The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1899-05-27
--,,or t,oLEMAN's STATEMENT

uDGE ODLEMAN's siA hs'sNi l.
Tho Governor has never yet de-
Ia : :" tbat he violated the eonstitu-
!lnn NV" nv promising before conyie-
in uoa ~ - pardon lvo Miller. We
uoI tber. w however, from the public
gao" oss tbat he indicates that he
ppoold deny it, if the charge was
WI WI nv the attorney who claimed
i,'' ~ be r6c recipient Of the prom Use.
Vow y ,he Democrat has no per
Inn aU knowledge of the lyo Miller
So ~atter and has heard no state
i nSnt direct from the lawyer in
n"estion, but in order TO reduce
tbe pIeadings to IL proper issue, as
i Il were. we here state, on the au-
ibority Of one of the best known
and most reputable citizens of the
State,
THAT THE PROMISE WAS MADE.
Jndge Coleman, of Greenwood,
has reduced to waiting lucid
statement of the entire transaction.
The gentlemen above mentioned
heard him read it, and the state
ment is substantially as follows,
to wit:
Judge Coleman was retained by
Iyo Miller. He went to jackson
to see the Governor. They had a
conference. The lawyer stated to
tbe Executive that he would be
able to clear Miller at the next
term of the court, but was anxious
that he should not lay in Jail dur
inc the interval, and asked the
Governor, in the event Miller on
tered a plea of guilty, whether
pardon would be granted Nc
taurin replied that he could make
no specific promise on the subject.
Such promise, he saidy was in
violation of the constitution, but
that Judge Coleman might under
stand, without promise what he
would do in a case of that kind.
The lawyer was wary. He de-
clined to take any action without
aspecife and positive promise of
pardon. That promise was given.
1t was given then and there. There
was only one condition, that Iyo |
Miller should not demand the ten |
dollars and suit of clothes that the
law gives to q released convict. To
this the Judge agreed and the
Governor suggested that in order
to save time, Ivo Miller should
publish his petition Immediately,
the signatures to be added after
wards. Judge Coleman acted on
the promise. He returned to
Greenwood, a ples of guilty was
entered for his client and the pc
titlon was promptly published
TWAS then forwarded to jackson.
He waited long, but confident of
the result. No response came.
At last, he made a second visit to
the State Capital, and demanded
Of Governor McLaurin the pardon
already promised AT first the
Governor denied the promise, but
withdrew the denial, and confess
ed that he had made it, saying,
however, that Coleman had no
right to tell it and by so doing had
injured him, and declined to fulfill
it A spirited scene followed.
Finally the promise was again
made, the Governor asking though
for further time, so that he might
placate the Mcdonald following.
Additional time was granted with
assurance that the pardon would
follow. Finally it 'came-not as
promised, but coupled with the
remarkable and disgraceful pro-
vision that Iyo Miller should be
banished from the State. Utterly
indignant at this unexpected con-
clusion of affairs, Judge Coleman
has made a written statement OF
the entire transaction, and we un-
derstand shows it to all those who
have any curiosity on the subject;
It is perhaps unnecessary to add
that Judge Coleman would not
make a misstatement. He is that
kind of u man who is careful OF
what he says, but always ready to
back it.-Bolivar Democrat.