New Britain herald., 1930-07-08
MOONEY UNLIKELY
 ID OBTAIN PARDON
Gov, Young Not Decided, But
 Board Against His Petition

Los Angeles, July S CUP) - Tom Mooney, his hopes for freedom fur ther dimmed by an adverse report of the state pardon board. waited in san Quentin prison today for Cover nor (. C. Young to announce his decision on the former labor leaders application for a pardon.
 Moneys chances for liberty suf- fered an initial reverse when the state supreme court on July 4 re- ported 10 the governor against acting on a pardon for Warren K. Billings. convicted with Mooney in the 1916 preparedness day bombing in San Francisco. 4 second and possibly more serious setback came last night when Governor Young made public report of the state board on Moon eys own application.
 To Decide Case Soon
 The governor said he expected momentarily to make known his own decision, which will be final for Mooney.
 The two reversals were indicative of adverse action by Governor Young. who announced several times he would be guided to some extent by reports of the board and the court.
 The pardon boards report re- viewed the bombing and the triai' of Mooney and Billings, which end cd in a life sentence for Billings and the death penalty for Mooney. The hanging sentence later was conmut- ed 10 life by Governor William D. Stephens,
 Much of the report discussed tes- tfmonv of John Mcdonald, who identified Billings as the man he saw carrying a suitcase just before the parade. and Mooney as the man he saw conversing with Billings near saloon where the bomb was plant d in q container similar to the one Billings carried.
 Repudiatcd Identification
 Mcdonald. five years after the two were sent to prison, repudiated his Identification in an affidavit to Billings attorneys,
 The report then pointed out that counsel for the convicted pair made no extended attack upon McDonald's testimony when it was offered. and that soon after Mcdonald made his repudiation he refused 10 appear for questioning before a San Francisco grand jury
 "UndAr all these circumstances NcDonald's attempted repudiation of his prior Identification of Mooney and Billings is utterly unworthy of belief and obviously is false the report continued. The effect of McDonald's testimony is therefore not substantially impaired in any . respect by his subsequent effort. The governor was reminded by the board that Mooney mo longer is clothed with the cloak of presump- ton of innocence" as at his trials, and that proof of his innocence does not rest with the state. The report added:
 Advises Against Pardon
 With this evidence thus establish ing the petitioners guilt. 1t is our opinion. and We advise, that the power vested in you tthe governor) to pardon his offense should not be exercised"
 Ten persons died and 4o were wounded in the San Francisco bombing. which occurred while a preparedness day parade was nov ing along Market street. Mooney and Billings were convicted on charges of murder in connection with the affair after trials that attracted na- ton wide attention. Subsequent at tacks on the validity Of prosecution testimony, and protracted attempts 70 gain their release have been made in the A years the two have occupied prison cells.