The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-11-05
FULL PARDON
Fog GRAHAM
Gov. CT s ent Acted Before
Ser > ice Had Been
3 Started
CONTENDS WORK
OF EX-GOVERNOR
Says Graham Has Been
Punished Enough
Explains Situation


Horace F. Graham, ex-auditor andI
ex-governor of Vermont, will not go|
to the state prison to serve not less
than five years and not more than eight
years for grand larceny of state funds |
while auditor. Within a few hours aft
er he had been sentenced in Vermont
supreme court yesterday he had re-
ceivsd full pardon from Governer
Clement, with restoration of citizen
ship rights.
Accompanying the pardon was let
ter commendatory of Mr.. Graham :
services for the state of Vermont, and
explaining under what conditions the
grand larceny took place. Governor
Clement declared that Mr.. Graham
services were Second to those Of no
other governor since the days of Thorn
as Cbittenden" first governor of Yer
mont.
Governor Clement also declared in
statement last night: "0n account of
the distinguished service of Governor
Graham to the state of Vermont, and.
the suffering which he has endured. feel
that he has been punished enough and
have issued to him a full pardon"
The pardon came, apparently, as
surprise to many persons. During the
latter part of yesterday afternoon
number called to see Mr.. Graham at
his room i'll the Pavilion and when
they started to express sympathy over
the sentence he had just received they
were informed that a full pardon had
been granted by Governor Clement
Therefore, the callers turned their
sympathy into words of congratula-
tion.
Following the imposing of the SEN
tence in supreme court shortly before
noon yesterday, Mr. Graham informed
Deputy Sheriff G. A. Smith that he could
be found at room 60, Pavilion hotel
when wanted However, the sheriff
never went after Mr.. Graham because
the pardon arrived first
Clements Letter to Graham.
Governor Clements letter accom-
panying the pardon is as follows:
Horace r. Graham: In 1909 ] made
a speaking campaign throughout the
state of Vermont and, on several oc-
casions, called attention to the i'm
proper methods Of handling the states
business, which existed at that time
Again in 1906 ] went into that matter
more in detail and explained TO my
audiences that the system of making
advances from the state treasury, to
state officials. was wrong
and would bring disgrace and disaster
upon the state.
During all the period, from 1902 70
1917, you were the auditor of accounts
Of the state, and as auditor you were
making such advances. Your
action was, however, well known to
the chief executives Of the state, and
to all of the legislatures which con
vened during that period. and to those
officials who made examinations of
your office, including Frederick S.
Plstt, Luther A. Cobb and Frank G.
Williams
Under No. 20 Of the acts Of 1906.
there was a commission appointed
which consisted of yourself. Joseph A
DcBoer and 0lin Morrill,. authorized to
Examine into and install system Of
auditing state accounts. That commits
,ion made careful examination and
-eport in approval of the system in op
,rstion.
The committee on claims of the
Senate OF 1906 reported as follows;
"'We have examined the biennial re-
port of the auditor of accounts and
ind same to be substantially correct
Is shown by the books of his depart
nent. We have examined report sheets
md vouchers and we find he has re-
eipted vouchers for all bills paid, as
he law demands. Personal expense
Iccounts are subscribed, ito under oath
md are accompanied by proper vouch-
RS
"'we find that the books are kept
n 2 most intelligent and up-to-date
orm, and much credit is due to the
uditor of accounts and his assistants
or the improved methods in use.
"A report of a joint special commit
ee To investigate the method Of sc
ounting used in your Office is as fol
ows:
".Your committee believes that this
ep6rt shows a yery satisfactory meth
d Of transacting the work of the audi
or's office and that the auditor Is 10 be
ighly commended for the improve
nents which he has made in the meth
DIS used
THAT report is signed by ". J. Van
'atten. chairman on the part of the
he part Of the House.
Again in the campaign Of lals, at
sution 10 the voters was called to this
vstem Of making advances; and the
,gislature Of 1919 authorized a change
-hich was made effective July first Of
hat wear, whereby no advances are
lade from the state treasury 10 state
doing away with the plan Of
onducting the states business which
as caused trouble in the past.
"When YOU finished your term Of Of
&c as auditor Of accounts, in 1917
here was a balance of moneys due
-om YOU to the state Of Vermont, as
ppesred bv the record upon the books
/ the auditor, which record. under
and. has not been questioned, and
hich balance has since been paid by
on
Il have briefly called your attention.
, The conditions which existed during
our term Of Office as auditor Of sc-
,unts Of the state. because the knowi
ige Of what was going on by the pub
r hv the legislatures and hv state oil