The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1916-08-31


and vetoed the Neill bill.
Mrs. helms requests me to publish the fol-
lowing letter from herself to Mr.. Pottle:
Atlanta Ca, August q, 1916.
Mr.. Joseph E. Pottle,
Dear Sir: You have been quoted repeatedly in
various newspapers as having referred in your
political speeches to me and my family and my
misfortunes and as having attempted to arouse
sympathy for with that recitation in order to
excite prejudice against Mr.. Hugh M. Dorsey, can
didate for governor
You are quoted as blaming Mr.. Dorsey for hav-
ing accepted employment by me; representing
that he took mortgage my home to insure
his fec; representing him to be man who
would take widows mite for work he ought
to have done without charge or ought not to have
done at all-Which l unable to determine
from reports of your speeches.
The facts of this matter are, that / employed
Mr. Dorsey of my own yoIition to represent the
sheriff of Bexar County, Texas, before the SUI
preme Court at Washington in resisting appeal
by Mr. and Mrs. Victor e. Innes their petition
for habeas corpus The governor of Texas had de-
clined neglected to that the sheriff of BeXar
County represented 1t therefore became
necessary for me, the mother of the two girls
who were murdered and the one most at interest,
to that this representation made.
had the right to employ Mr.. Dorsey for this
private and personal service, and he had the right
to accept that employment. The amount Of the
fee I agreed to pay him for this work is matter
of private contract between him and myself.
I have objection to his making it known,
but see reason why should inform you of it,
Further the method of payment of that fee also
matter of private contract between US, with
which think you not concerned. If the news
papers have correctly quoted you saying that
/ mortgaged my home to insure its payment to
Mr.. Dorsey, you either misinformed negli-
gent of the truth.
With due reference to you and whatever you
may consider the necessities of your efforts against
Mr.. Dorseys integrity and fitness for the office of
governor, permit me to say that in my opinion
you have violated good taste and have shown
utter disregard of my sensibilities by bringing my
name and my great griefs into your selfish politi-
cal discourses. This is to ask that you show me
hereafter the courtesy of refraining from any di-
rect indirect mention of in your public
speeches.
Let add, in order that you may know my
mental attitude toward you, that my former in
difference toward your campaign for governor
has been converted into positive dislike by your
very nsincere and totally inexcusable efforts to
arouse prejudice against Mr. Dorsey by appealing
for sympathy for me.
Yours very truly,
MRS JNO w. NELMS.
Those who remember how the attorneys of
Leo Frank urged the U. S. Supreme Court
to hand down it's decision, without waiting
the customary length of time, will also re-
member how the hearing before the Prison
Commission was "speeded up and giuen pre-
cedence of other cases of Tong standing.
My recollection ls that the arguments be-
fore the Commission were suddenly cut short,
in order that the case might 90 at once to
Governor Slaton.
Tn all of the voluminous literature of that
hot period, last year, do not remember any
complaint being made on account of the case
being brought to Slaton; but, on the contrary
much comment was provoked by the evident
haste of Franks lawyers to get it before him.
[ know of one member Of the Atlanta bar
who urged Slaton to let the case 90 to his sue
cesSnr hecn1loe of Slaton'c lnnnl nartnnrchi Y,