davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08
az %. 1918.

zig %, 1915.
"Mrs. J. D. Riggal, GRANVILLE.
Dear Mrs. Rigal AS am sending Ed
Transportation 20 morrow 20 it might be
that can use w also about the 10. of so
| can obtain you scket that you can see
California if you ~.>ld like the Trip
Adrees me care of this Hos,Ii tell F. E. to
say nothing until he see me can prebly use
Extry witness Been long time don't
see you Yours truly, F. c. OMAN"
Rigall came to give his "expurt rast,.
mony," but lost his nerve and admitted to
the prosecutor before the trial that he was
in Niagara Falls on the day of the explo-
sion. The prosecution did not drop him.
however, for many days after this
There is little more trial history
Weinberg, whose alleged presence in an
automobile with Mooney had aided in con-
victing the latter, was acquitted The fifth
person arrested, Nolan, was released
Court action on the Mooney case is
matter of recent history. 1t involves pleas
for retrial by the judge who sentenced
Mooney and by the State Attorney General,
and decisions by the highest courts that,
since the jury convicted on evidence of
which it could judge the worth, there was
no way in which they could now interfere,
Summed up the legal aspect is, in the
words of the Superior Court:
There was evidence sufficient, If cred
tied by the jury, to establish a conspiracy
between Billings and Mooney to commit the
crime"
The courts could not pass on that evil
dence after the jury had done SO.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08

the next building which showed both peo-
pie. These had been first secured by the
prosecution and under the courts order.
Fickert's Office had turned over prints so
dim and vague that there was nothing in
them to indicate the time.
At the Mooney trial, however, the de-
fence succeeded in securing the original
enlarged $4,000 times, showed the hands Of
a street clock plainly indicating in the diff
ferent exposures 1853, 2:01 and 2:04.
This would have thrown out McDonald's
evidence given at the first trial of Bill
lings. But when Mcdonald went on the
stand in the Mooney trial he altered his
testimony. He moved back the clock and
swore that he first saw Mooney and Bill
lings at the scene of the explosion at
twenty minutes of g instead of eight or
ten minutes before.
Next appeared Mrs Eleau who swore
and Weinberg get into Weinberg's jitney
at 1880 and drive down Market Street in
the direction of Steuart
But finally Oxman.
Oxman swore that he swore that-like
McDonald-he had seen Mooney and Bill
twenty minutes to 2. But, unlike McDon-
aid, he had also seen Mrs. Mooney and
Weinberg and the latter's automobile
The case was complete. Oxman couldn't
be shaken, and the jury convicted.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08
By Kenneth Mcgowan

A MERICA'S Dreyfus affair is an
~ easy definition for the case of
~ Thomas j. Mooney ct al. But even
Frances celebrated and elaborate
piece of legal confusion falls q bit short.
The Mooney case is the Dreyfus case-and
trimmin's.
For thing Americas Dreyfus affair
has dozen Zolas, some on the bench, some
on the press, and quite few in high
placed Federal employments Judges have
impugned the evidence which convicted him.
Editors of the most conservative dailies
have detected a miscarriage of justice. The
government has twice investigated the case
once it presented a plea for retrial;
once it exposed alleged corruption in the
Office and the actions of the prosecutor
For another thing, the racial conflict sur
rounding the case in France is matched by
a class conflict threat of conflict which
has run from the San Francisco Chamber of
Commerce to the streets of Petrograd and
the royalist propaganda which almost over
threw the French Republic is more than
matched by Socialist and labor pressure so
great in Russia and SO earnest in the United
States that the Pres ident found it advisable
to make personal appeal to the Governor
of California, pleading for unquestionable
justice to meet the gravest international
complications.
AS for the trial itself and the evidence,
even Anatole Frances wild satire on the
Dreyfus case in Penguin Island" hardly
equals the evolutons Of many of the wit
nesses in the four trials out West, while
other features of the case leave the whole
thing shrouded in an intellectual confusion
as amazing as the laws failure
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08

