The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-23
That FORGED PARDON.
n, Altered instrument Has Been Turned
Over to The Governor.
r IS ACCOMPANIED BY A CONFESSION
.,,.,c,, TELLS How the Trick Was
r,,ncd-Mnn Who Aided In Doing
the work owns Up.

Austin, Texas, January 22.-The follow
,s n literal copy of the pardon procla-
~, on which George Isaacs secured
a. discharge from the penitenisry 1t
ho,u turred over to the governor by
&c plemmons. who was Isaacs attor-
IL and was delivered to him BY Sam
,..aos brother OF George. 1t shows on
,.,s that 1t is a genuine pardon issued
come convict in the early Fart of the
trom whom 1t was subsequently OBJ
.,aaa and altered for use in Isaacs' case.
IT. name Of the original grantee was
..,.oa and Isaacs' name substituted the
rnmber and date were altered and the
hoay of the proclamation was changed and
.aaad IN for the occasion. Altogether it
"A very fair piece of work Here is the
way 1t reads now
No. 5i25.
M ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS
etia1J, COME: Whereas at the November
Nm, A D.. 1896. of the District Court OF
,Isrdeman county. Texas, George lsaacs
mss convicted of the offense of murder
md his punishment assessed at conhne-
msnt in the State Penitentiary for life
,ra whereas the said murder consisted in
~ being charged as an accessory to the
Commission OF the crime of murder and
,bereas Jim Harboit and Joe Blake, who
were indicted as principals in the COM
mission OF said crime OF murder, were both
,red therefor aud acquitted and whereas
,be person who was killed being at the
lime Of his death Sheriff of Hemphill coun-
n made the statement on his death bed
mai the aforesaid George lsaacs was ino-
cen OF any participation in his murder or
unlawful knowledge thereof and whereas
Al meeting of the Sheriffs' association
q tho state of Texas a resolution was
mssed by said Association declaring It's
belief in his inrolt:. e of said crime Of
murder and instructing the Secretary OF
said Association to transmit copy thereof
10 the Governor of the State of Texas and
on behalf Of said Association to ask for his
pardon and whereas the Wells Fargo EX-
fress Company had large pecgniary in
terest in his conviction and 1t has been
satisfactorily and clearly proven that said
Company through its agents was extreme
ly active in secure the same and where
as his conviction was secured wholly upon
crcumstantia evidence and there is grave
doubt as to his guilt and whereas the
WIDOW Oh Sblu ueCtGStu nus always tA-
pressed a strong belief in his innocence
and has requested his pardon and whereas
the District Attorney and Sheriff OF Hemp
4 bill county further state that IL is abso-
lutely necessary to have him pardoned, as
the real perpetrators OF the crime have
been apprehended and without the testi.
mony OF the said George lsaacs, it will be
impossible TO go into trial of the cases
new pending against them in the District
Court Of Hemphill county and whereas his
pardon has been requested by many re-
pntshle citizens of Hardeman and Hemp
hill Counties and has been recommended
by the Judge before whom he was tried,
by the District Attorney, by all members
81 the jury which tried him and by all
The county officers of Hardeman and
Hemphill Counties and whereas the Board
Of Pardons have: unanimously recommend
ed the same.
NOW THEREFORE. l, Joseph d. Say
ers, Governor of Texas do, by virtue of
,he authority vested In me by the Const-
lution and laws of this State, hereby, for
me reasons specified, now on file in the
ofice OF Secretary of State,
Grant the above named convict a full
pardon and restore him to full citizenship
and the right of suffrage. and his com
potency to testify in courts of Justice
in TESTIMONY WHEREOF. I. have
neFeuhto signed my name and caused the
seai OF state to be hereon impressed, at
.ne city Of Austin. this Goth day of Sep
'ember, A. D., 1899.
Joseph D.'Sayers.
Governor Of Texas.
BY the Governor:
D. H. Hardy,
i Secretary of State.
The following Is copv of confession
made by one of the parties to the trans
action through which Isaacs was enabled
70 escape. 1t furnished the first authentic
h'orination Of how the scheme was
worked:
ernor.
huntsville, Texas, November l4.--Sfr:
scr me purpose of righting so far as I
usy inc wrong ! have myself done and OF
,emoVlng all possible chance of suspicion
huh innocent persons, l beg TO submit
hewltn full and complete account Of
~ Wv facts connected with the recent escape
~ que George lsaacs from the Texas pen
"lary' so far as they are known to
ins, al the same time begging your excel
my ay 70 believe that ] most sincerely and
,htiy regret the pars | have played
n-,ash and would be only too glad If |
snt do anything toward correcting my
oHn fault and error,
Nst ! wish to state that although
,n s cohnned as a prisoner at Rusk psni-
snuary for about two and one half
r"ahs during the past year, yet never
taH eS toe man Isaacs or even saw him SO
lar as / know.
tn ne 10th Gay OF last February | was
s,uslerred to Huntsville, where | have
cos Ss remained occupying the position of
~ tusiet clerk or bookkeeper In the Office
superintendent ]. s. Rice. At the
time that / was transferred one j..
s,n Drown, whose correct name | have
tts se learned is w. j. Dent. was also
rsterred from Rusk TO Huntsville,
sanas ne remained until recently PAL :
NJ oy your exeellency. At the time
on., VT transfer | was but slightly ac-
tsea with Brown. but during our
ies1ner ne suggested to me that some
Of o,s might be aroused on the part
Of 49,, eonvicts at Huntsville by reason
roo yur being brought from Rusk to MI
fnan positions there, which some OF the
as .ssi,ready there could perhaps fill quite
fora ,lslaciorily as we, and that there
LOT lhe sake OF our mutual protec-
H0STErTFbs !, -, 7. !,