The copper era., 1905-11-09

herewith submit these letters to the people of the complaining counties, and ask in justice to all concerned, that the responsibility be placed upon the men asking for the pardon, and judging from the evidence in the case, we believe Judge Doan was more than justified for asking tie pardon.
 The man was convicted upon the uncorroborated testimony of a bad girl, and today every one connected with the case knows that she swore falsely. The letters are herewith produced:
 JUDGE DoAN's LETTER.
 FL PAso, Texas, May IS, 1904 HoN..ALEx. O. ERODE, Phoenix, Arizona.
 DEAR GovERNoR:-Aft a personal interview with nearly all of the affi- ents, whose affidavits were presented to you last Saturday. I have satis- fled myself that the girl Lydia Sparks was in Fl Paso during March and April 1904; that she spent two or
 
 shelter; that she attended school about week with step-daughter of David Sparks, and that she had am- pie opportunity them, and at other times, to have made any complaint or statement, if she cared to. I find that her character and habits were not such as to commend her to any ones confidence. Her reputation for truth, and likewise for chastity, was very bad-you might say, the worst possible.
 I have talked with Mrs. Woods, who has lived in her present home about thirty years, and who rented to Walter Trimble, the rooms occu- pied by him, Betty Trimble and this girl, for about three weeks, in the spring of 1901. These rooms are directly opposite the Orndorff Hotel practically in the center of Fl Paso. Mrs. Woods, though a colored woman, is a woman of intelligence and character, and I consider her en- tirely credible and reliable.
 I have talked with Mrs. Shears, Mrs. Graham, Mrs. Turner, Mrs. Dave Sparks and MT. Downs, in their homes. They all tell me, practically, the facts as stated in their aff1davits. Their statements thoroughly impeach the testimony of Lydia, on which, unsupported. Walter Trimble was convicted.
 I have talked with MT. Olsehausen, the postmaster of Fl Paso, MT. Boone, the sheriff of this county, MT. Simmons, an undertaken, who was for fourteen years the sheriff of this county, with w. R. Baker, the ex-sheriff of Otero county, New Mex ico, and other reliable citizens of this place, including your friend Mitchell of the Rough Riders; the present foreman and assistant superintend- ent at the shelter; all of whom, knew Walter Trimble at the time he was foreman of the shelter near this place, and all speak of him as indus trious, law-abiding man, and consider him from thier acquaintance with him, incapable of having committed the crime with which he has been charged.
 My investigations here have led me to believe that the man never committed the offense of which he was convicted.
 My confidence in the testimony of the girl has been utterly destroyed think that the board would be iusti- fled in acting promptly in this case, and relieve Trimble from the further inhiction of an unmerited punish ment.
 I shall write Rawlins somewhat to this effect, and leave for him list of these parties, whom he can inter- view when he comes on Monday.
 Yours very truly,
 (Signed) FLETCHER M. DoAN.
 ANOTHER FROM DOAN.
 TOMBSTONE Ariz, August Il, 1904
 Hon. A. O. Brodie, governor of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona Dear find enclose letter from Mrs. R. L. D. Hayes, relative to the for pardon in the case of Walter Trimble, the papers in which are now with you. After visiting Fl Paso and Investigating this matter I wrote you at some length in regard to it and I presume that letter is on file with the papers