The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-11-29
RATHER DIE, SAYS
MOONEY, OF ORDER
BY STEPHENS FOR
LIFE IN PRISON
California Executive Com
mutes Death Sentence
Reviews the Case
CBy Associated Press.l

San Francisco. Calf, Nov. "a
The death sentence OF Thomas ].
Mooney, convicted of murder in con-
nection with the bomb explosion
which killed ten people here July
%, 1915. during a preparedness day
parade, having been commuted to
life imprisonment by Governor Step
hens last night, no further legal
steps can be invoked in Moneys
behalf, attorneys said today. Mooney,
who is an iron moulder by trade, win
be removed from the death cell which
he has occupied in San Quentin peni-
tentiary SINCE July IT Of this year,
and given employment with other
prisoners.
Many strikes had been planned for
December 8, by labor organizations
as protest against Moneys execu-
ton which was set for December l3.
Whether these proposed strikes now
will be carried out, labor leaders
here were unable to say today.
From his cell Mooney issued q
statement protesting against COM
mutation of his sentence. Il would
rather hang" he said, than to be
condemned to living grave"
Mooney also appealed to labor
leaders to continue their efforts in
his behalf.
Prosecutor Asked Chance.
A telegraphic appeal by District
Attorney Chas. NJ. Fickert to Cover
nor Stephens for a personal hearing
before the governor take final action
on the case Of Mooney, was an i'm
portant development in the after
math created by recent disclosures.
Fickert prosecuted and secured the
conviction OF Mooney in a bomb
murder charge.
Grand jury action on the publish
ed report of John B. Densmore, direc-
tor general of the federal employ
ment service, charging official mall
feasance in MONEYS prosecution.
will be continued today, after having
been postponed from Monday night.
William H. Mccarthy, foreman of
the jury, has demanded the Dens-
more report.
Stephens Breaks Silence.
For the first time since the Mooney
case assumed national Importance,
Governor Stephens broke his silence
as to the contents of the two mes
sages sent him by President Wilson
urging cIemency. These two meg
sages were quoted in the governors
statement. The first, which was re-
ceived March %, follows:
"The White House, Washington,
D. c., March 81. 1918.
Governor VIM. ID. Stephens Sa-
cramento, Cal.
With very great respect take the
liberty Of saying TO you that IL you
could see your way to commute the
sentence of Mooney 1t would have a
most heartfelt effect upon certain iTl-1
ternatIonaI affairs which HIS execu-
tion would greatly complicate.
woodrow Wilson"
In June the governor received this
message:
THE White House, Wash
ington, d. c.. June 4, 1913.
Hon. William D.. Stephens,
Sacramento, Cal.
Il beg that you will believe
that am moved only by a sense
of public duty and of conscious
ness Of the many and compiicat-
ed interests involved when I
again must respectfully suggest
communication of the death
sentence imposed upon Mooney.
would not venture again to call
your attention to this case did
not know the international
Significance which attaches TO It.
Woodrow Wilson"
No Clash, Says Governor.
II refuse to recognize this case In
any fashion representing d clash be-
tween capital and labor" the COVER
s.4ss
absurd the propaganda that would