New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-06
Brandon Probe
BY Legislature
May Be Invoked
Citizens Union Leader i'm
Jersey to Demand Special
! Session Be Convened to
Investigate Murder Case
Some Members in Favor
Gov. Edwards Must Act to
Clear Own Record From
Blame, His Critic Insists

y. A. III. Hopkins, chairman of the
yitizens' Union of New Jersey, who all
dressed an open letter to Governor
Edward I. Edwards, expressing the
,opinion that George Brandon, exc
cuted for the murder of Arthur L.
Kupfer and Edith fanny, was sent to
fhe electric chair on the flimsiest of
evidence, declared last night that he
would demand complete and impartial
INQUIRY. into the entire case.
He would, if necessary. Mr.. Hop
kins added, ask Governor Edwards to
call the Legislature in SPECIAL session
TO examine sll of the evidence, includ-
ing the afidavits given to l. Faeber
Loldenhorn, Brandon's last attorney,
pnly one of which Governor Edwards,
recording TO Mr.. Goldenhorn, was will
ing to hear, and which he rejected.
Mr.. Hopkins said that he would con-
fer to-day with Mr.. Goldenhorn as to
the procedure to be followed. If it was
the New Jersey courts ceased when the
six months limit for the presentation
of new evidence in murder cases ex-
Plrsd, and that there is now no Judi
fial remedy, the movement for a spe-
cial session OF the Legislature will be
started without delay.
"A demand must be made upon Gov
ernor Edwards that all of the circum-
stances of the Brandon case be gone
into without delay" Mr.. Hopkins con.
tinued. eve shall call for an investi-
CATION and ask for the production Of
all the evidence. Governor Edwards
0ught to be glad to do this, if only to
clear his own record.
AS the matter stands, the business
of Brandon's execution is open to
doubt, and so long as this doubt exists
Jersey justice will rest under the
suspicion of being something that is
The next regular session of the
Legislature will not be held until JAN
uary. This is too long to wait for a
clearing up Of the Brandon case. If
there is no other procedure open we
shall make demand on the Governor
TO call special session. If Governor
Edwards is anxious to clear the rec
ord he will issue the call at once"
The case has been considered an
prosecutor of Union County, while an
Inmate of Auburn prison, saying that
.he believed he could clear the mystery
of the murder of Kupfer and Miss
fanny, that occurred on August 81,
1913, while they were riding in an
automobile into Railway, N. j.
Involved Fellow Convict
The man who, Brandon said, had told
him about the double murder and adj
mitted his part in it, was Charles Per-
chand. fellow conyict at Auburn. He
said Perchand had told him about it
the day after the murder, when he met
him in New York.
/. Soon after writing to the Jersey
authorities, Brandon found conditions
reversed, with himself as the defend
ant and Perchand, his accuser. testify
ing against him. Brandon was con-
victed. ALI efforts~to obtain stay of
execution, power to grant which was
in the hands of Governor Edwards,
failed.
). Several members of the New Jersey
legislature said yesterday that they
you'd be glad to confer with Mr.. Hop
kins and Mr.. Goldenhorn on the Bran
don case this week. 1t was said there
was little doubt that the law limiting
Ihe presentation of new evidence in
murder trials to six months would be
repealed at the first opportunity.