The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-25
OTHERS WERE GUILTY
John Bryan Pardoned Out Of
Walla Walla.
HIS COMPANION STILL THERE,
They Served Five Years for Robbery
Tie Real Criminals Confess
Their Crime.

After serving aEs years n ne pen
Tertiary a. WsAz y ala. JD1a BrYa1
s0w walks fns stress u EszlEss = free
Ran Along wiEA 5oan MA1sr. he vas
esnvIetsa IL isss % ro55zZg Cyrus CoEton.
q Stuck fsruer. z8s received sentence
O ten years n fas STATE prss8n- Tzs
eorw1e14on was secured - " -. Fsrtoa.
scttng yv0ssezting attorney FER King
county. and Eas TIE result O. siu1ase
pure circgrnstantfzI evl2enes, rte wg.-
TsaEes for the prosecution Aetas Cotton
himself and Doug. Philips. the latter q
whom kosE little az the case After the
gssn had ssryss their I've years the fat
developed that tao other inmates % the
seAiEsatsaTy were tns actual -r5rn.rais.
ard fnat Bryan ard Miller were ialo-
cent Upon tbls showing. Brysn's friends
took hold o. ne case. petition for par
don was signed 55Y &r. Featon. and
few days ago Bryan gas par10ne1 ~
Coy. AIcf5Fsw.
One % those r1ost active 81 securing
Eryar's release Vas Deputy Sheriff Pau
hemus. o. Pierce county. wfo wrote 70
Bryan saying ns EiGlaeE would not bs-
ijeve Cotton BaasT ozfa. and LaaE VIII
tam Thompson and Jerry DrIScolI. both
Of GUNNER. were willing % make sfYlda-
VT az 70 Coffon's unrells BslifE. Bryan
answered as follows:
Deer Sir. Yours q. hand ans I vas
siad - learn that there - one man with
backbone enough 70 state what re knows
Of fhst eonsgmmats old fraud. Ar. Cot
ton. he - the Identical man. and you
have stated mss identical character.
was not trying 70 prove that Mr.. Cotton
gamBIsd but that be has been ln gam
bling houses. know ths; be lied feiib-
erateiy and prerneditz teddy ia regard 70
ths whole ease. and wanted 70 irnpsarn
MS statement.
Il have petition before me governor
end have been recommended ~ ". r.
Fenton. ~ Portland Or On the basis %
what ne knew - fne time ~ me trial.
es ne vas prosecuting attorney 81 the
trial. also ~ John r. Miller. hls EDCrees-
o. ia Office. who came down here and In
westiEstef the case on the basis Of a
sworn affidavit made - two prisoners n
'hiK place. who did actually commit the
crime. but they contrsdlcted the vsgaries
o. ~. Cotton to many important partlc-
uiars.
Il have no means 20 pay for afidavits.
fuf II you feel disposed TO write TO the
governor Jon viii confer a great favor
on ne. II you know the names Of others
who know Mr. Cotton's private character
please inform nae.
= have heard that Cotton was arrested
some years ago for felony a. NswhAll.
Los Angeles county. Cal ] have been
here over FIVE years on the strength OF
RS unsupported testimony
John p. Miller. Who was at that time
Justice OF the peace, remembers the case
well as the men were brought before
him At their preliminary examination.
lie also received letter from Af. Paul
hsmus relative 20 the men. and thought
the case 9 proper one 70 be called - the
attention % GOV. MeSraR. The evidence
- the trial showed that Cotton had lost
his money but whether he had been
robbed Was another question as the evil
dsnce showed he had been out all night
visiting gambling houses and resorts %
questionable character.
Nothing has yet been done IN regard To
Fsryans companion II is thought his
case will also - referred 70 the govern
or with a recommendation for executive
clemsncy. Bryan T. now enjoying his
freedom ard IT, 20 be seen on the streets
almost every day.