The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-03-28
HighIights Of What Prisoner
Calls Colossal Frame-up'
Are Listed

AAS OVOAy VI AOSA CAOO4ACyS Vic
worlds most famous prisoner, is
largely the story Of his 15-year battle
Tor freedom following the conviction
which stirred America as no othe.
court case has since the bred Scott
decision by the q. 8. supreme court
before the Civil War.
Highlights In MONEYS life and his
fight against what he terms the most
colossal frame-up in history" despite
the fact that California courts have
upheld his conviction, are given
chronologically below:
1881-Tom Mooney born in Chicago
of Irish parents. His father was q
miner and his early childhood was
spent in association principally with
the working class.
1906-Became interested in social
ism and began work as labor organ
izer in various parts Of the country.
1905 Supported Eugene v. Debs, So
cilist candidate, for the presidency
and travelled about the United States
on Debs' Red Train," working as an
organizer in the Debs cause,
1911-July I, married Mrs. Rena
Brink Hermann.
1913-Met Warren K. Billings, who
was later convicted with him on
charges Of being responsible for the
1916 Preparedness Day bombing in
San Francisco. Led Pacific Gas and
Electric company strike at San Fran
cisco.
1916-July, headed strike Of United
Railway Carmen. San Francisco. July
%, bomb exploded during Prepared
ness Day parade in San Francisco,
killing six almost instantly and seri-
ously injuring more than 40 others.
July Is, Mooney arrested and charged
with being responsible for the bomb
ing on July %.
1917-January. convicted of partici-
patton in Preparedness Day bombing
and sentenced to death on May II,
1917. Conviction obtained principally
on testimony of John Mcdonald,
Frank c. Oman and Estelle Smith.
April, Oxman's testimony attacked
when letters to Ed Rigell. asking that
Rigell come to San Francisco to testt-
fy in the Mooney trial, are discovered
and published. According to the plan
outlined in the letters. Rigell was to
testify that Oman was In San
Francisco the day Of the bombing.
The remainder Of the year was spent
in gaining stays of execution for the
condemned man.
1918-President Wilson writes three
letters to Governor william D. Steph-
ems of California urging that a new
hearing be held on the case. Nov. 20,
death sentence committed to life I'M
prisonment by Governor Stephens.
1921-Februcry, John Mcdonald,
another of the key witnesses against
Mooney, signs affidavits saying his
testimony was perjured. April, par
don denied Mooney by Governor
Stephens.
1922 2S-Numerous efforts to OBJ
tain a pardon for Mooney failed, de-
spite increasing evidence that testi-
mcny given against him was unre-
liable.
1929-March 10, Estelle Smith. last
of the three principal witnesses
against Mooney at his trial IN 1917,
made a sworn statement that she
identified Mooney falsely at his trial.
She said that she had been forced to
make the Identification by threats
from those interested in his prosecu-
ton. In November, Mrs. Dora Mon
roe Wegee gave an affidavit that her
brother. Lewis Smith, then dead, had
confessed to her that he threw the
bomb at the 1916 Preparedness Day
parade.
1930-July 8, Governor G. G. Young
denies Mooney application for par
don. John Mcdonald, one OF the key
witnesses against Mooney, found in
Baltimore and volunteers to 60 back
to California and tell the truth
about his part in the Mooney case.
He admitted there that his entire
story was perjured. Dec. 1, Califor-
mia supreme court denies to recon-
mend a pardon for Mooney, by q
vote of six to one. The dissenting
justice commenting strongly on the
gross injustice" he believed had been
done Mooney.
1931-Agitation for MONEYS re-
lease from prison continued, with
many newspapers hitherto neutral
joining in the fight to have him par
dcned. Mayor James ]. Walker Of
New York makes trip to California
to appeal directly to Governor James
H. Rolph. Jr, to pardon Mooney.