La Junta tribune., 1908-12-26
cooo,no CASE UP TO sucrrFL
Committee for ospositors Of wrseksdl
Bank Make Strong Plea
Against q Pardon.

Governor Buchel last Tuesday and
made vigorous protest against the
alleged contemplated pardoning OF
and sentenced TO the penitentiary for
"A term OF not less than eight nor
more than ten years. Among those
in attendance at the Conference were
Paul NJ North. II. !. Maxwell, l.. II.
FenIason. J. r. McKelyey. W. J.
Brown, u. G. Wilson, Receiver G. ~.
Hall. and Sheriff Potter s. Harrison.
White. who prosecuted Godding, and
a. VI. Stevenson. who defended him,
also attended the conference.
Mr. Stevenson advocated executive
clemency. speaking. he stated, not
as counsel. but as a friend OF the
convicted banker, basing his appeal
upon the alleged unfair trial OF Gold
ing because OF freuqent demonstFa-
tons in the court room against the
prisoner.
Protests against extending clemcn
cy To Godding were also presented
70 the governor from the ministerial
alliance of Rocky Ford, the official
board of the Methodist church there,
and from the Republican central com
m,ttee of Otero county.
Mr. North said: ''It was found
that three people had been allowed
to borrow from the State bank 1918,
900. and on security that could not
brils $4,000. making 100000 loaned
ol nothing. Mr.. Godding and his
family had borrowed 100000: DIR.
w. f. Fenton, sl72.0oo. and A. w.
.5helton, s47. 900, more than half the
assets OF the bank. Mr.. Godding and
his family owned 10 per cent OF the
banks stock and had absolute control
and charge. His cashier, E. j. Smith.
without any security. Some OF these
Ioans had been made severeal years
Lefore and that the condition OF the
ank was not the result of the pan
ic but systematic series OF dis
honest loans
After the conference Gov, Buchel
said:
AT the hearing this morning al
very gratifying fact was brought out,
namely, that si6i 900 have been col
.ected: that means that approximate
l. one-third of the liabilities have
been satisfied or will soon be salts
I Ell. To speak more exactly, 1900
have been paid on the liabilities and
tle receiver now has $4,000 on hand.
So the talk about 81. per cent, 10
per cent or 10 per cent as being the
limit of what might be expected.
seems scarcely sincere. In view of
the fact that about one-third of the
liabilities have now been taken care
Of The governor further expressed
great satisfaction with the good re-
suits secured by Receiver Hall.
To the committee. Gov. Buchtel eN-
pressed surprise that certain discour-
teous remarks had been permitted to
be- made about him at the recent meet
ing OF the banks depositors in Rocky
Ford. Gov. Buchtel had In his pos
session a shorthand report OF the
meeting and surprised the committee
by informing them of nearly all that
was said at the depositors' meeting.
Sheriff Potter returned home from
Denver Wednesday. where he had beer
In attendance at the conference,
but seems to be In doubt as to what
Governor Buchtel intends to do In the
Godding case. He reports having
To-. ,i,k
bers OF the depositors' committee in
tne lobby of the Albany Hotel, aud
among those present was Timothy
C'Connor. secretary of state, and a
reporter for one OF the daily news
papers. The reporter questioned one
OF the committee and asked:
do you think the governor will
pardon Godding on Christmas day."
whereupon Mr.. o'Connor interposed
with the query to the reporter,
You mean. don't you. Do you
think Governor Buchtel has already
pardoned Godding?"
Sheriff Potter became somewhat
alarmed at this rather pertinent in
quiry and Immediately telephoned to
Canon City to ascertain IL there was
any knowledge there of pardon
having been issued to Goddiug. IL a
pardon had been issued the secrtary
of state would of course know of il
The reply from the penitentiary was
TO the effect that nothing was known
there of pardon having been issued.
Sheriff Potter felt somewhat reliev-
ed. as he has a warrant in his pocket
for the arrest OF Godding on another