by detectives
The state contended that the explo-
sion WAS the elimination OF a conspir-
acy plot Of wide ramifications. with
the five bomb murder defendants as the
ringleaders.
Billings was tried. convicted Of mur-
der and sentenced 10 life Imprisonment.
Mooney was sentenced 70 death on a
verdict Of murder in the first degree
without recommendation for mercy.
Both sentences have been held up pend
ing appeals 10 the state supreme court.
The others are nov awaiting trial No
ian is at liberty on hail.
Labor Appoints Silent Jury.
Dissatisfied with the verdict In the
case OF Thomas J. Mooney. union labor
Organizations. which contributed largely
TO the defense fund through the Inter
national Workers Defense League
/ caused the appointment Of a silent
1 jury" composed Of labor men. 20 hear
evidence adduced at Mrs Moneys trial
and render an independent verdict to
organized labor.
Mrs. Mooney was brought TO trial
/ May q before Superior Judge Emmett
! Seawell. Of Santa Rosa. and a jury
The specific charge against her was
the murder Of Mrs. Myrtle Irene Van
Leo. one ot the ten victims Of the ex-
/ plosion. In addition the defendant was
charged with having been a member Of
/ q "murderOus conspiracy" 20 overthrow
/ the government and bring about a state
| Of anarchy Much testimony and many
exhibits intended 10 support this theory
were ruled out by Judge Seawell Va
nous letters written 10 and by Mooney.
extracts from an anarchist publication
] 90 oh u
time Of the explosion by Alexander
Berkman. an associate OF Emma Gold
man and other documents. which the
state oontended showed designs Of the
alleged group Of conspirators. were ad.
mitted
Alibi was the defense which the de
fendant's attorneys sought to establish
by a score Of witnesses. who declared
Mrs. Mooney and her husband had been
on the roof of the building in which
they made their home more than mile
from the scene Of the explosion
throughout the afternoon Mrs. Mooney
and the four other defendants told OF
their movements in detail on the az
t,rnoon Of the bomb murders. The de
fense sought 10 prove that others rath
er than the defendants We're the per.
sons who had been seen IN the vicinity
OF the explosion by the state witnesses
Interfered With Alleged Plot.
The states contention was that
Mooney and the others sought 10 pre-.
vent the parade because il was a mill
tary preparedness measure which
might interfere with their alleged plot
10 overthrow the government and that
Billings, accompanied by three Of the
other defendants placed a suitcase
which, the state contended. enclosed the
bomb. az the spot where the blast oc.
CURED one witness said he saw Bill.