Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-02
DEFENDS REFUSAL
T0PARD0N BRANDT
NEW Works. GOVERNOR De.
cLAREs FORMER scHIFF VALET
Is UNWORTHY.

Albany, N. Y, March 1.-Branding
Folke E. Brandt as a self-confessed
forger and declaring that until it Is
conclusively shown that the former
valet of Mortimer L. Schiff did not
commit the crime for which he was
sentenced to thirty years imprison-
ment, Governor Dix in a statement is
sued last night says he will justify and
maintain his determination that Brandt
is not worthy of pardon.
The governor says the statement is
his farewell word" in the case unless
the higher courts set aside the writ of
habeas corpus by which Brandt won
his release.
Offers No Excuses.
The governor declares he has no
regret for his action and offers no ex-
cuses. Moral as well as legal consid-
erations he said, Influenced him.
Referring to the statement of Brandt
and his attorneys, that no attempt was
made to attack the honor of woman
in the prisoners appeal for clemency,
the governor says:
SIN regard to this particular feature
of the case, there remains only to say,
that the application for clemency does
include statements of a scandalous ma
ture, and which reflect upon the in
tegrity and honor OF woman who is
mentioned by name.
'In the exercise OF executive dis
cretion 1t is as much my duty to pro-
tectss the fatz snsIne of.a woman arfl-a
mot her who has never had an oppor-
tunity to defend that which is dearer
than life and liberty as it is to- pro-
tect the much mooted legal rights OF
one who has been convicted of a crime
upon his town plea of guilty.
10 Disprove Crime.
81 decided that, upon Brandt's own
admissions and statements, he was not
a proper subject for executive clem-
ency, without regard to the truth or
falsity of his sworn statements and
admissions in open court. In the let
ters submitted to me he has attempt
ed to disprove the crime to which he
formerly pleaded guilty by stating
facts and utterfng lnsinuations which
would make him guilty OF still more
abhorrent offense-an offense against
the sanctity Of the home by an ac-
cusation utterly disbelieve.
II refused, through the exercise Of
clemency, to condone wrong more
despicable and insidious than burg
larry or assault by blasting the char
Iacter and reputation of woman on
the unsupported statement of a self.
confessed forger, who, in the letter
which is before me, calls God to wit.
ness the truth Of present statements
which contradict what he previously
declared under oath.
Attacks Woman's Name.
"But while frankly and deliberate.
ly base my refusal to extend clemency
upon the fact that in his effort to Sc.
cure pardon Brandt has not scrupled
to attack the honor of woman and
to invade the sanctity of home,
also declare my conviction, that the
facts in the case as presented to me,
by no means indicated that the law
had been violated in the conviction and
sentence thereupon."
To sustain this point the governor
points out that while District Attorney
Whitman has expressed publicly the
opinion that Brandt's indictment, con
viction and sentence were Illegal he
did not make any reference to such q
contention in his report to him OF
urge full and immediate pardon for
the former valet