The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-23
CARD FROM MIR. B w. WALKER.
He Makes a Detailed Statement About
 the Jacobi Pardon Papers.
Montgomery, 4


 Editor The Advertiser:
 In reply to the statement of MT. J. k. Jackson, private secretary to the Gov ernor, in which he said that had called at the right place in the Governors office for the papers, they would have been cheerfully given me. This state ment would go to impress the public | mind that had gone to some other of fee for the papers other than that of the Governors office. I now beg to reiterate what I said in my speech at Tuskegee. I said. and l most emphati cally say now that l went twice to the office of the Governor, and In the office occupied by his private secretary, was introduced to one of the clerks in that office, a young lady, and in the pres ence of two gentlemen, requested the young lady to show me the papers in the Jacobi case. The young lady turned to q case few feet from where we were standing and took out of that case a file, or jacket. upon the back of which was recorded The Jacobi Papers" On the inside of that file there was no rec ord of the case nor papers of any kind. saw that file or jacket twice taken out of that same case. and on both occa- sions there was no matter of record m that file. A few days before I opened my canvass for Congress, I again went to the Capitol, and on this occasion the Governor and his private secretary were present, which was not the case on my former visits. The Governor re- ceived me in a very cordial manner. told the Governor of my visits twice before that to see the pardon papers in the Jacobi case; that there was contention as to the signature of MT Hef1in to that pardon, and I told the Governor that on my former visits I had only been able to find the case, which was empty both times. The Governor, without the least hesitation directed one of the clerks in his office to bring the papers in the Jacobi case. The clerk brought the papers from an- ether case. which was in the private office of the Governor. I noticed at once that the jacket on file, which I had twice before seen empty In the case in the other room occupied by the pris vate secretary, was with the papers which were handed me in the presence of the Governor. as also was the papers recommending the pardon of Jacobi, and on that recommendation for the pardon of Jacobi the name of J. Thomas Hefin appears IS the second signed. I will further state that when the young lady took the file from the case and it proved the papers were missing from the file. I asked the question: if that was the case In which the pardon pa- pers were kept. She replied that 1t was, but that another clerk had moro direct charge ever that special work than she did. and that he was not there at the Capit6l. This conversation oc- cured in the presence of two gentle men. one of whom introduced me to the young lady clerk. I have in no way attempted to connect the Governor or his private secretary with the absence of those papers from that file, for I have not seen the slightest thing 10 lead me to that idea. In some of my speeches in my district have said the Governor could not have been in the least interested. but I left 1t for the people of my district to say who was the interested party
 I make this statement and stand re- sponsible for it. and can prove by two disinterested gentlemen the facts to be as I have stated it. I am,
 Very respectfully,
 adv.- Benj. W. Walker.