The San Francisco call., 1897-02-19
nor TO BE BRiBED.
The Governor of Washington Springs a
Sensation in the Case of Henry
Crdemec

SEATTLE, WASH, Feb. 1s.-Governor
Rogers sprung sensation to-day by CIV
ing out correspondence tending to show
that o. +. Wegener, the alleged friend of
Henry Craemer, the murderer who is
doomed to be hanged in a few weeks has
been raising thousands of dollars in the
East, presumably for the purpose of brib-
ing Rogers to grant CIaemer pardon.
Wegener has for three years past been
taxing an interest in Craemer's behalf.
He worked the Germans of California into
lever of excitement by telling them
through the papers and by private corre-
spondence that Craemer is innocent and
that only one thing could save him
money. 1t is claimed he raised several
thousand at the time. Similar letters
were sent TO Germans in other parts of the
United States.
That was before Governor Rogers took
office. Once again Wegener has flooded
the country with circulars asking the Ger.
man citizens ior money wherewith TO save
the neck of Craemer, who has been repre-
sented as an innocent man but the victim
of malice and prejudice and man who is
being politically held in jeopardy by Of
tice- holding bandits, to be released for
ransom. Wegener has charged the Supe-
rior Court Judges ana the Supreme Court
Judges with corruption, and now he i'm
Plicates the Governor of the State.
1t appears that Wegener has secured
$1,000 from the State of Texas alone and is
asking for more money, declaring that If
lots" of money is imm mediately sent the
Governor can be persuaded SO pardon the
condemned man; but above all, more
money" is absolutely needed. Wegener
has all along claimed that he can prove
Craemer's innocence, because a certain
Jack Quincy" if he could be produced,
would swear tnat Craemer was in Tacoma
on the day of the murder, and thus estab-
llsh an allbi.
In the East Wegener has been telling
d fferent story. He claims the ''fanati-
cism" OF the people OF Seattle about cor
rupt public officials is responsible for
Craemer's position, ana he points out that
the condemned man can only be saved by
Germans throughout The country sending
III al the money that can be spared. To
such ends has Wegener pressed his claims
that certain Germans of the Middle States
have begun 10 doubt his story, and one of
them, William Webber, editor of the
Krieger Zeltung, published at BelIeville,
Ill, has written to Governor Rogers con-
corning Wegener and his methods. Gov
ernor Rogers gave out the letter to-day,
which read In part as follows:
My own position is strictly neutral.
do not wish 10 harm an innocent man.
nor do l desire 10 countenance sxlndle
and immoderate attacks upon the Justice
of our courts"
Governor Rogers private secretary has
written Wegener a letter, in which he
says:
Governor Rogers directs me to inform
you that he is in receipt of communica-
ton from William Webber editor of
German paper published at Belleville. Ill,
saying that you had written appeals to the
German papers throughout the United
States for funds to be used in securing the
pardon of Mr.. Craemer with the implica-
ton that these funds are to lie applied in
corrupt manner. The Governor desires
to say that II you have given out such an
impression you have done him great in
justice. 1t is not the Governors il ten ton
to interfere in any case where applica ton
for pardon does not prove conclusively
that the person convicted was really inno-
cent of The crime charged against him.
The evidence III Mr. Craemer'. ca Sc i. very
damaging to him. The Governor has said
EN- phatically that he will not pardon Mr.,
CIaemer. He now reiterates it."