The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-08-25


Editor Brooksville Star: have
been out Of my office since Thursday
of last week, and on my return find
your letter Of the 21st inst, hence the
delay in replying.
filed all the papers. petition and
documents pertaining to the Lowman
and BrassweIl case with the state
board Of pardons. and do not have any
copies, and for that reason am un-
able to furnish you With any; but
you can procure these from the Sec
retary Of the state board of pardons
However, | will give ,,sou a history
of the case from memory and you
can use the information as you de-
sire
The state board Of pardons is sup
posed to meet every three months to
consider such applications as may be
presented. The law requires that no
tice shall be given either by publica-
tion or posting, and in the latter case
one copy must be posted in the COM
munity where the crime was commit.
ted The last meeting of the board
was on July 9th and 7th. On Thurs
day or Friday before this date was
advised by parties from Istachatta
that a notice had been posted out in
the river, near the scene of the honli-
eide, that Lowrman and Braswell
would apply for pardon at the reg
ular meeting of the board to be held
on the date above mentioned. OF
course, / had no opportunity to OBJ
tain petitions and documents from
citizens who were interested. but ]
went to Tallahassee for the purpose
Of appearing before the board in OPP
position to these parties being grant
ed d pardon. 1 stay there two days
and was away from my Office three
days, but the matter was not pre-
sented On Thursday or Friday, July
29th or Both, received from Cover
nor Cats letter dated July 9th,
aS per copy I enclose herewith. With
this letter was enclosed q copy Of a
letter written by Governor Cats to
Mr. Thomas Palmer In this letter
you win observe that he was advised
that this case would be taken up be-
fore the board on the 3rd Of August,
some three on four days after the re-
ceipt of the letter. ] Immediately
advised DR. Mcknight and others in
terested. Dr. Mcknight and myself
went to Tallahassee and were pres.
ent at the special meeting of The
board am advised that it il Gus
tonnary to give attorneys represent
ing applicants, twenty minutes n
which to present any papers or docu.
ments that they desire to present IT
this case the board allowed Mr.. Pal,
mer some three hours in which tt
present it, or as long q time as he
desired The board then gave me .
similar privilege as to the time / de.
sired to present an argument oppos
ing it, which I did, consuming SONS
two or three hours in arguing ths
case, which was closed by Mr.. Pal
mer about six o'clock on August Bird
DR.. Mcknight and myself returned
home and Immediately filed with tn.
board petition signed by abou'
seventy citizens residing in or neal
Istachatta, both in Citrus and Her
nando counties. Soon thereafter
filed another petition by citizens q
fernando county, which. as remem
ber, was signed by about 200 people
also filed several strong letters pro
testing against the granting OF /,
pardon. Mr.. Palmer presented :
number of letters, among which VIA.
one from Mr.. B. f. Kirk, clerk o
court, Fl. G. Mickler, county Judge. G
". Ramsey. Mayor wv. r. Chalker an,
all the members Of the board D
county commissioners except MI
Lowman and Mr.. Hugh Hale. An
davits were made and filed with tn
board by Leslie Knott, ]. 7. Chapman