The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-07-17
new EVIDENCE
FOUND TO HELP
MOONEY CAUSE
Attorneys and Macdonald
Start West to Press
Pardon Fight.
STORY GIVEN BACKING
Key Witness Charge That
State Gave Him Funds
Is Upheld.

BIZ United Press
ERIE, Pa, July 17.-Escorted by
six lawyers and a galaxy OF news
paper correspondents, John Mac
Donald, key witness in the fight to
release Warren K. Billings and Tom
Mooney from California peniten-
tiary, was on his way west today.
The party passed through here
shortly before noon and was to ar
rive in Chicago at 1880 p. m.
Frank Walsh, attorney for
Mooney, planned to take an airplane
at Kansas City and fly to Los
Angeles to confer with Governor
Young before Macdonald arrives.
In the brief cases of the attorneys
as thew sped westward on their train
we're three new affidavits containing
additional evidence regarding Mac
Donald's role in the now-famous
case and tended to strengthen the
witness own statement that he lied
on the stand.
The United Press was informed
Of the new evidence when the train
carrying Macdonald and the attor-
news passed through New York
Wednesday night on the way from
Baltimore, where the witness was
found, to the west.
one of the affidavits. which his
LAWYERS would not discuss. but which
Is regarded as Of vital Importance,
was said to corroborate MacDon-
AIDS statement that while he was
a witness in the trials he lived we'll
on funds supplied by the district
attorney.
Woman AIfIrms Story
The United Press was informed by
apparently high authority that the
document contained the statement
of a woman, who sometimes went
out with Macdonald at the time Of
the trial sixteen years ago, that
whenever he needed money he went.
TO the district attorneys Office and
received II.
The woman, now married and liv-
ing in Washington, d. c., denied.
when questioned by the United
Press, that she had signed any afti-
davit.
The new evidence, it was under
stood, was obtained when the wom-
an motored 10 Baltimore after Mac
Donald's discovery there, and re-
vealed her maiden name.
MacDonald'S lawyers, Charles Ru-
zicka and Hilary Cans. we're under
stood to be in possession OF this
document. while Walsh, counsel for
the Mooney Billings defense league,
had the others.
Leave for West
Macdonald, after a short con-
ference here, left at 11:l0 p. m.
CE. S. IT,, accompanied by Ruzicka,
Cans. Walsh. and E. H. NockelS,
secretary of the Chicago federation
Of labor.
Walsh's affidavits contain state
ments by Max Kesselman. As, Tren-
ton, N. j.. grocer. and his nephew,
Leon Josephson. They relate an in
cident which occurred in 1921, when
Kesselman was proprietor Of the
Central House in Trenton and Mac
Donald was a waiter there.
One night Macdonald became
very i'll. according to Kesselman, and
asked for a doctor. KeSSelman sat
I'D with the sick man all night and
Macdonald told him. he said, OF his
testimony in the Mooney-Bilhngs
trial. ending with the statement:
Nothing but lies
Macdonald repeated his repudia-
ton of the testimony before Joseph
son. Soon afterward, it is under
stood, he made his published re-
pudiation in New York.
Walsh Is JubiIant
Walsh expressed elation after
wednesday nights conference.
IF We can get a fair hearing
believe we can free Them he said
referring to Mooney and Billings
I'VE have the means to do it now.
Macdonald made no statement
He stood alone by the rail of the
ferry as he approached Manhat'
tan and ventured only the remark
That Skyline's a lot different
from what it was seven years ago.