can easily hit mark at fifteen milos, when
steam and electricity have developed all
KINDS of methods of warfare, the three mile
limit would be absurd 1t would be neces-
sary to return to the mere clausum for the
Channel and our coasts. We con,d naver
accept this"
The Columbia State" published in
South Carolina, defines freedom as Eng
land views it:
Great Britain, being an island kingdom
moated by the MAN, and having to be
ceaseiessly on guard and able to defend
'ne waters about her, has always held the
view that the seas were not to be free To
her possible hurt. She has reserved the
rlght to take whatever measures on the
hlgh seas she considers necessary to pro-
tect herself. 1t must be cheerfuly admit
ted that she has seldom misused her great
power or abused a principle that should not
IN strict justice be tolerated."
The pro-Germans, whom we ALWAYS
have with us, though often under cover.
are using the phrase to it's full advan-
tage. Indeed, remarks The INDIANAPOLIS
News:
The freedom of the seas is largely
catchword-and as now used, of German
origin. Of late years there has been M
interference with free commerce except bv
tariffs and port dues, and in this regard we
have been the chief sinners. British no,+a
in time OF peace are free to the shins of o,1
nations, and, except in the case OF soma 90
ner seif-governing colonies, on equal tor,,,a
M''n her own. In war there has been shown
70 De an lnsupcrable necessity for inter
ference with free navigation. Without it
u. .he Germans would have ende, the war in
the first year." -
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08
\ Life Hanging on a
~ Street Clock

Incidentally, the snapshot of a street
clock, enlarged $4,000 times, is the star wit
of the Mooney case, and about the
only one Of vital importance whose word
has not been impugned or disproved.
There is one plausible explanation Of the
Mooney affair. In 1t California is reapng
the whirlwind. long sowing Of violence
and corruption by labor and capital has
come to fruition in this famous trial. And
just when progressive California-home Of
Heney and Johnson-thought it had finished
its last batch of dirty linen and rolled up
the clothes line.
The sowing goes back almost to the "roar-
ing 40s." 1t includes the vigilance com
mittees of 81 and 80; the sand lot riots"
of 1877, when anti-coolie mobs threatened
to burn the mansions of San Francisco's
rich the great and bloody transfers strike
III the administration of Mayor Phelan; the
bribe-taking and bride giving that went on
between the public utilities and other vest
ed interests of California and the labor
party gang dominated by Abe Ruef and
Mayor Schmitz. The corruption and vlo-
lence OF capital and labor eliminated in the
dynamiting of "The Los Angeles Times"
and the defence and conviction of the Mac
Namaras.
In the light of this, The Trbune's San
Francisco correspondent thought it just to
interpret the fight of Prosecutor Fickert,
backed by the San Francisco Chamber of
Commerce, to convict Mooney, as the logi-
cal outcome Of the local struggles of capital
and labor.
"What is really taking place." this CORE
spondent wrote in May, 1917, "is finish
fight between organized labor and system
atized capital. Thoughtful people are be-
ginning to ask whether the Russian radi-
Gals who made demonstration before the
American Embassy protest against the
hanging of Mooney did not present de-
served Indictment of American government
in one of it's worst aspects. . In the
Mooney case San Francisco is paying for
it's old sins"
The Mooney per sc began on July
o. 1916. On that day bomb exploded at
the corner of Market and Steuart streets
1t killed ten people either watching or
marching in great preparedness" parade
and it injured fifty more.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08
'FreedOm Of the Seas'- What
Does It Mean?
Tom Mooney

TUST what is the meaning of that
~ simple-sounding phrase 'The free
dom of the seas"? Ever since Pres
ident Wilson made it the basis of Article
IL of his famous fourteen points, and es-
pecially since the announcement of his
intention to GO abroad to interpret those
points, there has been much discussion
Of the phrase.
This Interpretation is from "The
Louisville Courier Journal:
1.-The freedom Of the seas means. in
general way, that beyond the limits Of ter
rltorial waters all powers had equal rights
to use the seas without interference from
any quarter, unless warranted by special
agreements.
AT the outbreak of the great war four
years ago the law of the sea as applied to
territorial waters was pretty we'll under
stood. The rights of riparian states we're
recognized over a limited portion Of their
coastal waters and CULTS, bays, canals.
straits and rivers included wholly or par.
TALLY within their territories Such rights.
though stopping short of complete SOW
ereignty, authorized important police pow
ers. with the regulation Of belligerent navi
CATION through territorial waters as defined
by international law. The extent of those
waters was also regulated by international
law. 1t remains for those who propose to
remake the map of the world to rewrite.
clearly deSne and invest with binding au-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08
THE Case Against
Il The State

