The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-10-04
CORRECTING AN ERROR.
r. s. Shields, Prosecuting AttOr.
ney, Vindicated.
Letter from Gov. YOung's Secretary,
and Mine Inspector, Andrew Roy.


During the recent coal miners troubles
in the western part of the county, among
other criminal prosecutions had, it will
be remembered that one Anthony Mo-
ran, a miner, at the May term, A. D., 1876,
of the Court of Common Pleas of this
county, was indicted, tried, convicted and
sent to the pentitentiary for the period
oftwo years, charged with shooting one
Richard Keller with intent to wound,
&c. A few months afterward Moran was
pardoned by the Governor and set at lib
erty, During the pending of his petition
for pardon, notice ofsuCh application was
served upon the Prosecuting Attorney,
r. s. Shields, who in due time transmit
ted to the Governor his official statement
of the testimony upon the trial, as requir-
ed of him By laeO. Recently the report has
become current through the mining re-
gions, and with no other view, and for no
other purpose, than the Cowardly hope
of exciting political prejudice against Mr.
Shields, who is candidate for re.elec-
ton. That prior to Moran's pardon, Mr.
Shields wrote a personal letter to the
Governor, protesting and demonstrating
against such pardon being considered or
granted. To confront and confute this
falsehood, we subjoin the correspondence
had upon this subject by Mr.. George W.
Phillips, at present the bank boss at Rus.
sell and Davis's coal bank near Massill-
on, with the Executive Department and
State Mine Inspector, Andrew Roy, at
Columbus. The following is Mr.. Phil.
lips's letter addressed to Governor Young:
MAss1LLoN, o., Sept. 9TH, 1877.
Hon. Thomas [. Young, Governor of Ohio,
Columbus, Ohio:
In order to settle controversy, will
you please advise me by letter, or direct
that the same be done by your Secretary,
as to whether or not there is on file in
the Executive or other Department, an
official or other letter, written at any
time since January, 1875, by Robert S.
Shields, Prosecuting Attorney of Stark
county, in relation to Anthony Moran,
who was convicted of shooting with in
tent to wound, &C., in Stark county Com
mon Pleas Court in May, 1879, and sent
to the penitentiary for the period of two
years, and who in the summer of 1875
was pardoned. Please advise whether
there is on fle any document writ
ten by him, except his official state.
ment relative to the testimony upon the
trial, as required of him by law.
With respect,
GEO. W. PHILLIPS.
To which letter Mr.. Phillips received
the following reply:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT., !
STATE OF OHIO, Columbus, Ohio,
Sept 10th, 1877.
Geo. ". Phillips, MaSsillOn, Ohio!
DEAR SIR-In the absence of the Gov
ernor, in reply to your favor of the 9TH, 1
have to say, that in the case of A. Moran,
that Pros Attorney r. s. Shields, filed an
official statement as srequired by law, and
that there is no other letter on communication
on file from him in that case.
Very truly,
RODNEY Foos, SeC'y.
About the same time Mr.. Phillips ad.
dressed a similar letter of inquiry to
State Mine Inspector Andrew Roy, to
which he replied as follows: "There is
mo such letter on file in the Governors
"offiCe as you inquire about, written by
"Mr. Shields. handed your letter to
"the Governors secretary, and the above
"io What he told me after examining the pa
"perS."
Comment on the above Is unnecessary.
1t is hoped that the tongue of SANDER
and malice will now be silenced.