The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-04-13
MOODY'S REMARKABLE
LETTER TO STEPHENS
W. B. johnson Sheds ST Some
Light on Grand Jury
Transactions
CBy walter schuliz)
special io Daily Leader

Special 70 Daily Leader
Washington. d. 9, M,eil i3.- High
personages are involved in the latest
chapter to the book OF scandal high
enough TO make the average reader
feel dizzy For when former Attorney
General Moody, until recently mem
her Of the presidents official family
IS quoted as having used the FOLLOW
ing language al tho Department o.
Justice on a certain and well known
occasion Il is time for The country to
open its ears aud listen. Gcntlemens
II was the duty OF the district altor-
ney TO advise the grand jury TO return
an indictment on the evidence they
had before them He has c0nscien-
tiously performed his duty and should
be commended b. eScfy body. ] viii
further say TO you ] do not approve
of this way OF disEosing criminal
eases and have SO advised but have
been oyerruled. This is moi the first
instance when similar actions hdye
been taken against my Judgment ana
my conclusion Is thst hoWcyc- iuno-
cent man may be- lie viii nev.e be
able TO convince the people of The
fact Of being discharged "a lhis HI.
Of o hearihg."
The above words are taken from a
remarkable letter just received by
Representative John II Steahens, Of
Texas. who openly charged IN tho
house that there was something "rot.
ten IN Dcntnars as far rs Tie de-
partment of justices relations With
conspiracy indictments against Gov
ernor ID VI. Johnston, OF the Chick
asaw nation, former Gov p S. Nose
ly, OF the saue nation andl the law
firm OF Mansfield, McMurray g. Cor
nish WAS concerned The letter ls
from the pen OF w. D. Johnson, of
Ardmose, and former United States
district attorney for the Southern dis
grict OF Indian Territory.
General Moodys woids are all the
more significant because Special As.
Eisiant Attorney General Charles ".
RUSSELL who had been detailed 60
make an Investigation had previously
recommended that the indictments be
dismissed because the evidence dill
did not warrant their existence and
that an apology be offered the de-
fendants publicly Throughout Mr..
Johnson's letter there may be found
an air OF pessimism. Evidently his
confidence jn human nature has been
destroyed by the so-called inYestiga-
tious into the now famous conspiracy
charges.
IL Mr. Moody has been quoted cor.
rectly IL would also seem high time
that the abuses of which he speaks
especially In criminal cases be
stopped. "The fact that the president
Is not a lawyer, let alone criminal
lawyer should De impressed upon the
chief executive in no uncertain way.
said a well known member of congress
in speaking OF the incident He de
plored the action OF the president IN
arrogating 70 himself legislative and
judicial functions Ia addition 10 his
own duties, and Thought a congres.
Hional Investigation into tho matter
referred TO by the former attorney
general would be just the thing,
That the accused rern attempted
90 intimidatc some OF the grand jurors
who afterwards returned the conspir
acy indictments against them is alsc
bVuuHht Out by the Johnson letter
Aseordipg 10 the letter Judge y M
Linsay and J. /. Simpson OF Gaines
vile, Texas, came TO Ardmore aud per
hVnally called upon some OF the grand
jurors and inserceded for McMurras
aud others. The fact that the ac
cused We're permitted tc appear be-
fore the graHd jarg, an unusual thing
20 be sure, to answer aud testify in
their own behalf is also referred 90
I Is said this has been seldom done ~
this country before or since and a
generally regarded as AN unheard u
courteat
jchnson's letter IN Record.
The Johnson letter, which viii ID