1t seems only fair to say that the states
cases we're characterized by
/. Witnesses of bad reputation.
2. Witnesses that contradicted one an
other.
5. Witnesses that contradcted them
selves.
A. Witnesses that altered their testimony
at later trials SO that it fitted better with
new evidence
8. Witnesses that had to be eliminated
from later trials owing to the invalidating
of their evidence after 1t had secured con-
viction
Some very brief points in the various
trials will illustrate the general character
of the evidence for the prosecution. The
state made notable attempt to show
preparation for the crime The whole
thing hinged on showing that Mooney and
Billings and Weinberg had actually placed
a timed bomb in a suitcase at the corner
of Market and Steuart streets just before
the explosion, which occurred at 2O6 p. m.
The alibis of the defendants attracted no
attention at any time. Perhaps 1t was
their nature. Perhaps it was the strength
of the feeling against the persons on trial
Perhaps it was the superior dramatic force
of the witnesses by whom the prosecution
tried to show the movements of the de-
PENDANTS at the time of the explosion
The first trial, that of Billings, brought
the following summary from writer In
"The Survey:
Here, then, enters the first popularity
about the bomb trials Three witnesses
sWOre positively as to the whereabouts of
Billings between 1855 and 2 o'clock on the
day of the parade and each had him in a
different place.
The jury convicted Billings and fixed his
sentence at life imprisonment
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08
Secretary Lansing

of another who also had a near relative
in Jail.
But there were still moro interesting de-
velopments.
The most remarkable was the discovery
of the witness in the clock.
The most damning was the testimony of
one Oman.
And between-to hitch the two up-was
an alteration in the testimony of wit
ness at the trial of Billings.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08
The Meaning of the Mooney Case-Even in Petroerad

were arrested Warren K. Billings, Thorn
as j. Mooney, Rena Mooney, his wife; Ed
ward D. Nolan and Israel Weinberg. They
were all involved in labor agitation.
Partsans of Mooney point out even at
this early point, what they consider two
significant facts:
First, the chief of the Oakland Police
Department-close to San Francsco-aban-
doned Investigations he was then making,
because the San Francisco police were no
longer interested, and he has since shown
that evidence he had drawn from one i'm
portant witness was materially altered af-
ter the witness had conferred with Prose-
cutor Fickert.
Second, Fickert was pretty generally rec
ognzed as the candidate of the United
Railways, against which Mooney had just
been fighting, and the principal evidence
leading to the indictment of Mooney and
his friends was got by a private detective
named Swanson who had been employed by
the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, an
other organization which Mooney had
fought.
The bitterness Of the labor feud in Cali
Mooney and his neutrality-suspicious. Offices
of trust might have made them seem labor
men of the highest responsibility in other
communities-were Jumped as "reds" from
the start. For long time they received
only the support Of the extreme left in
San Francisco. Billings had already been
convicted Of transporting dynamite in con-
nection with strike against the Pacific
Gas and Electric Company Mooney had
been acquitted in similar case Like
many other California labor leaders thew
were actually or reputedly direct action
lists" And so they began their trials under
a black cloud of public indignation and
distrust
So much for background. The actual
trials quite as remarkable. The char
acter of witnesses and evidence on which
Fickert won convictions against Billings
and Mooney has been investigated and
weighed by many private and public per-
sons, official investigators as we'll as Jour
nalists and labor partisans.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08

A MERICA'S Dreyfus affair is an
~ easy definition for the case of
~ Thomas j. Mooney ct al. But even
49, LII -
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08
wv ebs Woven About
w The Witnesses

The first interesting point about the
next trial--that of Mooney-is the elimina-
ton Of witness for the prosecution who
wrote to her husband in prison telling him
that she expected to be able to arrange
shortly for his pardon, and the dropping
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08
Henry White

Mooney had sworn that he was then with
Mrs. Mooney on the roof of building
more than mile from the explosion The
defence presented snapshots taken from
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08
General Bliss

