The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-08

CIcmency Granted Him on tho Sole Ground
that rte Testified Against I'i- Bro'hcr.
the Late Gen. Lester IL. Fnpiknrr-Some
Letters of the General which Are ln-
terc.tine From n Political Standpoint.
DASsvrL1E July THE pardon OF James
Faulkner the wrecker OF the First National
Iiank OF Evansville. has been received hero
with sulen dissatisfaction. james Faulkner
was tho brother OF Gen. Lester II. Faulkner.
who was for many years n prominent man IN
New York politics and died broken-hearted.
as his friends here believe. because the brother
for whom he used his own good name not
only betrayed tho bank. but a'terward
testified against him in q criminal court.
Faulkner had some few but energetic friends
left and they constantly urged his pardon both
before no was i'm prisoned and afterwHrd. The
only ground on which clemcncy was asked
was that Faulkner had testified against his
brother. President Harrison says he pardons
Faulkner "only because l am advised that
the United States having used tho prisoner
asa witness against one Jointly indicted mis-
brotherL an equitable right to clemcncy under
the decision OF the supreme Court is cStab>
lished. This right. IL it can be called such.
could not lie enforced but as 1t has become
settled rule IN criminal procedure very re-
luctantly act upon II"
IT Mr.. Harrison could hear to-day the
opinions expressed upon his action he would
wish that he had been more reluctant. and
had disregarded tho rule which he says can
not be enforced. There are hundreds Of peo-
ple in this neighborhood who still feel tho
effects OF James Faulkner's reckless 1nancier-
ing. and there are widows and orphans alive
who suffered by the collapse OF the First Ma
tional Bank. When james Faulkner was con-
victed he escaped with sentence OF Ave
years In tho Eric county penitcntiary. and the
people Of Livingston county were indignant.
He has actually served few days over ono
and half years. for although the First Ma
tional Bank was wrecked rs long ago as
August 1887. it was not until Jan. %. 1891.
that tho prison doors closed on tho manager
OF that Institution. Tho pardon was opposed
by United States District Attorney Alexander.
Cen. Lester b. Faulkner was only Il director
OF the bnnk. while his brother James was the
managing man Of the institution. When the
wreck became known IN August. 1887. james
fed to Canada. Guiding the police who were
watching for him to cross tho Niagara River.
by shipping as u deckhand on Il steamer at
Buffalo for some point up the lakes. He soon
afterward began, negotiations with the Gov
eminent to return to New York and appear rs
a witness against his brother. who. he alleged.
was the chief criminal. A year later he re-
turned. surrendered. and was nominally i'm
prisoned during the years which interviewed
before he was sentenced. For n few months he
was actually in jail. but most OF the time he
was allowed to live in hotels under United
States Marshars guard. and the Government
footed the bills.
Although Gen. Faulkner was only n director
and his brother was the President Of the bank
the former was tried first in Rochester in May.
.s~;- -, Al tnI hn, lin,
tried in Buffalo in the following October. when
a conviction resulted. and the General was
sentenced to seven years imprisonment. Con-
gresham Daniel n. Lockwood represented
the Government Mt the first trial. and United
States District Attorney Alexander conducted
tho prosecution at tho second trial. Gen.
Faux ner was defended by Leut.-Gov William
+. Sheehan and District Attorney George T.
Quinby OF Erie county. lie was released on
$4,000 bail on appeal. and died Jan. -. $780,
while the case was pending.
. The evidence ut both trials was much the
same. Director Lester b. Faulkner was ac-
the cond ton Of the bank. The mi ncipa wit
ness agnins, him was his brother James. who
betrayed vlndictiveness which excited Won
false reports. knowing them to be untrue. In
support of his statements he prGducei let
Flower. which he claimed corroborated
the assertion. The letters would III sew
showsd a the his
political acquaintance to help his brothor in
the banking business. and: prrhaps Incident
the profits OF the ban k AS Il stockhoidcr just
before the failure, through Gen. Faulkner
the bank. but this all melted away. and tho
actual assets Of the bank we're only Sis, on
about $4,000 out Of ali tho nsiitutlon,,s prop:
erty to settle nearly half million dollars of
- Gov. Flower. who was warm friend Of Gen.
Faulkner. made many advances to the FIRST
National Bank. most OF which We're repaid be
fore the failure. Even State deposits were in
Some OF the letters produced at the trial will
be Interesting reading to people who remcnl-
Der Gen. Faukner's prominence in politics.
James Faulkner wrote the business letters.
and they were Invariably written while his
Hero is Il draft OF ono which he sent to Mr..
Flower:
.at"n ana aaes on rs ere (wch IS BY
his political enemies and BY The general business n:
MOT to have 1t used uuies. some rs IccuTs
This was signed by James Faulkner. and
was on the letter head of the First National
Bank Of Dansvilc. under date Of Aug. II.
in as Nav M i GsHt
fled at the trial as being in Gen. faulknGrs
handwriting, was u sample OF others which his
brother produced:
1, 52s snvExrn AvESur. TEw YORK. May13.
DEAR II1io. ought Not :. Leave things mt, me
Astress and some sacrifice UNNECESSARILY. iOu can
send the banks note endorsed by you land viii
there to endorse W 10 II. r. Flower Co. 5. broadway.
This city for the amount you actually need not 10
coed $4,000 aud for sucn time as may be really nee
Son can by the same mail draw against II, sending
also "A ''personaln letter to Flower himself. saying
that to ARRANGEMENT made with send
Hpd draw. Take tins time you need. scnd you this.
Al have note here p send and win mss mail. /
shall be ut StauwiN Hall Albany. Tomorrow nnd Lere
morning. Notify me OF all particulars here by
letter at Now be careful about This business and
need TO teegralh, perhaps. Your telegram was slow
Lack mart orit There was no way for me I" send CUR
with note. But you can use drafts we'll n
pressed, Don't draw faster than you need. and Keep
your read about you III what do. In haste mail
l.. u. FAULKNLE.
This letter was of the kind the General sent
frequently to his brother. Many letters passed
between Mr.. Flower and Lester Il. Faulkner
and one from the latter to Mr.. Flower which
proved interesting from a business ana poll
oal view at that time. roads:
D,NsyIILr y. Y. Sov. ii. 1856
MY DEAR FLOWER NOurs at the hth ns get
"a my hand until to-day. 1t came the day Ial
gone ONO and Michigan had been by the
0rst month IN We nj vim