Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-08-18
SWITCHING LpREass cQNYtEIssT.

and now comes his sXcellercy, VII
lam Lloyd Harding, governor Of the
great common wealth Of Iowa, and
AYERS tina, he believes his pardon Of
Ernest Rathbun, Ida Grove rapist, is
in FULL force and effect: that in his
opinion. d a lawyer, the district court
Of Ida county had no power 70 re-
yoke or cancel it, and that Rathbun is
now IN the state retormato-y for per
jury. and not rape.
Mr.. Harding makes these state
rer,s before the committee prosecut-
ing George H. Clark, Rathbun's attor-
neg. in dlsoarment proceedings, and
comes out flat-footedly in support OF
CLARK. declaring that no deception was
pracrced on him by the attorney. In
1act Clark acted no different than
other attorneys in matters OF that
kind"
50 it would seem that the general
opinion Of Iowa people, who have con-
sldered that Ernest Ratnoun Is il An
amosa serving a life sentence for rape.
Is not there for rape at all. but on j
ten year sentence for perjury. Il must
~ 50, for the governor Of the state Of
Iowa says 50. Furthermore the gov
ernor holds that he alone has power &c
cancel the pardon. and then only in
case he has been deceived.
From the evidence produced before
the committee Of .awyers II would seem
that Governor Harding has changed
MS mind again along different lines
| Switching, 10 him, appears very con-
venient. First he did not think Rath-
| bun guilty Of rape, so ne issued him
| pardon. Then, when the Legislative
committee investigated the case tn
| governor testified:
! i have found out since that the BOY
| was actually guilty OF rape. thIn+
there is not any question about that
| II had ascertalned before the pardon
! was granted what / nave mad n
trouble ascertaining since, there wouit
not have been any pardon granted.
This was the governors tesumon.
last winter. Now he finds:
But since that tine l have fU-the!
information which raises the doubt il
my mind"
To proceed in It's evidence concern
ing the relations between Attorne!
! Clark and the governor, in sscurin:
the pardon for the attorneys client
| Rath1un the governor now comes on
for Mr.. Clark. and IN answer to tn
committees question whether or no
the governor felt he had been De
LeIved by Clark, testifies:
During the time the hearing was on
and AL this information was floaA!nt
about, took great deal Of it 70 D.
true, and at that time it seemed 10 m
that MI Clark had, deceived him o
attempted to deceive him) but sine
that time I have studied the situation
| and / have come TO the conclusion, a
! stated here a while ago, that as IA
as Mr.. Clark was concerned IN connec
ton with tie case. that he had no
done different than attorneys general!
40 IN a matter OF this kind.
Just what the governor has learne'
I to bring about such change Of hear
and mind would be interesting publi
information. AS yet it is not Of record
what brought about this wonderful
change, for last winter before the leg
tislatiye committee the governor testi
fled that he did not know thin'
about Mr.. Clark's honesty or integrity
but Il have found out since he is nc
reliable" In answer to the legislatiV
committees question:: And yo'
found out that he lied to you and de
ceived you?" the governor answers
Yes
The dear public may draw its oW
conclusions. Governor Harding frs
thought Rathbun not guilty. then de
cided that he was. and now isn't
Il X I % yal 49, y