Arizona republican., 1893-04-23
Governor Hughes Yes
terday Afternoon
Completed the Relief of
the Brown Brothers
pv Removing the COMMITTED
Five-Days Sentence.
,.,,dents of the Criminal Action
Against the Proprietors of the
Enterprise for Libel.

Late Yesterday afternoon Governor
u,,bes granted full and absolute par
5on to Hon. r. G. and Gen. &. W.
p,ovn, proprietors of the Arizona En-
,,,rrise. under sentence for criminal
,;hs The incidents Of the prosecution
and punishment OF the Browns for con-
.amnt of court incidental to the pro-
casdiugs against them on the complaint
u Brewster Cameron, clerk Of the first
Si.,rict court, by reason OF the promin-
o,ce Of the parties, are familiar to all
Arizonians.
About the middle OF last October the
EDITORIAL columns OF the Enterprise
obtained severe structures upon the
a#cial conduct of the clerk of the dis
,rirt court and preferred charges which
u .rstained would have been damaging
in the highest degree to the persons so
charged.
Criminal action was Immediately be-
crp against the proprietors OF the
nsper. Before it had reached a termi-
psiion the defendants were found guilty
o contempt and sentenced to term
in the county Jail along with fine.
Thew entered upon the term, but the
ra.e was brought before Judge Gooding,
oithis district, on an application for a
vri, of habeas corpus, The writ was
denied and the same night Governor
Murphy granted full pardon. The
srrion for criminal libel proceeded. The
defendants, on the advice of their at
torneys. made no other defense than
gss contained in the allegation that
tbe publication complained OF did not
constitute libels They were convicted
and each sentenced TO five days in the
territorial prison and the payment OF a
fUe OF 500.
The case was promptly appealed to
the supreme court.
Soon after this a meeting oil the Terri
toral Press association was held, at
which it was decided to appeal to Gov
ernor Murphy for pardon for the
Browns, who were members Of the Or
ANIMATION. The matter was presented
10 the governor by the present gov
ernor. also member OF the associa-
ton Governor Murphy declined to in
teriere while the appeal was pending
on the ground that such interference
would be taken as an an anticipation OF
the unisyorable action of the court and
therefore an act of discourtesy.
few days before the expiration oil
Governor Murphy's service the appeal
was withdrawn and application was
made by the defendants attorneys fol
apardon, or rather for a commu ;atior
Of the sentence to five days in the
Pima county Jail. The attorneys, il
appeared, had not consulted their eli
ent:, but supposed that relief from the
igomny and stain of the original sen
tence and the effect OF the fine wonld
be satisfactory.
Two days after Governor Hughes
accession 10 Office an annual meeting OF
the press association was held anC
again it was resolved to petition the
executive for the complete removal o
the stigma from the Browns. The
members of the association appeared
ina body before the governor and made
known the wishes OF the organization
The governor took the application
under advisement and yesterda.
granted the pardon as requested.
The sentence at the time was re
garded as excessive and the action o
The governor therefore meets the ap
roybatiOn not only OF his late brethren
1.-THE press but of the territory at large