The copper era., 1905-11-09
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE
THAT THE PEOPLE MA Y
 JUDGE.

On the last page of this paper will be found two letters from Judge Doan and one from Lee N. Stratton, asking for the pardon of Walter Trimble, who was convicted by a jury of Graham county citizens for the crime of rape upon his step daughter. The case was tried be- fore Judge Doan and Lee N. Stratton was district attorney at that time, and prosecuted the case. That the people of Graham county may them selves judge as to the merits of the request for pardon, the ERA prints these letters in full, together with the comments of the Phoenix Enter prise.
 In this connection it must be re- membered that the pardon, was granted not because of the request of Judge Doan and Lee N. Stratton. but upon the presumption that the affi- davits furnished by people living in Fl Paso were made by honorable and trustworthy citizens.
 It is also only fair to Judge Doan to state that his letters were written before the characters of the Texas afiants had been investigated by District Attorney Rawlins and Sher- if Parks. Judge Doan, it seems, was in Fl Paso, and doubtless at the earn est solicitation of Mrs. Hayes, the sister of Walter Trimble, met the affiants, and without Investigating their characters, he believed that they were telling the truth, and was therefore of the opinion that an in- justice had been done Trimble.
 As to the evidence in the case for which Trimble had been convicted the affiants from Texas knew noth- ing. The tener and effect of their affidavits was to destroy the char acter and reputation of the princi- pal witness against Trimble, a mere child, and this they did most effectu- ally. Governor Brodie, however, would not grant the pardon without first investigating the character of affiants, and as previously stated this was done by District Attorney Raw lins and Sheriff Parks. Portions of MT. Rawlins report will also be found on the last page of this paper. Ali fdavits backing up the report were also fled with the governor from James R. Harper, district attorney of Fl Paso, and J. M. Dwyer, police man of Fl Paso, and deputy sher- if for many years, from M. Clem- mons, also an officer of Fl Paso, in which the characters of all the affi- ants were stripped of honor and re- spect. In addition to these, and the report of the district attorney and sheriff, there were filed in the case affidavits of a similar nature from many of the most prominent citizens of this county, whose names it IS not necessary to mention at the present time.
 As previously stated in the ERA Governor Brodie positively refused to grant the pardon. After his re- tirement from office, and apparently without any additional evidence or testimony in the case with the single exception of the letter of Lee N. Stratton, which was very, very weak, this pardon was granted. By care fully reading MT. StrattOn's request for the pardon it will be observed that he stated: "Am informed and presume a great deal of the informa- tion upon which I base my opinion is on file in the proper office, to which I respectfully refer you" This, of course, had reference to the Texas affidavits, which were made up prin- cipally, according to the sworn testi- mony of number of officers and citizens of Texas and Arizona, by a class of people whom said affiants would not believe under oath, and against several of whom charges of a sensational and serious nature had been made. Not one of the entire bunch was given a good reputation, and yet in spite of this and without the request of single member of the trial jury, this pardon was granted.
 The ERA has now given both sides of this matter, that the people may judge for themselves.