The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1918-11-29
California Executive Gives New
Turn TO Case Of Labor Leader
Convicted for Participation in
Bomb Explosion.
PRESSURE FROM WILSON
is FACTOR IN HIS ACT
Mooney Not Satisfied; Prefers
Death on Gallows to Living
Grave; Demands Either New
Trial or Unconditional Pardon.
,v rrc sssoe,.rsp raess

Sacramento. Calf. Nov. 2g-Gov-
ornor William u. stephens tonight
commuted to life Imprisonment the
sentence Of death imposed ON Thomas
y Mooney for murder growing out OF
the preparedness day bomb explosion
at san Francisco. on july - 1916.
when ten persons were Killed aud 90
others injured In u lengthy state
ment giv' . To the public outlining his
reasons for committing tho sentence.
Governor stephens said MouatNs ClsC
largely parallelcd that OF Warren -.
Killings, another bomb case defend
ant Mhon Is serving a lif" sentence in
the Folsom. Calf, penitcntiuTy
The governor said there wore ro~-
tain features connected ''ith the pi-C
which convinced him that he seutcnco
of death should not be executed. For
this reason, and bccause q. the earn
est REQUEST ~ President Wilson Tor
communication, he did not believe that
the extreme penalty should be paid.
Governor stephens said he accepted
'full responsibility for tho wisdom and
justification for the action"
In reviewing the case. Governor
stephens said his action was taken
after q painstakinE survey of the cyi-
aenco produced At MONEYS trial. but
because OF certain new developments
following the conviction. which could
49, ~ w ~ NV ENNNN ~ .
court, Ia which the ease had been ap.
pealcd. he found Justification for set
tln aside the death sentence.
IN ARRIVING at this conclusion" tac
governor continued. II have exercised
that caution which must be observed
on weighing evidence presented uut-
side Of established legal procedure
~ Communication TO life imprisonment
MONEYS ease viii be iu The samc
status as hat OF Warren X. BILLINGS
who was convicted of the same crime
aud received a sentence To- life impris-
unmcnt.'
Governor stephens. IN explaining
ms reasons for granting a
ton, said he WAS guided hN various
factors entertainment of doubt sufn-
CicEt To save men from. the rniloN4.
certain features in connection with
the case. ana President Wilson's
earnest; request FOR communication.
ON these points the governors state
ment said.
- havc carefully reviewed al the
available evidence bearing on the case.
There are certain features connected
win Il which conNinC me that the OK
IRENE penalty should not be |cxccuted.
Therefore. ana because uf the earn
est request OF President Wilson for
commutation, aud conscious of the
duty | owe as governor uf this state 10
all of It's people, / have decided 10
commute Moneys sentence To life
imprisonment. The logic that "a man
rs either guilty on innocent. and that
necessarily II the maximum punish
ment is not Justified. pardon should
follow, does not hold In theory or In
practice. II has beer no uncommon
thing for executives in granting Glenn
ency to entertain doubt sufficient to
save men from the gallows, but not OF
that degree of reasonable doubt that
the law resolves completely IN favor ~
a defendant.
II refuse 10 recognize this case as
In any fashion representing a clash
hetweea capital and labor. I regard
the petition OF the defendant for