Bisbee daily review., 1905-11-19


 The following article from the Clifton Copper Era calls for the pub lication of other papers or file in the governors office, which would make it plain that when Judge Doan wrote his letters to Governor Brodie he was evidently deceived as to the char. acter of the persons he had inter viewed in Fl Paso regarding the Trimble case:
 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 before Judge Doan, and Lee N. Stratton was district attorney at the time, and prosecuted the case. That the people of Graham county may themselves judge as to the merits of the request for pardon, the Era prints these let ters in full, together with the cC.. ments of the Phoenix Enterprise.
 In this connection it must be ra- membered that the pardon was granted not because of the request of Judge Doan and Lee N. Stratton, but upon the presumption that the af1 davits furnished by the people living in Fl Paso were made by honorable and trustworthy citizens.
 It is only fair to Judge DOan to state that his letters were written before the characters of the Texas afflants had been investigated by District Attorney Rawlins and Sheriff 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 afiants, 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 fol which Trimble had been convicted the afiants in Texas knew nothing The tenor and effect of their affida wits was to destroy the character and reputation of the principal witness against Trimble, a mere child, and this they did effectually. Governor Brodie, however, would not grant the pardon without first investi gating the character of the affiants and as previously stated, this was done by District Attorney Rawlins and Sheriff Parks. Portions of MT Rawlins' report will also be found on the last page of this paper Afida- wits backing up the report were also hled with the governor from James R. Harper district attorney of Fl Paso, and J. M. Dwyer, a policeman of Fl Paso and a deputy sheriff for many years; from M. Clemmons, also an officer of Fl Paso, in which the characters of all the afiants were stripped of honor and respect In addition to these and the report of the district attorney and sheriff there were filed in the case afidavits of a similar nature from many of the most prominent citizens of this county whose names it is not necessary to mention at this time.
 As previously stated in the Era Governor Brodie positively refused tC grant the pardon. After his retire ment from office, and apparently without any additional evidence ol 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
 i~ ~eading Mir. Stratton's reuuest for the pardon it will be observed that he stated: "I am informed anC r-Aeune a great deal of the informa ton upon which base my opinion IS on file in the proper office. tc which l respectfully refer you" This of course, had reference to the Texas at1davits, which were made up prin cipally, according to the sworn testi mony Of a number of officers and citizens of Texas and Arizona, by a class of people whom said afiants 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 rse request of a 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.-Copp Era