The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-01-22
STATE OF OHIO,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Columbus, Jan. 8, 1880.

Mr. - Canton, o.!
DEAR SIR-Your very lengthy epistle
received. My engagements are too ur'
gent to read it carefully, but 1 have read
enough to conclude you kave but little
knowledge of me as man. 1t has been
known by many persons here and in
Canton, that l had said / would not par.
don Mr.. Fessler. Those who really are
acquainted with me, would not consider
it necessary after such declaration by
me to be again and again warning me
how disastrous it would be to pardon
him. presume the S., 900 talk (relative
to an alleged bribe offered to Bishop is
merely heresay. l am happy to know
that money has never been offered me
for pardons, nor do l believe any person
would risk doing 80. The opposers Of
Fessler's pardon predicate their obieC-
tions in different reasons. You say it
would ruin the Democratic party. 9th
ers, that it Is sslf-interest that induces
persons to befriend Fessler. Be this as
it may, 80 far as my conduct is con.
cerned rest easy. / have not intended
to pardon Fessler, and so expressed my
self openly. Yet l should be very sorry
to think the Democratic party of Stark
county would hold the party responsible
for an error OF mine. I am and have
been fully satisfied from the first, that
Fessler's pardon, if done, should be by
Gov. Foster, and not by me. | should
not like to commit any act contrary to
the wish of my Democratic friends, and
l am satisfied they do not desire me to
pardon Fessler, and / am satisfied the
circumstances surrounding his case do
not justify my doing so, although extra
ordinary efforts have been made for his
release.
With kind regards, believe me,
very truly, R. M. BISHOP.
FRssLER PREPARES LETTER,
which was sent to Henry W. Harter, the
Prosecuting Attorney of Stark county:
COLUMBUS, o., Jan. IL, $50.
Henry ". Harter, Pros. Attorney of Stark
County, Canton, o.:
DEAR SIR-As is we'll known when
heretofore summoned before a former
grand jury, refused to testify as to mat
ters connected with the Treasury-that
transpired while l was Treasurer, and
thereby screened those who were my &C.
completes, and were jointly with me,
guilty of violating criminally the laws
protecting the public money, and who
induced me to loan, and received from
me large sums of public money. then
knew it was the universal desire of the
people of Stark county that l make a
full disclosure of all matters and facts
connected with the money of the treas.
ury, and expose all who were implicated
with me Criminally in violating the trea.
sury laws, but unhappily l yielded to
the urgent solicitations and importantly
of those implicated with me, and the
great pressure they brought to bear upon
me, and refused to testify. / now fully
realize that | committed a great error,
and done the people of Stark county a
great injustice in so refusing to testify,
and now, after mature deliberation, /
have determined, if another opportunity
is offered me, to respect the wishes of the
people of Stark county, and repair, as far
as may be, the wrong committed by me,
by making a full disclosure before the
grand jury, Of all criminal acts done by
me and others during my term of Office,
| therefore hope you will not fail to pro.
cure the court to make the proper order
to have me brought before the grand
jury.
Very respectfully,
GEORGE FEssLER,