The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1909-09-23
THE ISENBERG
PARDON CASE.

the stand in my own behalf, but it
seems that my silence has purposely
been misconstrued until forbearance
has ceased to be Il virtue. The noun
tains of lying assumption in this mat
ter make the truth look like a hole in
the ground. Passing by unnoticed
temporarily the diseased kidneys who
masquerade as editors and who neceS-
sarily attack their superiors, because,
occupying the journalistic SELLER they
must needs look up to see out, we shall
devote some space To the Nashville
Tennessean, not because it occupies a
more exalted place in the newspaper
world, but because it is the Generalisi-
mo in this battle of libelous billings
gate and is published in city where a
survival Of the fttest test would have
put it out of print long ago. do not
think for one moment that this scurril-
GUS attack is aimed at me because of
my importance, but it is sought
through me to strike Gov. Patterson a
blow beneath the belt. In order that
the public may know the whole truth
about the matter shall tell the story
without reserve and let il decide
whether a wrong has been done, to
whom and by whom.
| was born in Washington county
and for twenty-five years have resided
in johnson City, and during that time
/ did not know the county contained a
citizen by the name of Isenberg until
The Comet published an account of the
lsenberg-Depew difficulty at Christ
mas tree in December, 1905. never
heard the trial and never saw men,
bt of the family, so far as | know,
until some time between January and
March, 1907. / fix this date because |
moved The Comet from the room then
occupied to the present location on
March l, 1907, when | was called from
my office by telephone to the Office of
kirkpatrick, johnson q Miller, in this
city, and there introduced 10y Judge
kirkpatrick to Dir. A. Isenberg, the
father of Robert, the young man then
serving term in the penitentiary.
Judge kirkpatrick stated to me that
MIR. lsenberg was trying to have hiS
son pardoned and my good offices, or
whatever you may be pleased to call
them, were solicited in his behalf.
plainly stated to the gentlemen that
before | would do anything in the
matter that l would first have to be
convinced that pardon was justified,
and further stated that under no cir
cumstances would | attempt to mis-
lead the governor in this matter, but
that if became convinced "A pardon
was proper | would cheerfully recon-
mend it. The matter was talked over
at length and it was suggested that
would be paid for my trouble. stat
ed there would be no charge, butJudge
kirkpatrick maintained that | would
be clearly entitled to receive compen-
sation for my time and expenses and
left no doubt in my mind upon that
point. | left the conference after prom
Using to to look further into the matter
and satisfy myself more fully. The
matter rested here for some time, Mr..
lsenberg calling upon me from time to
time urging me to interest myself, but
felt that he had very able counsel and
my assistance was not needed. How
ever, he kept insisting upon employing
me and some time between March and
June | accepted the employment offer
ed, but no deposit was made to secure
the fee and none called for. | made q
trip to Nashville in June went before
the board of pardons, Marshall and
Rogers only being present, Hartford
was out of the city, and called up the
papers that had been filed in January
by Judge kirkpatrick, very exhaust.
i've and carefully prepared analytical
statement of the case. We went care
fully over the matter with the result
that the papers were sent for the first
time TO Gov. PattersonS office with
the recommendation that the eight.
year sentence be committed TO three
years. | found that the whole matter
rested upon the result of the indictment
and trial of the chief witness, Morrell
for burglary. The governor was never
asked to carry out this recommendation
of the pardon board, because all con
eerned thought there should be an alb
solute pardon. Here the matter rested
for several weeks. About the 18th Of
August Mr.. Isenberg came to my offic,
and proposed TO put up the amount
agreed upon, but told him it was mo-
necessary. However, he insisted Oh
depositing the money and placed /,
certificate of deposit on the City Ma
tional Bank for $500, properly endorsed
with w. J. Barton, a member of tn,
Barton Mountcastle Hardware Co., an(
one of the strEghtest and best msn il
East Tennessee, with the plain anC
simple understanding that it was to b,
given to me if Robert Isenberg wa
pardoned, 1t was not stated that
was to prove that | secured the pardon
or that was to kidnap the prisoner, o
do any other foolish or absurd thing
/ was not even expected to file state
ment from the governor that he hat
nronta1 tho no rdnn cn Al of I nn,,ld On -,