Evening journal., 1913-06-26
THAT BROWN PARDON.

serving life sentence in the workhouse at Green
bank for a crime which he seemingly did not commit,
that his appeal for clemency, justice, meet
with the approval Of sef-opinonated. meddlesome
and immature Secretary Of State.
1t is unfortunate for the taxpayers that they may be
called upon continue support simply
our Secretary of State declines join with his four
associates on the Board of Pardons in recommending
that he be freed
1t is unfortunate that an Official situation exists
which may permit the view Of Secretary of State to
outweigh the opinions of the Chancellor Lieutenant
Governor the State Treasurer and the Auditor,
who think that miscarriage of justice should be
rected and that Brown should be released.
It unfortunate that when the Attorney General of
the State does not feel disposed step Brown
and a pardon and that when there a taoit under
standing that members Of the judiciary not
favorable action behalf of appealing convict
that the Secretary Of State deems it his duty to
stand between that and his liberty between
the taxpayers and relief from the burden keeping
him in prison
When the attitude of our Secretary state in the
Brown is being considered by the public let these
facts be borne in mind:
! That Brown the convict is a negro
That he serving life for an alleged felony
against a negro
That Lieutenant t-Governor colen Ferguson who
urges his pardon, is a Democrat.
That State Treasurer Charles A. Hastings. who
urges his pardon is a Democrat
That State Auditor William p Prettyman, who urges
his pardon, a Democrat
That Chancellor Curtis VINO urges his pardon, is a
Republican
That Attorney-Gener Josiah o. woicott who does
not oppose his pardon. is a Democrat
That Secretary of State Miller. who refuses to
recommend his pardon, is a Republican
That four Democrats and one Republican all more
eolf-o afod in
their official conduct than is Secretary State,
think that Brown Of the charge of which he
was convicted and have recommended Governor Mil
Ter that pardoned while Secretary of state
Republican, without anything Of value advance in
support of his refuses join in the recommen-
dation.
That the crime for which Brown was convicted ana
sentenced life imprisonment is which would ap-
peal to the sympathy of and particularly to
that of Democrats when negro is the person convicted
We take in this matter the ground that when the nno-
cence Of negro convict is clear that three Demo-
cratic State officials join with Republican State official
in recommending pardon and when Democratic
Attorney General does not oppose that pardon it is
very strange that Republican Secretary of State
should deem it his duty hold In opposition to
such clemency and pursue course which, If it meet
with the approval the Governor will result in the
negro remaining prison for between three and four
years longer.
If Secretary of State Miller any substantial rea-
son to advance support of his action, the public,
which has approached the matter with perfectly open
mind might sympathize with him and laud what he
doubtless would like 1t construe be his indepen.
dence of thought and action Unfortunately for him,
he has advanced nothing that strengthens his position.
He admits in the formal he made in attempted
justification Of lis refusal to join the other mem
hers Of the Board of Pardons that the character of the
prosecuting witness had been shown be bad with re-
spect the morality under consideration in the
He admits that while he attempted obtain the past
record of Brown in the town in which he asserts he
born and lived of his life that he could
obtain any or authentic information about him
He insists however that until he is absolutely con
vnced of the ceanness Of Browns past record he is
unable to agree with the finding and decision Of the
other four members Of the Board Paraons. In other
words he would keep the man in jail because he can
find nothing. good, bad Indifferent about him.
Brown came from a rural section We take it thai
if he had been bad man, addicted to the practices
treated of in the indictment which he was con
viced the Secretary Of State would have experienced
little difficulty in obtaining the testimony The bad
that negro does in such a community looms like
mountain. The good that he does seldom receives
recognition Perhaps the best evidence that Brown h
not bad man" is the fact that Secretary Of Stat,
Miller has been unable to show that he is a bad man
That he has tried and failed to obtain evidence
shown by his statement
What Secretary of State Miller has done is water
that has passed the dam The question which now
interests the public is whether his opinion this mat
ter is to be permitted to override in mind of th
Governor the opinions Of Lieutenant-Governor Fergu
son. State Treasurer Hastings. State Auditor Pretty
man. Chancellor Curtis AttorneyGeneral wolcott ant
certain members of the judiciary II vote of four I,
one in the councils of the Board of Pardons is not t.
prevail In the executive chamber. then the Board
Pardons may well be dissolved and the question o
oxoc ole off
At the Secretary of State and the Governor who apponte
e him. That is the real question that now conronts tn
10 people Of this State and it is an important one Tn
le decision in the will show whether the Board q
Pardons is the Board of Pardons or merely secretar
h Of state Miller with his associates simply sitting in
i unconsidered hIers