New-York tribune., 1921-09-01
Edwards Says
Brandon Death
Was Just Act
Jersey Governor Declares
He Would Not Have Voted
for Pardon Had Execution
Been Held Over for Study
Find New Evidence Weak
Protest of Citizens Union
and Counsel's Efforts
May Result in Inquiry

Governor Edward 7. Edwards of New
Jersey said yesterday that he had re-
fused to stop the execution of George
Brandon, who was put to death in the
electric chair on August 2S, because no
evidence had been submitted to him
strong enough to warrant reprieve.
There was no doubt whatever in his
mind, he said. that Brandon was guilty
of the murder of Arthur Kupfer and
Edith Janney on August %, 1918, and
he would not have voted in favor of a
pardon had the case been held over for
the next meeting of the pardon board.
Governor Edwards, acknowledging
that Brandon did not have an adequate
defense at the trial, gave brief out
line of the evidence that came before
him as Governor, and then said that
the case was closed and that he would
have no further statement to make.
A legal associate of !. Faeber Golden
horn. the attorney who for three weeks
ptior to Brandon's execution en-
deavored to have the case reopened
on the ground OF newly discovered evi
dence, and that Mr.. Goldenhorn will
demand a thorough investigation when
he returns to Jersey City on Tuesday
Citizens Union Protests
Governor Edwards's statement came
as result of charges made by the
Citizens Union of New Jersey, which
was the subject of extended comment
IN the Tribune editorial columns, that
Brandon was convicted on fimsy evil
dence and that the Governor had failed
in his duty in permitting the execution
to take place.
In making his decision not to inter
xt0 Nf Iov,
Governor Edwards said that he had
gone thoroughly into all of the ovi-
dence submitted. He accepted the iden-
titicaton of Brandon as the man who
did the killing by the Rev. Frank H.
Moore, superintendent of the Railway
State Reformatory, near whose home
the young couple were killed, as posi-
tive, and outweighing the affidavit of
the garage man, Meyer, that Brandon
mad been IN garage at Second Ave-
nue. and Ninety Street. New
York. on the night Kupfer and Miss
Janney were killed near Railway, n. j.
With Mr.. Moore's identification Gov
ernor Edwards said the disputed finger
print evidence was of secondary i'm
portance.
Mr.. Moore testified at the trial Of
Brandon that he had looked out of his
window after hearing the shots and
heard a voice he afterward identified
as Brandon's say: "Get the grill Get
the grill" The girl referred to was
Miss Janney.
Afiidavits Submitted
The two most important aflidavfts
submitted to Governor Edwards BIZ Mr..
Goldenhorn were those of Meyer and of
Dorothy Brodell, of Brooklyn. Miss
Brodell is said to have disappeared
since making her affidavit and cannot
be found.
The affidavit of Meyer stated that
Brandon had been at work with him
in the garage on the night of August
%, 1918 He fixed the date, he said,
because his wife had borne a child the
week previous, and he had mentioned
Brandon's presence in the garage to
his wife when he returned home In
regard to this affidavit, Governor
Edwards said that there was no proof
submitted that Brandon was employed
at the garage, neither the owner nor
the pay roll with the names of en-
ployee's having been produced. He
could not, he said. in view of the other
evidence, accept the affidavit of Meyers
and the statement of Brandon that he
was there on the night Of the murder
doing "private work.
The double murder was the result,
according to the Evidence, Governor
Edwards said, of an attempted rob-