The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-07-26
BILLINGS And
MOONEY may
ATTEND Trial
Appearance at Hearing on
Bomb Pardon Would
Complete Cast.
CRANKS SEND LETTERS
StatehouSe to Be Guarded
Tuesday as High Court
Hears Key Witness.
BY GEORGE D. CRISSEY
United Press staff Correspondent


SAN FRANCISCO, July 26.-The
possibility that Thomas j. Mooney
and Warren K. Billings may be re-
leased temporarily from their
respective cells at San Quentin
prison and Folsom penitentiary to
appear at the supreme courts re-
hearing on Billings new pardon ap-
2lication, was being widely discussed
today.
Edwin v. Mckenzie, Billings at
torney, Friday petitioned the SUI
preme court to allow the appearance
of the famous convicts at the hear
ing in order to refute adverse testi-
mony.
Chief Justice Waste, although I'M
derstood to have denied the request
on the grounds that only Billings,
and not Mooney was to be the sub
ject Of next Tuesdays meeting, did
so with the proviso that Mckenzie
would be allowed to repeat the re-
quest if he deemed it advisable.
Complete Resemblance
Appearance of the two convicts,
under sentence of life imprison-
ment since their convictions in 1916
and 1917 for preparation of the
San Francisco preparedness day
bombing outrage of July 2, 1916,
would complete the resemblance OF
the scheduled rehearing to the
original trials.
Next Tuesday at the state build
ing, the curtain will rise on Cal
ifornia's greatest tragic drama, re-
enacted with the majority OF the
principal cast present.
Not only will John Macdonald,
witness located in Baltimore, and
now in seclusion in southern Cali
fornia, be at the hearing, but many
other prominent figures OF the
original trials will be present.
Former District Attorney Charles
M. Fickert, Captain Charles Goff
of the traffic squad, and City
Treasurer Duncan Matheson, former
captain of detectives, all will play
part in the proceedings.
Berry to Examine
Fred Berry, former assistant dis
trict attorney, was selected to carry
the burden of examination OF Mac
Donald, after Attorney General U.
S. Webb, generally conceded to be
the man who should logically con-
duct the quiz, declined on the
grounds that he was disqualified be-
cause of his membership on the ad-
visory pardon board.
Contrary to expectations, McKen-
zie, Billings counsel, did not seem
disappointed when told of Berry's Sc
lection. 1t was supposed that Ber-
rvs examination conceivably could
hamper MacDonalds chances OF
convincing the court, as all cross
examination must be relevant to
what has gone before on direct ex-
animation.
If Mckenzie felt that the chances
would have been better mad he been
allowed to examine, he failed to
show it, and pronounced himself
satisfied with the ruling.
Cranks Send Notes
Meanwhile, extraordinary precau-
tons were planned by Eugene Bis
GALLUP, head of the state traffic
squad, to protect the state building
on the day of the hearing. Many
threatening letters have been re-
ceived, presumably from cranks.
Special police will patrol the
building and its corridors.
Members of the Mooney Defense
League stated Friday that the story
advanced by Adam Krumesc in
Cleveland-that he saw three for
eigners plant the Preparedness day
bomb-was of no interest to them,
being too difficult to prove and that
they thought their case stronger
without his testimony.