crowd surrounded Mr. Mooney. Beside him was his wife, Rona, who has waited 22 years for his release.
"Im so happy, Tom," she could be heard whispering to Mr. Mooney as he smiled at the crowd. There were tears in Mrs. Mooney's eyes as she saw her husband receive his don from the Governor with whom he shook hands. change of mind, and the consequent alterations of the proposed terms and the widening of their scope after the fall of Nanking, the matter was left in abeyance, But in view of the present reconsideration of her attitude towards China by Japan, it is natural that we should respond with a statement on which basis we may negotiate with Japan in order to find a proper solution of the various questions with a view to re-establishing peace and stabilizing the Far Eastern situation. This opportunity to end the present war must not be allowed Believes Billings Innocent to pass again.
"I hardly know how to express my gratitude for this vindication Mr. Mooney said with emotion.
The Governor said he also believed Warren Billings, who was convicted with Mr. Mooney, was also innocent. He said it was impossible to grant him a pardon without the approval of the Supreme Court, however, because the prison-is a two-time offender. Mr.
Mooney declared that he will spare ne efforts to speed Billing's release.
Mr. Mooney's release and pardon were not approved unanimously by all quarters, although no objections were raised in the Assembly Chamber. Mr. Edward Cunha, Assistant District Attorney who secured Mr. Mooney's conviction, was one of those to object. "Mooney is guilty as hell" he told the p "He should have been hanged."
Mr, Ben Lamborn of Alameda, Calif, and a brother of one of the victims of the 1917 bombing, bitterly declared Governor Olson should be impeached for today's pardon.
When Mr. Mooney started to leave the rostrum, however, he was congratulated by the Lieut.-Governor, Mr. Ellis Patterson, the Sheriff, Mr. Dan Murphey, himself a labour leader, and Mr. Harry Bridges, Australian-born west coast maritime union leader. "Happy days are here again," Mr. Mooney told them. Somebody in the crowd shouted "This is the greatest day in the history of California."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.