The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-09
Governor of Alabama Issues Statement in Reply to That of Defaulting.
 Clerks Kinsmen
DANIEL TROY TELLS OF HIS CONNECTION
 WITH THE MATTER
Governors Special Counsel Says He Had Never Understood Lacy Would Turn States Evi-
 dence Unless He Were
 Disposed to Do So
THE GOVERNOR
By L. S. BETTY

Montgomery, March S.-(Special.) Every proposition looking to the re- turn of Theodore Lacy, convicted of embedding $50,000 of state convict department funds, contemplated the return of the money which he had stolen, together with full disclosure of all the facts connected with the theft, according to the governor of Alabama, who issued statement late tonight in reply to lengthy inter- view given out last night by E. W. Pettus and Charles A. Patterson, kinsmen of the defaulting chief clerk.
 Regarding the agreement alleged by Messrs. Pettus and Patterson to have been made in January last, in which it was proposed that Lacy should return, plead guilty or not ! guilty, be tried on only those indict- ments which alleged the embezzle- ment of 1000, and be allowed to make bond in the sum of $20,000 or less, the governor states that this proposition was declined by him, be- cause he thought it was matter for the solicitor and trial judge to handle.
 The governor says that in this conver- sation he asked about the return of the money, and that both MT. Pettus and MT. Patterson declared that they would not consent for Lacy to retain one dime of the states money"
 Thegovernor closes with th- positive. statement that Ss sg.tsde 3fa.7 7st sreelnent of any kind to the effect that Lacy should not he prosecuted for all ef his onenses. \ The Governors Statement
 His statement in full follows:
 ''Tbe statement published Sunday morn- ing by E. P. Pettus and c. A. Patterson requires brief statement of the facts concerning the return of Lacy
 After I.acy's flight from Montgomery offered immediatSlya reward of So,00JJ for his capture and return. l also em- ployed the Burns Detective agency con sidered to be the best in tile United States. and paid them about sS0h6 for services which extended from Maich until July. also employed other detectives and called 10 their aid the chiefs of police of Monf gomery, Mobile and Birmingham. Through these instruments an unremit- ting search was made for Lacy, and every rumor of his whereabouts was investi-
 
 Burns agency that they were unable to accomplish results and that their further efforts would be unavai.ng. Notwith- standing this statemet, ny anxiety to ap- prehond Lacy was so great that l in- structed this agency to continue its ef- 1orts which it did until late in July.
 shortly prior to the final abandonment of the search by the Burns agency l ein- ployed Detective E. O. Miles, who had been recommended to me as high class f dete tive. MT. Miles got Into comnunica- tion with Mir. Pettus ana Mr. Patterson. who represented I.acys family. They sought an interview with me, to which l aeeeded, on account of the fact that ali efforts to apprehend Lacy had been un- productive and I was anxious to pursue any line leading to his capture or sur render This interview was held at the Exchange hotel there being present Mir. Pet,us, MT Patterson, MT. Seibels. Mir. Troy MT. Miles. and myself
 The Attorneys Proposition
 At this meeting the following proposi- iion was made in writing by Messrs. Pot tus and Patterson: Lacy to come back to Montgomery and give up all money he took less any reasonable amount that may have been expended by him for per sonal expenses not exceeding $o000 to sl0,o00, and he shall also tell the governor CT his representative exactly what was done with the money that ne did not take away with him (outside of the courtrooin) and without obligation on Lacy's part to sestiiy against Oakley Then Oakley IS 10 b tried, and after Oakley Is tried then Lacy is to either (a) plead guilty in one case and take a sentence ci one year and one day, all other indictments against him to l. edismssed or (bp Lacy then can plead not guilty and let ,he law take it's course as if this stipulation had not been made
 "To that part of the offer which made it incumbent on Lacy to return. to deliver up the money which he had carried away, and make full disclos- ure to me of all the facts and persons connected with the theft. I assented. To that part fthe offer which pro- posed that Lacy should receive on a \, plea of guilty a punishment of l year and l day in the penitentiary, l re- fused to accede saying that I would