St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-03-29
McGHEE HITS BACK.
He Gives His Version of Why the
President Pardoned Private
Carter.

He Gives His Version of Why the
President Pardoned Private
Carter.
President Harrison recently pardoned
Private Lewis Carter. colored man.
who had been sentenced to ninety-nine
years. Imprisonment for assaulting a
German girl at Fort Smelling. A morn
ing contemporary yesterday devoted
considerable space to an article ques-
tioning the wisdom Of granting the par
don, and also placing the action of Car
ter's attorney in an unfavorable light.
The attorney, Frederick McGhee, writes
to the GLOBE as follows:
One day last July an aged woman entered
II. H. Lyles' shop and inquired for me. Hap
pening to be there at the time, Mr.. Lyles in
troduced me to her, and she told a story TO
this effect: Her son. Lewis Carter, late pri-
waite of Company G, Twenty-ffth infantry,
was serving a sentence at saltwater. The
warden of the prison had directed her to find
me, through MIR Lyles, and she wanted to
know if l could do anything for her son.
She had just come from her home in Missis-
sippito see her boy, and he had told her that
he was innocent of the charges of which he
was convicted. She asked me to go over to
the prison and have a talk with him, and if
believed HIM innocent, desired me to do what
l could to secure his pardon. 1 went with
her to the prison. and spent the afternoon in
CONSULTATION with her SON. He told me his
story. aud detailed the full proceedings of
the biased courtmartial that tried him. Be-
lievlng that grave injustice had been done
him, i concluded to take the case and 40
whatever could be done for him. l found in
ST. Paul and Minneapolis a dozen or
more comrades of his, all of whom
told me they believed him innocent,
that he was unfairly tried and
hail <f
udice. On the fourth day of October last
visited the home of Charles Holiak to learn
If they could tell me where Maria Hoppinger
could be found. Mrs. H. directed me to the
YetzerS, as they could perhaps tell me.
went to the 1etzers and they could tell me
nothing but sent me to Lenhardt Ronder,
Mrs. Shols' brother-in-law. They said Maria
had married, and that they did not know her
married name, nor where she lived. After
going nearly four miles through fields, L
found Konder, and asked him where Maria
was and what her name was now. He in
formed me and asked what was the matter.
/ told him wanted to see her about the col
ored man said to have assaulted and robbed
her when she first came to Fl. Smelling.
He said, ''Oh, lie didn't hurt her."
] said, rs that sou
He then said. mo- he didn't do anything to
her." and asked if were going to make her
any trouble.
i told him no, only desired to see her. The
next day called on Mrs. Sholls in West st.
Paul, and found her and Der husband at
home. She related her story, which, in
many respects. materially differed from her
story before the court martial. then asked
them if they would not sign a, petition for
Carters pardon, and Informed them of my
connection in the matter. She said that she
was afraid that if he came out he would
do something to her. l told her if
what she said was true. he would feel CRATE
full to her. They agreed that he had been
sufficiently punished, and if he would not
give her any trouble they were perfectly
willing TO sign. She then furnished me with
writing materials, and they both attached
their signatures to the following:
II. Mrs. Maria Sholls, nee Kapplinger, do
consent and petition your eXcellency to par
don Louis Carter late private of Company c,
Twenty-tifth infantry believing his punish
ment has been sufficient, as he is willing to
reform and live a peacable and quiet citizen.
My consent is given on the condition that he
live with his mother, and at no time me any
Trouble. MARIA SHoLLs, nee kapplinger.
"CHARLEs SH0LLS, her husband"
I returned to the Holiaks to see if they
would verify the story. Maria having sworn
that she went to their house, and from there
reported her trouble. The Holiaks told me
that she did not come to their house until
five or six weeks after the occurrence; that
she never at any time mentioned or dis
cussed the affair with them, and that they
never believed the story as told about 1t.
They thought it strange that she was
WneIl uOue Ol tue iduy TeSlucuto VI
Smelling had ever been troubled by the
soldiers. After completing my inves-
tigation of the case. and being
fully satisfied of my clients Innocence, and
the injustice of hisconviction, 1 returned TO
Sholls' with the purpose of having them sign
an unconditional petition, which was as fol-
lows.
/. Maria Sholls, nee Kapplinger do respect.
fully etition your excellency to pardon
Louis Garter, believing that his punishment
has been sufficient MARIA SHOLLs, =
Nee Maria Kapplinger.'
presented it to her, told her 1t was sub:
stantally the same as the other, and asked II
/ should read it 10 her. She said she could
read it. After reading it over she signed it.
She Informed me that she had received let
ter from Carter in which he told her he
would not harm her, and thanked her for
having signed the petition. Mr.: Sholls
called at my Office last Saturday. and was in
good humor The only thing that displeased
him was the recent criticism of the court
martial that sentenced Carter. in German
paper, in which it said all the charges
against Carter were ''trumped up," except
that of desertion. Tina story as published in
the GLOBE of the 18th inst. is absolutely true