This man, Mcdonald, had testified to see
ing both Mooney and Billings at the scene
Of the crime up till approximately 2:O5
p. M, or one minute before the explosion.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08
Eurious but utile
l. Investigations

For few days there were furious inves-
LEGATIONS by police and prosecutors. They
stopped Immediately when the following
The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1918-10-25
THETFORD CENTER

Mr.. and Mrs. Otis Scott and Mr..
and Mrs. Milo Burlingame spent
Friday in Flint.
Mrs. Edith Gazette and son, JOS
eph, of Chicago, are visiting Mrs.
Otis Scott.
Mr.. and Mrs. Milo Burlingame en-
tertained Mr.. and Mrs. Geo Buell., fl
Sunday.
Mrs. B. w. Ramsdell and Mrs.
Harry Whitman visited Mrs. Otis
Scott, recently.
Born, October %, to Mr.. and Mrs.
Calvin Barker, a daughter.
Mrs. H. M. WILDER, Mrs. Chas.
Brady and Mrs. Chrissy Page spent
Thursday at Mrs. Fred Geiger's.
Mrs. Walter Walter Owellett and
son, Norbert Kenneth, Of Mansfield,
Ohio, visited her grandmother, Mrs.
Chas. Brady and other relatives.
Wray Mitchell spent Sunday with
Bernard Long.
The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1918-10-25
STATE OF MICHIGAN-County Of
Genesee, SIS.

oShSoSS, %. +
At a session of the Probate Court
for said County of Geneee, held at
the Probate Office, in the City OF
Flint, on the 9Th day Of October, in
the year one thousand nine hundred
and eighteen.
In the matter of the estate of AL
bert l.. Carr, deceased. Petition hav-
ing been filed for the allowance OF
certain written instrument as the
last will and testament of said de-
ceased.
1t is ordered, that the 9th day OF
November, next, at nine o'clock in
the forenoon, at said Probate Office,
be appointed for hearing said petit
ton.
And it is further ordered, that
copy of this order be published three
successive weeks previous to said day
of hearing in the Clio Messengers
newspaper printed and circulating in
the County of Genesee.
John C. Graves,
A true copy Judge of Probate.
Fred A. Wertman,
Register
The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1918-10-25
TRI-COUNTY CORNERS

Mr.. and Mrs. J. Nelson and D.
Boots of Millington, Mrs. VIM. Halves
and son, Milford, visited at H. Coop
er's of Burt last Sunday.
Chloris Grady visited his father
and brother in Caro- Wednesday and
Thursday.
Mrs. Newvine was called to Flint
by the serious illness OF her daugh-
ter last Tuesday.
Doris Parker is home for few
days recovering from the influenza.
Stanley Kodleboski and wife are
en- the sick list
VIM. Halves had the misfortune
to lose horse last week the animal
dropped dead in the barn.
Mr.. and Mrs. Geo. Culver of
Flint, were week end visitors at Jas.
Freman's.
Doris Parker visited Vera Fireman
last Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ralph Culver and
son, Clifford, of Rogersville, called
at Jas. Freman's Sunday afternoon.
The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1918-10-25

The whole woman's suffrage ques.
ton turns upon the element of funda.
mental justice. Women are just as in
telligent as men. They are just as i'm
portant and just as useful in the whole
scheme. Of human economy as men.
This being true, they are as fully en-.
titled as are men to have a part ir
shaping the conditions under which
they must live. We are being specially
now-a-day with the vita
part which democracy must play in
providing for the future happiness and
progress Of mankind, and we must ad-
NIT that we have not true democracy
when one-half our population is ex-
cluded from ballot because of the in.
factor of sex. To be gov
erned without representation is the
essential element of slavery. We have
come to that period of enlightenment
where we do not want our women to
occupy that status. We look for the
suffrage amendment to be carried in
Michigan by sweeping majority.
The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1918-10-25

