The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-29
PLEA FOR MOONEY
President Wilson Asks Cover.
nor for Executive CIemency.
White House Neither Affirms
nor Denies Message Was Sent.

Sacramento, Cal, March 29.-Pres-
ident Wilson has telegraphed Gov
William D. stephens of California,
askinss executive clemency for Thos.
J. Mooney. now under death sentence.
it became known here today.
Mooney was convicted in connec-
tior with a bomb explosion in San
Francisco in a preparedness parade
July -, 1916, which caused the death
of ten persons, and injured forty
others.
Turn Loose ''Nfurderer?"
Executive clemency was Mooney
only hope, the state supreme court
having rejected recently his appeal
for a new trial.
IF President Wilson wishes to turn
loose murderer like Mooney the re-
sponsibility is his was the comment
of District Attorney Charles NJ Flick
ert of San Francisco county.
Other factors in the case were an
appeal outside the record to the state
supreme court backed by the trial
judge and the attorney general of the
state. the latter declaring that "a mis-
carriage of justice has occurred" The
the appeal
on trip to Camp Kearney, San Diego.
Few Precedents in History
Washington, March 29.-The only
comment of White House officials to-
day on President Wilson's telegram to
Governor Stephens asking him to ex-
tend executive clemency in the
Mooney case, was that they would
neither affairm nor deny such a tele-
gram had been sent
The presidents action, which has
rev precedents in American judicial
history, comes as the climax of much
effort by agencies of the federal gov
eminent to have the conviction of
Mooney reversed and to get for him a
new trial.
When President Wilson sent his
labor mediation commission west sew
eral months ago it was specially
charged to look into the Mooney case.
The commission reported conclusions
that the Mooney case had become so
involved with the issues of the bitter
contest between capital and labor in
San Francisco that he should have a
new trial.
BoIsheviki Used Influence
About the same time the Bolsheviki
disturbances reached their height in
Russia and the influence of the United
states was being eXerted to preserve
the new democracy. Russian agitators
opposing the efforts of the United
states were using the Mooney case as
their chief argument to make the Rus
sian people believe that the plea dings
of the United States for the cause of
democracy were insincere. -
They declared in their public
speeches that the Mooney case was an
example of autocratic government in
this country and the commission re-
ported to the president that the effects
of the case had become world wide
among the workers.
Mooney Ready for New Trial.
San Francisco, March 29.-"I am
confident that the special mediation
commission has presented conclusive
evidence to President Wilson of my
innocence, and his action in urging
upon Governor Stephens that | be
parooned is a natural result" said
Thomas j. Mooney today, in his cell
at the county Jail where he has been
confined since his arrest, July -,
1916.
The president wishes my guilt or
innocence esta blished by the court
and I feel that the president wants
me hardened on this particular charge
in order that 1 may be given a just
trial on one of the other murder
char ges pending against me-.
Eight other murder charges stand
against Mooney in connection with
the bomb explosion