The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1913-03-20
GOVERNOR WILL HELP
IN THE MACKOlD CASE
9Iackfoct Man, In Letter to Governor
Urges That Justice Be Done in the,
Case and Asks that Invest'ga at. on
Be Called For.
Capital News)

Governor Haines has gone en- re.
cord in a strong and forceful letter
written to one of the prominent cit.
zens of Blackfoot interested in the
Machold case, as ready and willing to
cooperate in seeing that justice is
done by ordering any district Judge
in the state whom the friends Of the
unfortunate newspaper man may sele t
to try the case. This is the first in
stance in which the chief executive
of the state has given expression to
his view of the case, and those inter
ested are greatly pleased over tn,
contents Of his letter made public.
The Blackfoot man who wrote the
letter to the governor positively dc
clared in his communication that he
believed Machold had be, N unjustly
committed to the BlackfOot asylum
and he petitioned the governor to
cause a more thorough investigation
of Macholds caso, suggesting that the
records of the court for Bingham
county be thoroughly examined. His
letter is in full as follows:
Il am taking the liberty at this
lime to address you few lines in re-
lation TO the case of one CT my nei sh-
bors who has unfortunately, and | be-
.ieve unjustly, been committed to the
insane asylum at Blackfoct. Il have
lived neighbor to Carl Machold for
the past 10 years and know him to be
IN honest and responsible man. |
am acquainted to some extent with
ais doings in court and will swear be-
fore man and my maker that he has
lot had justice dealt out to him. He
has been imposed upon to degree
that would have made many of us re-
sort to deeds of violence. have
seen his crops flooded by waters for
which he was not responsible and at
other times saw the water which be-
longed to him curtailed and used by
others, causing the almost entire loss
of crops, and will say of positive
knowledge that the poor man has
been greatly imposed upon.
Il have visited him at the asylum
and can see no difference in his APP
pearance and actions to what they
were 10 years ago.
"As one of the responsible citizens
Of Bingham county, and of the state
Of Idaho, l would petition our most
highly esteemed governor to cause
that more thorough invc stieatiCn CT
lis case be made and that the records
Of Bingham county be thoroughly ex-
amined that both Mr.. Machold Bing-
| ham county, and the state of Idaho
receive justice.
81 don't feel as one of the citizens
Of Bingham county to be held re-
sponsible for this unjust deed. and
trust that this stain will not be lie
upon the state that we have permit d
one OF our respectable number to be
committed to the asylum until it is
proven that he is not Of sound mind
and responsible for his deeds.
"Hc is not deluded but his COM
plants are justifiable is my sincere
belief"
| Reply of Governor
The reply of the governor is as
'ollows:
Il am in receipt of your letter Of
the 9th inst, in which you discuss the
case of Carl Machold who is now
confined in the insane asylum at
Blackfoot. You state, among other
things, that you have lived as a
neighbor to Machold for many years.
that you are acquainted with his life
and actions and that you now believe
him to be unjustly deprived of his
liberty. As measure of justice to
aim you now ask me to cause amore
thorough investigation to be made OF
the case
81 hope you will believe me when l
assure you that my only desire is to
see justice done in this case. When
the matter was first presented to me,
| called on the superintendent Of the
asylum for a report as to whether
Or not Machold might safely be re-
leased on parole. He reported ad-
versely. l then called on the attor-
ney general for an opinion as to whe-
Their or not l had any authority un-
Ter the statutes to order a special
investigation. and as to whether or
not there is any fund in the state
treasury out of which the expenses of
such an investigation could be paid if
ordered. The attorney general re-
ported adversely in both cases. The
matter was then put up to the legis-
lature for it's action, with the result
that a committee was appointed to
make special Investigation. Under