The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-03-31

dangerous classes Of criminals. and
the practical breaking down of the pro-
cesses of the law. it becomes q fraud
upon the public and shoJld not be toll
Grated.
That Income Tax
FOURTH: For the fiscal year ending
December 81, 1919, j. h. A. Robertson
made his income tax report to the
state auditor of this state, in which he
reported under oath that his only in
come was $4,000. the same being his
salary as governor During the same
period of time his bank account shows
that he received the sum of S16,099. SO,
which was not reportei as provided by
llc income tax law. The accounts COW
cring the sum above stated show that
it is from cash deposits, as we'll as
checks and drafts which we have been
unable 10 locate although we have made
diligent effort to accomplish this pur-
pose
Defeats Pardon Board
FIFTH: The committee finds that
j. B. A. Robertson. governor acting
through o. II. Searcy and l.. +. Neff,
| protested and had others protest the
initiated petition filed with the secre-
tary of state which had for its purpose
TO submit to the qualified electors of
the state, the question as to whether or
not the people should, by their vote,
create a board Of pardons. and in prose
| cutting this protest before the secre-
tary of state, one K. X. Halsell of Cal.
era, Oklahoma, was employed by the
Governor. and according 10 the testi-
mory of Mr.. Halsell he spent possibly
| 30 days of his time in assisting i'm de-
| feating the initiated petition, at cost
| of from $4,000 to $4,000. That sever
al of the employees OF the various de-
! partments Of the State worked for the
protestaIts in copying names off of
! the petition filed with the secretary of
state while they were on the payroll OF
the various departments, and from the
| evidence obtained by this committee,
| the time thai these various employees
| of the various departments so worked,
/ they were paid out of state funds, and
/ were from two TO four hundred dollars,
| The Legislature had made no appropria-
| ton for such purpose and the money
paid to these various employees for
| their services in assisting in defeating
this petition Is in violation of the
| statutes of the state, according TO the
session laws Of 1913, at page 81, there
| of, which provides as follows:
ANY official in this state who
shall direct, authorize, or permit
the expenditure of any public funds
under his care, except as specifical-
ly authorized by law, TO be used Ell
ther in support Of, or in opposi-
ton to, any measure which is being
referred TO a vote of the people by
means OF the initiative or the re-
ferendum, or which citizens of this
state are attempting to have refer
red TO a vote of the people by the
initiative or the referendum, shall
be guilty Of misdemeanor, and,
upon conviction, shall be fined not
less than one hundred nor more
than five hundred dollars, and the
office held by such party shall be
adjudgcd vacant, and shall be filled
in the manner provided by law"
One hundred and fifty-five dollars and
| fifty cents of this amount was paid TO
| Mr.. Halsell upon the direction and en-
dorsement upon the voucher by Gov
ernor Robertson that il was for spec
ial services ordered by him in checking
state institutions and miscellaneous in
formation, when in fact, it was for
checking up and making inquiries in
such initiative proceeding, and in re-
sisting such petition
"A Great Dea! of Rumor'
SIXTH Your committee finds a
| great deal of rumor and Some evidence
that the Governors methods and pro-
/ ccdure in executive clemcncy To con-
v.cted persons resulted in large efforts
| by certain attorneys receiving good fees
/ in pressing cases and receiving Gle
mency for convicted criminals able to
| pay sums OF money oStensibly as at
| torneys fees.
ArdmOre Case Cited
In particular, one Hickman Willis.
an Indian with considerable money TO
his credit at Union Agency. was serv-
ing term of % years in the peniten-
tiary for manslaughter, under sentence
from Carter county, and that on Janu'
airy 81, 1919. Governor Robertson, very
soon after becoming Governor, grant.
! ed him n reprieve, and that he continu-
ed thence cut at liberty until in Sep
tember Of that year, when the leave or
parole he was then under was revoked
as the result of criticism of the action
of the Governor.
Accused of False Testimony
However, notwithstanding this know
ledge on the part of Governor Robert
son, he. after criticism of his conduct IN
this respect. and before an Investigate
ing committee. Of the house Of repre-
scntatves al the special session Of the
legislature of Oklahoma. in 1920, Gov
ernor Robertson, in respect TO the Hick.
man Willis case. falsely testified:
II did not know that the Indian mad
q fee contract with an attorney until
along in the middle OF the summer.
This matter was brought 10 my attcn-
ton long after the leave OF absence
had been revoked"
And further, referring TO Hickman
Willis, he falsely testified:
But after he had been gone 10 or 80
days ii was brought to my attention
rnat ne had been married. and that was
breaking one of the rules of the leave
OF absence. = He was sent back 10 the
ponitentiary where he has been ever
since"
II appears from endorsement on copy
Of the governors letter II May lG to
attorneys at Hugo. that on July 30
1919, he gave Hickman Willis a fur
ther leave of absence OF 60 days.
II Is obvious, and your committee is
prior 10 receipt OF Superintendent Par
kers letter OF May &, 1919, that at
tcmpts We're being made to induce sup
,rin,cpdept PARK er IN IA nnnrova inrva a nd