The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-03
ALLEN ADHERENT
W|THDRAWS NAME
Colonel Murphy Disapproves OF
Paper Presented to Governor
Last Thursday.
SMITH CALLED SWANSON
Criticism Of Senator Continues.
DR. Mcdaniel Issues Il
Statement.

AT least one sGner OF the paper pre-
scented last Thursday to Governor
Mann in regard to tho Allen cases has
repudiated approval of that document
This was Colonel John Murphy, who. it
is learned. in letter TO George w
Brown. explains how his name came to
be there.
When MIR. Brown asked for his sig
nature, says Colonel Murphy. he un-
derstood that i. was merely n request
for communication of sentence for Claude
Swanson Allen. to which he agreed.
without taking the trouble to pcruse
the paper. Later, on seeing the publ
cation. he WAS surprised to nnd that
while mention is made therein of ap-
pointmcnt OF a commission to consider
the Allen cases the document was in
the main criticism OF the Governor and
an array of argument to show that
the executive was incapable OF render
ing Just and unbiased decision in tie
matter.
Withdrnws His Name.
Thereupou Colonel Murphy wrote Mir
Brown saying that he signed the paper
under a nisapprchension, that he did
not lndorse It's sentiments and that he
desired not to he Identified with ii
tcrday it was generally made the sub
Ject of comment as TO the ease with
which men OF character and intcIli-
Eence can be induced TO sign petitions
when presented by personal friends
kcfusals Ia subscribe TO petitions arc
rare, since IL is the desire of most men
TO please So ii is that thousands cf
signatures can he gotten for any cause
ii petitions are handed around by in
fuental men.
Sentiment Disupprovcs.
Public interest III the conference Of
last Thursday night. when an attcrnpt
"@a made TO interfere with the au-
thority of Governor Mann, remains in
tense. Folks who travel all over the
state report that Ia all directions the
effort TO take such an advantage OF
the temporary absence of the Governor
from the State is as generally con
dcmncd as IT is in Richmond. Much OF
this feeling comes from men who took
an active part in the work Of trying
IL secure commutation OF sentence for
ole or both OF the condemned men
/, is generally agreed that had the plan
succeeded and hau Lieutenant Governor
fllyson been Induced 10 Intervene in
a matter to which the Governor had
had finally acted. the impression on the
people or the state would have been
most profound. The result would have
been state Of turmoil and strife for
Indignation seems to be greater
against senator Swanson than amy one
else. In a statement issued yesterday.
Assistant District Attorney Hiram NJ
smith SAYS that il was he who called
Senator Swanson in WASHINGTON on
That memorable night He does not
say why he should have called this Fed
cial official rather than amy other cit
ilcn of Virginia There has been much
talk or political pressure in the Allen
eases. and II was, in fact, attempted
tc be exercised with Governor Mann
VINO was repeatedly threatened with
political annihilaton unless he com
'nuted the death sentences
Request Came From swanson.
Lieutcna mt Governor F.iiVsor saVs
that Senator Swanson asked him 10
commute the sentence Of Claude Allen
II is now certain that MIR Ellyson
would not have ACTED even had the At
torney General ruled lie had the power
but Senator Swanson. Who served four
Years as Governor. requested him TO
usurp the authority Of Governor Mann
and use his official prcrogativca. if he
had any, To interfere in such a case
The statement made by senator
Swanson was taken on all sides yestcr-
day TO mean an effort 10 escape from
the severe condemnation being visited
upon him for his course and TO nut the
blame on Mr.. Ellyson II is very cvi-
dent that the MISUNDERSTANDING took
~ III thlS way } ne Junior senator had
nothing last night TO add to his state
rlcnt
y statement mace yesterday by Rev.
George w. Mcdaniel y. -. shows that
on the morning of the day OF execution
the Allen sympa thizcrs had still in
mind further appeal to the Governor
for Nhe appointment of a commission
as soon as lac returned to the city.
However. the time was 40 short that
the effort TO sec him was never made.
Would Have Kept. II u.
DR.. Mcdaniel said yesterday:
Had Governor Mann been In Rich
nond Thursday night final appeal
for Communication would have been made
to him. such appeals were made up
until his departure, and they would
have continued until the cicctrocution.
lie could have remained in Richmond
until after the hour appointed for the
execution, and then have filled his en-
EaBcment in Trenton. lie left the city,
reach of petitioners for clcmency. In
his absence he could not be reached.
| Who WAS Governor FOR the time being?
| Was Mr.. tllyson? if so. then the petit
/ toners wanted TO appeal to him, as
/ they would have done to Governor
Mann. The main question was who.
under The Constitution, was Governor
/ in the absence from the State of Gov
crnor Mann The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
and the Attorney General were OF the
opinion that Governor Mann was still
Governor. and as he could not be
reached, nothing remained for the petit
toners to do.
Efforts were made after the Cover
nor's return to try to secure the APP
pointmcnt of an impartial advisory
commission. but they CAME 10 naught."