II it be true that politics should not
enter into the war, and as good citizens
we shall all probably agree that it is
true, then by the same token the war
should not enter into politics = clean
politics. The American people regard
less of party affiiiation have risen to an
exalted patriotism in supporting the
government in its task of prosecuting
the war to successful conclusion.
The republicans have been just as earn
est, just as active, just as loyal as their
political opponents in this matter. 1t
is, perhaps, the first time in our history
when an administration has commanded
such undivided support in time of war.
All this is admirable and constitutes a
splendid testimonial to the moral worth
of our people. but it does not supply a
reason why we should not continue our
allegiance to those principles of internal
policy which we believe to be essential
to the prosperity of our country when
the war is over. If we are republicans
we have no reason to desert our alleg-
lance to republican policies which we
hold will be even more important to
our welfare in the future than they
have been in the past. Moreover, it is
consistent for republicans to vote the
republican ticket in the state and coun-
ty because we are not only voting con-
fidence in certain principles, but we are
voting to sustain men who have been
important workers with us in putting
those principles into active practice.
When we differentiate between support
ing the war and supporting political
policies to which we are opposed we>are
exercising in its highest and most in
telligent sense, the privileges of Am
erican citizenship.
The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1918-10-25
NORTHEAST MONTROSE

Mrs. Harold Fent has received
word of the death of her sister, Mrs.
Bryan Forsythe, in Texas.
Quite a number from this vicinity
attended the sale at Mrs. John Tay-
lor's, last Wednesday.
Arthur Remer spent Sunday n
Saginaw.
Chas. Lucian and Rena Studer of
Chesanin1, Ann Widner, of Leeds,
Mass, and Joseph Harold, of Grand
Blanc spent Sund-.y at the home of
Jas. Carol.
Miss Irma Ryan, of Flint, spent
the week end with her mother, Mrs.
T. Ryan.
Mrs. Guyett and son, Joseph, of
Chicago, have been visiting her
cousin, Mrs. Walter Tomkinson.
Evan Fent spent the week end with
his uncle, Will Woolson, of Clio.
The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1918-10-25
BIRCH RUN

Mrs. Joseph Kitelinger, formerly
resident of Mt. Morris, passed away
at her home in Flint, Sunday, Oct.
6, of heart failure following an ill
ness of several months. The fune-
raj services were held from ST.
Paul's Episcopal church, Wednesday,
Rev. Bradford Pengelly officiating.
Interment was made in Mt. Morris
cemetery. Laura Monk was born in
London, England, April Ia, 1868.
She came to America in July, 1890,
and was married to Joseph Kitelin-
ger November 20, 1898.
She leaves a host of friends.
She is survived by her husband
and one sister, Mrs. George Mason.
of Mt. Morris.
Norine Elinor, infant daughter, of
Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Barrett, died
of complication of diseases, Fri
day evening, Oct. IL. She was born
in Birch Run August "a, 1918. The
funeral was held from the family
home Sunday, Oct. Is, with inter
ment in Birch Run cemetery.
Mrs. Sarah Brisco, of Flint, is the
guest of her cousin, Mrs. John Fer
guson.
William Eich and family of Sagi-
nav, were entertained at the home
of Mr.. and Mrs. John Eich, Sun
day.
Mrs. William Cooper has returned
home from Saginaw, where she car
ed for her mother, Mrs. o. P. Wick
cry, who has been seriously i'll with
pleurisy. Mrs. Vickery is slowly re-
covering.
The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1918-10-25
ARBELA

The Pinkham school has been
closed on account of influenza.
Born, to Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Car
vi, Oct Fl, son, Andy Francis.
Mr.. and Mrs. Suigley, of Detroit,
spent Sunday at the home of Fred
Currier.
Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur Starr and
daughter, Esther, spent Sunday at
the home of Sam Starr.
Mr.. Moshier's little son has the
influenza.
Harve Collar and Edmund Miller
made 100 gallons of cider at their
mill, Friday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Omar Conger and
family spent Sunday at F. Caryrs.
Mr.. and Mrs. j. B. Currier spent
the first of the week at their son,
Fred's.
The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1918-10-25
BIG ENROLMENT

East Lansing, Mich. A report
from the Offices of the registrar at M.
A. C. showed 1926 students enrolled
in the college this week. OF these
1900 are young men receiving mill
tary training as members Of the stu
dent army training corps; 800 are
young women and SO are special stu
dents and boys under 18. This en-
rollment is the largest the college
has ever had at the beginning of a
fall term.