Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-09-16
HE FORGED A PARDON
HOW SWlNDLER DENT GAVE A L'eE
CONVICT FREEDOM.

Attorneys for William J. Dent, who
Is serving a life term in the Texas
State Penitentiary, have lost their ap
peal to the Court of Criminal Appeals
and announce their determination to
take the case to the United States Su.
preme Court. His attorneys contend
that he is enduring cruel and unusual
punishment for an act which is GOV.
cred by no law in the Texas code.
Dent is q swindler of national fame
He has left train Of forgeries from
the Canadian border to Mexico But
1t Is for none of these offenses that he
Is in prison. He forged a pardon l, D.
ter for a friend and former partner.
He fooled q Governor. Secretary of
State, an Attorney General and the
warden of penitentiary. He won in
his plot and discounted every move of
the officials. But one trihing detail
was overlooked that led to his capture.
He bought typewriter, without pay
ing for it, to assist him in his forgery,
but did not get a new-style machine
instead of an old style. The letters
Dents plot was exposed.
Dents partner, for whose liberty he
plotted, was George Isaacs, q country
store keeper, who killed Sheriff Nc
Ghee, OF Hemphill County, Texas.
Isaacs was sent to the Texas State
Penitentiary for life in $685. Isaac's
partner, w. J. Dent, went to the same
penitentiary in 1895 for forgery.
Dents term was five years. He was
discharged from the penitentiary, in
which he had been an exemplary pris-
oner, in August, 1890.
One month later, man who said
his name was Jackson walked into the
Governors office in Austin, Tex, and
asked for particulars concerning the
application for the pardon of one
Clark, sentenced for horse-stealing.
The clerk told Jackson all pardon pa
pers were kept in the Office of the Sec
retary of State. Jackson went there
and was shown the pardon file. He
studied them long and earnestly, went
out to luncheon, came back and spent
the afternoon in 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. He pro-
duced several papers, said he wanted
to send them to the warden of the
penitentiary as bearing on the case of
horse-stealer Clark, and asked for an
official envelope to forward them in.
The clerk gave him the envelope, and
after more compliments and thanks
Jackson left:
Next morning the warden Of the
penitentiary received a full and free
pardon for George 1saacs, sentenced
for life fer 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 in correct form
and Of regular pardon blank. There
was neatly typewriter summary of
the reasons why Isaacs had been par
doned. Everything was SO correct,
apparently, that Isaacs was called to
fortune and set free.
The warden sent the usual acknowl-
edgement Of the receipt to the Gov
ernor. In due course the report of the
warden to the Governor was made. In
it the pardon Of George Isaacs was
mentioned. The Governor scratched
his head. He could not remember
pardoning Isaacs. He called up the
Secretary of State. That official knew
nothing about it. Then he sent for
the warden. He came and brought
the pardon with him. In his hurry
Isaacs had left it behind. The docu-
ment was apparently genuine in every
detail. The State officials examined it
with a microscope, but could find no
flaws. They were dumbfounded.
"Why did you not send an acknowl-
edgement of this?" demanded the Gov
ernor, fiercely.
II did," replied the warden. 81 sent
it on the next morning"
The officials of the State of Texas
sat around in blank amazement. Then
a clerk saw a discrepancy between
two lines of typewriting. A typewrit-
ing expert said two different machines
had been used. That made it clear
that the document was a forgery.
Large rewards were offered for
Dent and Jackson. No clew was OBJ
tained. Finally, after year of search,
letter came from Phoenix, Ariz..
from woman who signed herself
Mrs. Gray, asking if Jackson would
be pardoned for his part in the pardon
forgery If Isaacs were surrendered.
The Governor sent an evasive reply
and detective. The detective called
on Mr.. Gray. He made the astound
ing discovery that Gray was Dent,
the former convict.
Dent discussed the pardon forgery
with the detective, said Dent was
working for him and asked what could
be done. The detective said he would
communicate with the Governor. Next
morning as he was on his way to see
Gray, or Dent, he met that worthy on
the street, valise in hand. Dent was