The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1909-09-23

he is, but he only certified to a state
ment of undisputed facts shown by his
records and the effort to impeach that
only shows to what depths this paper
will go to strengthen its false assump-
tons, During this time l had a con-
versation with Acknowledgement Har-
mon, and told him what the pardon
board had said in regard to the Morrell
indictment, and he said that since the
conviction he would write a letter re-
commencing the pardon and give it to
me. | wrote him about the middle of
September that | was going to Nash
vile and would like to file his promis-
ed letter with the Dulaney statement
and requested that he give it to me as
| passed through Greeneville. AS l
now remember, he was at Blountville
at court and sent the telegram filed in
the record from the nearest telegraph
office. These facts | did not know at
the time. only know that did not
get the letter as l passed through
Greeneville and when got to Nash
vile filed the Dulaney statement in
the record with Secretary Scruggs that
the governor might examine it at his
leisure. | did not take the matter up
with the governor because | did not
have the Harmon letter and did not
know about the telegram. After my
return Gen. Harmon told nae about the
telegram. went to Nashville again
October IA, found the telegram in the
file of papers, and went over the mat
ter with the governor. He said he
had examined the papers very CAREFUL
ly and was convinced from the record
that pardon should be granted, and
instructed his secretary to fill ii out. |
never made a statement to Gov. Pat
terson outside the record; did not ask
for the pardon as personal or polite
al favor; did not know the politics of
the Isenberg family, have since learn
ed they are republicans; never told him
| was to get a fee, nor offered to divide
it with him; in fact, there was not an
improper word or action on the part of
either during the conference. The rec
ord spoke for itself, and if there has
ever been a meritorious pardon grant
ed this is the one. The fact that was
to receive a fee was unknown to the
governor and did not affect the merits
of this case at all. gave the pardon
to Chairman Marshall, of the prison
commission, late in the afternoon, and
he said he would at once notify the
warden at Brushy Mountain to release
the prisoner, l returned h0me that
night and Mr.. Isenberg arrived home
three or four days later, / afterward
learned He did not return before
did, nor did l bunk with him on the
return. AS matter of fact, never
saw him in my life until several
months later when he dropped into
my office during visit to the city to
thank me personally for my efforts in
his behalf. In short time after his
return home he was elected constable
in his district by handsome majority,
his neighbors thus evidencing their es.
TEEN and confidence. What stronger
justification for pardon could there
be? This is the complete story, moi
colored in the least to shield my &C.
tons.
The chief crime committed in this
matter, as charged in paragraph after
paragraph in the Tennessean, is that
"Colonel Cyrus H. Lyle" was employ.
ed because he was a member OF the
governors staff, to secure the pardon
that all the letters in the record and
Judge Kirkpatrick's efforts were of nc
avail, but that "Colonel Lyle" appear
ed upon the scene and the pardon was
issued instanter; and this bilious sheet
asserts further as its biased conclusion
in the matter "That Patterson conniv
ed with Lyle to help him collect fet
for the support of his family OF
"That Lyle got $500 from Isenberg by
false pretention. This is libelous anC
so far from the facts that it seems in
credible that sane writer could mag
inc such a state of affairs. 1 was in
vited to assist in this case between
January and March, 1907; was actu
ally employed between March anC
June, 1907; 1 was appointed abide
camp, with the rank of colonel, upoI
the governors staff on September IA
1907, the commission reaching me OF
September rs, Therefore, it must b,
apparent to every one that I could no
have been selected because l was
Colonel" for / was only the soul
mate of the Queen of Builtless at tina
time. l don't suppose Isenberg know
even yet that 1 am Colonel" as h
does not get the Tennessean, or tina
the governor has such an appendage a
a staff. 1t is also fact that my worl
was done in this case while was al
undecorated citizen, and it only re
manned to have the papers presente'
to the governor, which was done at
time when it was convenient to do so.
Now, let's look at the fee feature
moment. Did / violate any legal
moral or ethical law in accepting pay