Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-03-01
Governor Does
Not Believe Him
DIX DECLARES BRANDT is NOT
WORTHY OF A PARDON.
SCANDALOUS STORIES
Governor Says They Were Incorporated
in Appeal for CIemency-His Duty to
Protect Fair Name of Woman.

Albany, n. Y, Feb. 29-Branding
F'olke e, Brandt as a self-confessed
forger, and declaring that until it is
conclusively shown that the former
valet Of Mortimer L. Schiff of New
York did not commit the crime to
which he pleaded guilty and for which
he was sentenced to prison for thirty
years, Governor Dix in a statement to-
night reviewing the case, says he will
justify and maintain his determination
that Brandt is not worthy of g. pardon.
The governor says the statement is
his farewell word in the case unless
the courts set aside the writ Of habeas
corpus granted by Justice Gerard by
which Brandt secured his release from
prison.
Aspersions on Woman's Purity.
The governor refutes the claim that
Brandt did not make a personal appli-
cation for executive cIemency. In
the letters submitted to me-" says the
executive, "he has attempted to dis
prove the crime to which he formerly
| pleaded guilty by stating facts and ut
| teTing insinuations which would make
him guilty of a still more abhorrent
! ofense-an offense against the sancti-
| ty of the home by the accusation
| against the purity Of a woman.
DshelieVes the Accusation.
! '9This accusation I utterly disbelieve.
| 7 refuse, through the exercise of elem
/ ency, to condone a wrong more de-
| spicable and insidious than burglary or
| assault, by blasting the character and
reputation Of a woman on the unsup-
| ported statement of a self-confessed
! forger, who, in the letter which Is be-
! fore me- calls God to witness the truth
! of present statements which contra
dict what he previously declared under
oath"
Whitman Did Not Urge Pardon.
The governor points out that while
District Attorney Whitman has ex-
! pressed publicly the opinion that
| Brandt's Indictment, conviction and
| sentence were illegal, he did not make
! any reference to such a, contention In
+ his report to him or urge a full and
| immediate pardon for the former valet
He says that Judge Rosalsly in his re-
port up held Brandt's conviction AND
sentence, although he recommended
! his immediate liberation If there was
a miscarriage Of Justice.
Offers No Excuse for Action.
The governor says he has no regret
! for his action and offers no excuse
! Moral as we'll as legal considerations
| he says. influenced him.
| Referring TO the statement by Brandt
and his attorneys, that no attempt was
made to attack the honor Of a woman
I in the prisoners appeal for cleneuc
| the governor says:
I Statements Of Seandalous Nature.
with these facts established in re-
gard to this particular feature of the
case, there remains only to say, al
this point that the application fol
clemenoy does include statements Of a
scandalous nature, and which reflect
upon the integrity and honor Of q
woman who is mentioned by name.
The Governors Duty.
I'm the exercise of executive dfsere-
| ton It is my duty to protect the fail
name of woman and a mother, who
| has never had an opportunity to de-
fend that which is dearer than life and
| liberty, as it is to protect the much
mooted legal rights of one who has
| been convicted Of a crime upon his
own plea of guilty-especialiy when
| the Law in this case is SO hotly disput-
| ed, and, to a layman at least, seems SC
far from being eonclustVely proven and
established.
Not to Blame for Publicity,
THE seal which, in Difference to the
spirit Of common decency, I placed
upon the papers after deciding the ap-
plication, has been broken by the fact
| that public references to the scandal
| Gus allegations in the case have since
been made by representatives of those
most painfully affected.