The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-10-29
paid ADVERTISEMENT
A STATEMENT TO VOTERS
By W. P. BROWN

LINDEN was the home of Walter
Fulcher, and it was here that he
was guilty of the crime for which
he received the measly little sent
ence of six years, whereas he shouid
have received life, and l thought
that here was the place to answer
the charge that had something 10
do with "a petition for pardon or ciem-
ency. The statement that l circu-
lated a petition or asked for elem
ency for Fulcher is absolutely and
wholly false and the short and
ugly" is the only answer to those
who say l did.
II l was asking for clemency or
asking for pardon how does 1t come
that l swore that Hardin did not
give Fulcher the sentence he should
have given him; that it was no sent
ence at all when the crime was
considered. The J-Prog. will not
give me the best of anything and
in fact it will not do me justice OF
publishing a reply to the charges II
makes and here / what it says III
its issue of October 8:
Brown had no complaint to
make of the heavy nature OF the
sentence. Brown did not feel that
Judge Hardin has been too severe
on Fulcher. For, Brown, having been
sworn to tell the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth, so
help me, God, sitting in the witness
chair in Whatcom County court
house, testified: (Brown) SAID
FULCHER SLIPPED ONE OVER
ON THE JUDGE, THAT l BROWN
WOULD HAVE THROWN THE
BOOK AT HIM. What Brown meant
by this was that, had he been the
sentencing Judge instead of Judge
Ed E. Hardin, he would have CIV
en- Fulcher the maximum sentence
provided by statute"
OF course l did not complain ex-
cept to say that Fulcher did not
get what was coming to him and to
wonder just why and l have been
wondering since that time just why
Hardins and Bixby's letters are on
file at Walla Walla and they tell
their own story. Is there letter
of mine there? 1t Is more that pass
ing strange that Hardin and Bixby,
the two who did favor Fulcher, are
the only ones that "gOt in on the
clemency and pardon business. II
l presented a petition to them or
asked for clemency what did they
do to stop me? Did they give an
alarm or try to prevent 1t? l have
not heard of it and yet they are the
two men who under oath We're to
look after your interest and mine.
They were on their guard II what
they say Is right and what did they
do?
THE RECORD SHOWS.
Here is what l know about Full
cher: Fulcher was brought before
Judge Hardin and there, in the
presence of Mr.. Bixby, he stated
that he did not want al attorney.
He received a very, very mild sent
ence and was sent to jail. After
sentence and while Fulcher was IN
Jail was the first conservation
had with him. l had two clients
there and while talking with them
Fulcher said he wanted to see me
before l left. When l talked with
him he said that he had weak lungs
and was sure that as the Jail was
damp and cold he would become
seriously sick and requested me to
"go up stairs and tell them" that
he was ill and wanted to be taken
to Walla Walla or sent to the poor
farm or set to work about the Jail
in order that his health would not
be broken down entirely. He said
that no matter what he happened to
be that he sould not be held where
it would kill him and the Jail would
do that. He was sure Walla Walla
was better place for his health.
and besides he wanted to begin serv-
ing his sentence. He wanted me
TO tell the officers about his con-
dition and he did not ask otherwise
of me. | told Judge Hardin what
Fulcher said and We figured the
cost of sending Fulcher to Walla
Walla and bringing him back to
testify in a case that was about to
be tried and for which Fulcher was
being held. l was told to go to
Mr.. Bixby and tell him what Full
cher had said and to say that 'the
court will assign the case Fulcher
Is to testify in on next Saturday"
and that Mr.. Bixby could get out
Il subpoena and hold him. l told
Mr.. Bixby what Judge Hardin and
Fulcher said. The day Fulcher was
taken to Walla Walla he asked me
to write letter to a minister and
wrote 1t and that Is the extent of
my services for "Fulcher the Rap
ist."
In other words, a prisoner, who
as Judge Hardin says was slim
and frail" wanted word taken to the
officers about his condition and l
took it, and l would tell officers of
the sufferings of any man. Yes l
swOre at the time they say l was
active that l would have thrown the
book at Fulcher and l would have
done so and not give him the very
smallest sentence the law allows
and then write lteter which came
very near getting him out within
one year.