The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-10-25
HE FORGED A PARDON
HOW swlNDLER DENT CAVE a LIFE
CONVICT FREEDOM.

Attorneys for William j Dent. who
Is serving a life term 10 the Texas
State Penitenuary, have lost their ap-
peal 70 the Court Of Criminal Appeals
and announce their determination 70
take the ease 70 the United States Su-
preme Court His attorneys contend
that he Is enduring cruel and unusual
punishment for an act which is COW
cred by no law in the Texas code.
Dent Is a swindler of'nafional fame
He has left a train Of forgeries from
the Canadian border 10 Mexico But
IT Is for none of these oncnses that De
is IN prison. He forged q pardon D
ter for a friend and former partner.
He fooled a Governor. a Secretary Of
State. an Atorney-General and the
warden Of a penitentiafy He won 10
his plot and discounted every move Of
the officials. But one trhing detail
was overlooked that led TO his capture.
lie, bought a typewriter, without pay
ing for H. 10 assist him ia his forgery.
but did not set new-style machine
instead Of an old style. The letters
were slightly different and that is why
Dents plot was exposed.
DENTS partner. for whose liberty he
plotted was George Isaacs. a country
store keeper, who killed Sheriff Nc
Ghee. OF Hemphll County. Texas.
isaacs WIS sent 20 the Texas State
Penitentary for life ia 1898 Isaac's
partner, W J. Dent went TO the same
penitentiary IN 1895 for forgery.
DENTS term was five years lie was
discharged from the penitentlary. in
which he had been an exemplary pris-
oner, in August 1899
one month later. a man who said
his name was jackson walked into the
Governors oiiice in Austin, Tex. and
asked for particulars concerning the
application for the pardon Of one
Clark, sentenced for hOrse-stealing.
The clerk told Jackson an pardon pa
pers were kept IN the office Of the Sec
retary OF State Jackson went there
and WIS shown the pardon file He
studied them long and earnestly, went
out 70 luncheon. eame back and spent
the afternoon ia the Office. He was
courteous and thanked the clerks pro
fusely.
Three weeks later he came into the
Office again and recalled the circum-
stances Of his former visit lie pro-
duced several papers said be wanted
TO send them 10 the warden of the
penitentlary as bearing on the case Of
horse-stealer CLARK. and asked for an
official envelope 20 forward them in
The clerk gave him the envelope. and
after more compliments and thanks
Jackson left
Next morning the warden Of the
poniteniiary received a fun and free
pardon Tor George lsaacs. sentenced
for life FOR killing sheriff McGhee The
signature OF the Governor and the
other State officials were genuine. The
impress Of the great seal was authen-
tic. The pardon was Ia correct form
and Of a regular pardon blank. There
was "a neatly typewritten summary OF !
the reasons why isaacs had been par.
doned. Everything was SO correct, !
that lsaacs was called 70 |
the warden's office. told OF his good |
fortune and set free
The warden sent tbe usual acknowl. |
adgement % the receipt 20 the Gov |
ernor. In due course tie report OF the |
warden 20 the Governor was made. In |
Il the pardon OF George Isaacs was
The Governor scratched |
bis head He could not remember
pardoning Isaacs he called up the /
Secretary OF State. That official knew /
nothing about g. Then he sent for
he warden. He came aud brought /
he pardon with him. IN his hurry 1
Isaacs had LEFT Il behind The docu-
nent was apparently genuine ia every
ietaiL The State officials examined It
with p iaicroscope. but could dnd no
laws. fhey were dumbfounded
"Why did you not send an acknowl-
ldgement Of thisf7 demanded the Gov
.rnor. fercely
Il did" replied The wardor Il sent
{ on the next morning
The officials OF the State Of Texas
at around in blank amazement Then
J clerk saw a discrepancy between
wo lines of typewriting. a typewrit-
ng expert said two different machines
lad been used That made it clear
hat the document was q forgery.
Large rewards were offered for
lent and Jackson. No clew was OBJ
aimed Finally. after a year Of search.
letter came from Phoenix. Ariz..
rom a woman who signed herself
frs. Gray. asking II Jackson would
e pardoned for his part in the pardon
orgery If Isaacs were surrendered.
he Governor sent an evasive reply
nd a detective The detective called
"a Mr. Gray. He made the astound-
lg discovery that Gray was Dent
be former convict.
Dent discussed the pardon forgery
nth the detective. said Dent was
-orking Tor him and asked what could
e done. The detective said be would
with the Governor. Next
iorning as be was on his way to see
ray, OF Dent. he met that worthy on
be street. valiso in hand. Dent was
rrested and brought back to Austin.
hen the story came out
When Dent was in prison bis be-
avior was admirable. and he was
lade a "trusty." 9ne day a pardon
lmo for a prisoner named walker