The Green Forest tribune., 1903-08-15
Johnson Pardon PrediCament.

Johnson Pardon Predicament.
 Quite a deal is being published in the papers over the state just now concerning the pardon of Dr. Lee Johnson by Governor Davis some two weeks ago. Johnson formerly lived at Eureka Springs and it appears that he bore quite an unsavory reputation while there. He moved from there to Fort Smith when he was shortly afterwards indicted and pleaded guilty of a most henions crime and sent to the penitentiary.
 It appears from the published statements regarding this affair that the governor granted this pardon, ignoring the law requir- ing the petition to be published in some newspaper in the county in which the crime was committed.
 To make brief statement re- garding the facts connected with this pardon, c. A. Fuller, the present representative from this county, was employed by Johnson to make an effort to secure a pardon, and during the session of the last legislature Mir. Fuller made an unsuccessful effort. However, the law firm of James & Fuller of Eureka Springs kept working at the matter, and few days ago a letter was received from the governor by them en- closing the desired papers author izing Johnson's release. Mr. Fuller sent the papers to a friend of his at Little Rock with instruc- tions not to deliver the pardon until Johnson has executed a deed to his attorneys to his prop erty in Eureka Springs, the con- sideration being S225, their fee for securing the pardon. At the same time Mir. Fuller wrote his s'cIient," telling him also that the deed must be properly executed or the pardon papers would pe "returned." Johnson readily yielded, the deed was made, the pardon papers were delivered and Johnson liberated.
 Ofcourse, the publication of the transactions brought forth a stream of indignatio and severe criticism both from Fort Smith and Eureka Springs, where the facts relative to Johnson crime were well known and since then 6 great deal of space has been used in ''explaining." Mr. Full Ter asserts that Governor Davis knew nothing whatever of the fee in the case, and that Dr. Witt, the penitentiary physician prom lsed him last winter, while he was at Little Rock attending the leg lslature, that he would make a certificate that Johnson's health was in such condition that lie could not live out his sentence. Under the law such an affidavit would have secured @ pardon for Johnson. But, MT. Fuller says, before the prison doctor got around to it he (Fuller) had voted wrong" on some penitentiary matters and that for this reason Dr. Witt declined to make the certificate; hence Mr. Fuller was left to persue a different course. These statements Mr. Fuller has set forth in an affidavit now in the hands of Governor Davis.
 The story does not end here, however. Dr.. Witt is out in qualified statement saying that he never promised Representative Fuller any such thing as he asserts That he could not have truthfully made at any time such a certificate regarding Johnson's health since he has been in prison, that the prisoner left the peni- tentiary in good health, consider ing his age, and that the state- nents sworn to by Mir. Fuller relative to such a promise on his part is utterly devoid of truth.
 The facts remain, however,