The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-05-08
COY. FRAZIER
REFUSES TO ACT.
Says He Has No jurisdiction Re-
gardIng the Charges of George
T. Fry, the Memphis Newspaper
Man, of Corruption in the Recent
Legislature.

Nashville, Tenn, May 2.-Concern-
ing the letter of George 7. Fry, cores
pendent of the Memphis Morning
News, giving him list of witnesses
who could testify as to the alleged
corruption In the recent legislature,
Gov Frazier said last night:
Il cannot understand why Mr.. Fry
should have addressed me In regard to
this matter. l have no jurisdiction in
such case and cannot, of course, take
cognizance of Mr.. Fry's letter. IL
these charges had Deen, brought before
the adjournment of the Legislature
that body could. If specific charges
were made, have expelled any member
found guilty, but even had this been
the case, would have no jurisdiction.
1T occurs to me that the proper
course for Mr.. Fry to pursue. If he
knows of any corruption, would be to
go before the grand jury and tell what
he knows. The courts are open to him
and to the courts he should go In a
case like this.
The list of witnesses given to the
governor by Mr.. Fry is composed of
the following names:
f nj. Thompson, jew Louie" a
notorious woman of Nashville, =.
Watkins, Eugene Roberts, John P.
Murphy, G. y. M. Greer, A. K. Han
cock, G. 2. Wofford, Jesse E. Shlpway,
John w. Schorr, - Cartwright, Wm.
Potter, Memphis Manager Standard
OIL Go. Geo. L. Chighlzola, Thos. b.
Collier, James J. Bean, James ).
White, John Bell Keeble, Robert M.
Gates, E. B. Wilson. James s. War
rem. Nancy Schwab, j. Ell. Acklen.
- White, Hugh Petit Virgil Ran
dolph, S. M. Williamson, T. B. Cald-
well, s. Rocester, Henry s. Brown.
Charles Ref, John Overton, Hugh Fl.
HUM, Jesse Edgington, Jack Daniels,
John II. Watkins, Frauk Mcconnell,
Claude Waller, ]. L. Pitts, w. l..
Granbery, Senator Hancock, Senator
Kimbrough, Senator Carutners. Sena-
tor Cox, Senator Crowley, Senator
Norfieet. Senator White.
Following IS the letter written to
the Governor by Mr.. Fry
Memphis Tenn, April 30, 1908.
Honorable James B. Frazier. Governor
of Tennessee, Nashville, Tenn: MY
Dear Sir Frequent references to an ar
t1cle written by myself for the columns
of the Memphis Morning News, which
appeared in print Sunday. April ~.
and which IN a general way referred
to certain matters In connection with
the recent session of the Legislature,
have brought out great number OF
utterances from both the press ana
indi viduals as to the character or 1acts
upon which such articles was based.
You will recognize the fact that L
am neither a policeman, nor grand
Jury, and am not charged with the
execution of the law in any county
in Tennessee, and that, so far as my
personal duties in the premises are
concerned, they ended with the dis,
charge OF what duty has appeared
as properly due my paper However.
in order to get the facts properly
before the public, | have the honor to
submit the attached list of witnesses,
who reside within the jurisdiction OF
this State, and who may appear before
either the regular or special grand
Jury in Davidson County, and to add
that, in event this lisr, together with
one which will be later furnished. is
summoned, that |, with an attorney
OF my selection, De allowed to act as
assistants to the Attorney General OF
that court Such services on the part
of myself and my attorney Will not
cost the State cent, and in this
matter light may be thrown upon a
subject now somewhat tangled.
know of but one effective way to act
in matters of this kind, and that, to
forclble utterance, IL
act.
Il have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
fS,gned) tGEO. T. FRY.