The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-23

save way aud finally, the day aater he
received his pardon and had been dis
cBaiged, he came cack to the penlten-
,iary offices, ostensibly to bid goodby
10 oil his acquaintances there, and then
unfortunately yielded to his Emporium
tiles, firmly believing that he was a true
man and had not only told me the truth
about lsaacs, but would do all that he
had promised to do for ma aud mine;
gave him the promise he sought and
regret TO say he knew me we'll enough
10 know tina. the promise ONE made
would most probably keep it, which
did in the following manner: The pardon
on which Isaacs was released came 70 the
office OF Superintendent Rice on the
morning OF the 9th or 2Sth OF September;
am not positive as to which date, and
as Mr.. Rice was at the time absent from
the State il was placed with
other mail on the desk used by Chief
Clerk Corree, where 1t remained until he
came in from breakfast and opened u;
did not know IL was the isaacs matter
until after It was opened, as had not
been, informed as TO the date when It
might be expected; but in CHANGING over
tue envelopes as they lay on the desx.
In company with convict c. c. Taylor.
who worked in the office with me,
remarked the very strange fact that II
was postmarked as having bsen mailed
al Austin at a, m. and called Taylor's
attention to the fact. the envelope was
opened in due course by Ca.pain Corree.
and after being examined by him, passed
to my desk, as 1t had always been part OF
my duly 10 prepare the supplementary
papers which must accompany pardons to
the place from which the convict is 10
be discharged | accordingly made out all
the papers as usual, including the usual
receipt to your excellency; after these
papers were prepared they were pass d
to Captain Corree to be signed after
which / took press copy OF them and
then placed the pardon, discharge and
letter of transmittal in an envelope d.
rected to Hon w, NJ. Lacy at Rusk, and
the receipt in an envelope addressed to
Hon. II. a. Cravens, private secretary,
Austin, Texas; these envelopes / placed
upon Captain Corree's desk az usual to tie
mailed; he then stamped them and threw
them into an open mail box where IL
is the custom for outgoirg mail to remain
until called for by the mail carrier; from
this box / Subsequently distracted the
envelope containing the receipt, after
much debating with myself as to whether
should keep my promise 70 Brown or
rot, and wish 10 add, that although
well enough aware that the act was
legally and morally wrong, yet be-
. -
righteous action and was never unde-
ceived in this view until after | learned
the real particulars of Isaacs' crime and
conviction. Well, have attempted TO
set the matter right which | thought was
wrong, but over which ! had no right to
feel that l had any jurisdiction and 1t
seems that ] have not only got myself
into much difficulty through my over
confidence. but have also done the sta e
! al large a grievous wrong. | regret It
sincerely and will willingly bear the con-
sequences of my act without ILL feeling
towards anyone save the man who 50
| basely worked upon my sympathy or cred
Utility; do, however, ask one hoon. which
trust your excellency will grant M ji
1t be possible: that is that my innocent
wife and children may not be made 10
| endure greater suffering than she has
already known by knowledge OF my
trouble and disgrace IN this matter being
permitted to reach her. II Is my earnest
desire, sir, TO throw all the light possible
en- the matter, and among other things
Which your agent has this day asked me,
was for any information l may have as
to the selection OF the number to be us
on the pardon and my reply is that / know
absolutely nothing as TO how this pa III ~
lar number came 10 be selected, as
assured Brown before he left hee that
that was a point on which | should be
wholly unable to help him; neither do
know whether or not he secured the par
don envelope In which the document was
mailed from Austin from tae governors
ofHce or had similar ones printed from
the sample which he carried with him
from here
! think Of nothing else to add to this
statement which will serve to further en-
Tighten your excellency; l will therefore
close, acknowledging my own guilt and
unworthiness and feeling that so far as /
am personally concerned ] have forfeited
all right to ask for mercy Respectfully
submitted by your humble servant,
Fred Y. Graham.