Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-22
HARD TO GET PARDON
For Bank Wrecker Harper, in the
Light of the Recent Failures.
PUBLIC SENTIMENT AGAINST 1T.
How the Fidelity Bank Smasher Puts in
His Time at the Pen.
NO LARGER MAN THERE NOW THAN HE'S
rerFc1AL TELEGRAM TO THE DrsrArcH.t

rsrrcrAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPArCH.i
COLUMBUS, Nov 2.-The failure Of the
keystone Bank of Philadelphia and the
startling disclosures of fraud which followed
have perhaps had an indirect effect on the
fortunes of many men, yet the destiny OF
none outside of those directly implicated in
that famous wreck has been more strongly
affected than that of E. L. Harper, the Fl
delity Bank wrecker of Cincinnati, who Is
now paying the penalty Of his misdoings in
the Ohio penitentiary. For nearly two
years the friends of Harper have been agi-
tating pardon, and for some time have had
an application and the necessary papers
filed at Washington. Harper beinga United
States prisoner, the State authorities have
no jurisdiction in the case.
Some very strong letters from prominent
men in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and
Indiana have been secured in support of an
application for pardon, and if letters amount
to anything they will have potent influ-
ence when the case is taken up for consider
alton. The administration does not think
it policy to hear Harper's plea for Execu-
tive clemency while the public is agitated
by periodical reports of defalcations by
bank officials. The case had nearly been
reached when the Maverick Bank, Of Bos-
ton, went to the wall, and the excitement
which that failure caused was good excuse
for postponing its consideration. But the
Maverick Bank wreck had scarcely been
forgotten when the keystone Bank, of
Philadelphia, shut its doors, and the stu
pendous frauds that were there unearthed
will long be remembered.
Not Anxious to Reach the Case.
The Attorney General, it it said, is not
anxious for Harper's papers just now, but
the e1-banker's friends expect the case will
be pushed for hearing this winter. How
ever, the Keystone Bank failure is likely to
be kept fresh in the public minds by lesser
failures, and the chances of Harper secur-
ing a pardon in the short time he has yet to
serve are very slender. Beside, the
Fidelity Bank wreck has not been wholly
forgotten in Cincinnati, and there will be
considerable opposition to his release from
the thousands Of people who suffered from
his dishonesty.
Harper would be released by expiration
of sentence May 81, 1894, having about two
years ana nal1 YET 10 serve. rs was fe-
ceived at the Ohio penitentiary December
Il, 1887, and were it not for the good time
law his term would not expire until Decem-
Der IL, 1887. Changes were made in the
law by the last General Assembly that will
shoEten Harper's stay in prison, if he is not
pardoned, by three and half years: Under
the old law he could have gained but two
and half years.
Not Growing Old in the Penitentiary.
Notwithstanding his long confinement
Harper is one of The best preserved men in
the prison. 1t was generally supposed the
humiliation and disgrace of his position, if
nothing else, would so weigh upon his sen.
sitive nature that he would show signs of
down sooner or later, but not so.
There is not the slightest indication of age,
so commonly resulting from confinement.
he is still as fresh in mind and body as the