Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-11-29


sentence of Thomas J. Mooney. con-
demned to be hanged on Dec. 10, for
the death of 10 persons killed by a
bomb explosion in San Francisco dur
ing preparedness parade, July,
1916, was committed by Governor W.
D. Stephens tonight to imprisonment
for life. Court action tosaveMooney
from the gallows was exhausted by
the prisoner, the supreme court of
the United States having recently
decided it could not review the case.
Threats of national strike in
had been made in various parts of
the country and some time ago it
was reported that President Wilson
had witten the goveno to see that
Mooney suffeed no injustice. The trial
judge had requested a new trial for
Mooney
Governor stephens statement an
nouncing the Communication said that
in considering the case lie had be-
fore him 'the urgent appeal Of the
President of the United States that
| grant communication. Originally in
January of this year l received Il
letter from the President asking me
if it would not be possible to post
pone the execution of Mooney until
he could be tried upon one of the
ct ms In
as the appeal already had been TAX
en- to the Supremen Court of Cali
fornia. which appeal itself acted as
a stay of execution, there was at
that time no occasion for action Oh
my part. ! take it that the Presi-
dent was not correctly informed as
to the status OF the case" In eX-
planning why he had not felt called
upon to act previously. the Governor
said THE case as presented to the
California courts was that of muir
der without further evidence of
motive than the impossible tenets of
anarchists; whose sympathies for
the German cause in the war are
well known. Their wild pacifist the
cries fitted into the widespread ac-
Invites of the Kaiser's agents in this
country. A number of persons of
pronounced anarchistic tendencies
were arrested shortly after the exhi-
bition and of these Warren X. Bill
lings was convicted and sentenced
to life Imprisonment and Thomas j.
Mooney found guilty and sentenced
to be hanged"
So long as avenues of appeal to
the courts remained open to Mooney
and he was awaiting himself thereof
deemed it proper for executive au-
thority to interfere.
The statement reviews the case
fully and quotes the two messages
from President Woodrow Wilson in
which the action taken by the gov
crnor was suggested. The commute
ton, says the governor reduces the
case to the status of that of Warren
X. Billings. Il refuse to recognize this
case as in any fashion representing
clash between capital and labor"
the governor said. and he charG cter-
lied as absurd the propaganda that
would merely appear as a martyr to
the cause of labor. In support CT this
statement he quotes a letter from
Alexander Berkman outlining the
Plan afterwards adopted for the
Mooney campaign. Stories that Moon
ely was a true friend of labor and
characterized his previous record as
such that it did not enlist faith III him
by law abiding citizens, but said in
conclusion that this particular case
had been decided on it's merits.
Refusal of the United States su
preme court Nov. IS. to review the
sentence of hanging imposed upon
Thomas ]. Mooney, ended court ac-
ton in a case that excited interna-
tional interest The death sentenced
passed upon him was for the muir
der of Mrs. Myrtle Irene Van Loo
Of Meroed, Cal. one of 10 persons
killed by a clock-work bomb which
exploded on Market street in San
Francisco during q preparedness
day" parade there July %. 1916. Four
others were indicated with him on 10
counts of murder but his case was
singled out as an issue by labor or
CARNATIONS of several countries.
Strikes We're urged in various parts
of the country. and others were urged
in other countries as labor's protests.
MONEYS appeal to wartime work.
ers not to start agitation for gen.
eral strike May ]. 1913.
President Wilson interviewed by |
asking Governor William D. stephens
to obtain new trial for Mooney. He
ordered an investigation by COM .
mission which recommended a re-
hearing.
Four Of the five persons indicted were
tried for murder. Mooney was sem |
fenced to be hanged May II, 1917. War
rem X. Billings. shoe clerk, now is |
serving his sentence cf life imprison- |
ment; Mrs Rena Herman Mooney. !,
Moneys wife. and Israel Weinberg. an
automobile bus driver. were acquitted ,
on one charge and now are at liberty /
on bail on other charges OF murder, |
while Edward d. Dolan, machinist. !
still is awaiting trial
MONEYS alleged activity in a San
Francisco street car strike, character !