Great Falls tribune., 1921-08-17
Louis Fowler Brings
up Tale of Stolen
Wheat and of Feud.
Case Taken Under Ad-
visement by ardon
Board After Day on 1t.
Special to The Tribune.

| Special to The Tribune
decide whether Louis l.. Fowler. of
Madison county, for whom Governor
Joseph NJ. Dixon had recommended
communication of the penal portion of
his sentence for sedition, was entitled
to clemency. the state board of pardons.
composed of Attorney General ". D.
Rankin. State Auditor George p. Por-
ter and Secretary of State G. r. Stew
art, was in session all of Tuesday.
listening to arguments of Fowler 8
counsel. George Pease, Of Bozeman,
and representatives of the American
legion, who are opposing the commuta-
ton. 1t took the case under advise
ment on the close of the day.
The legion was represented by At
torney c. E. Pew and State Commis-
sioner Tom Busha and further by in
Vulnerable letters and resolutions from
organizations throughout the state.
Mo Remedy But Pardon Plea.
Fowler, 81. rancher who had lived
about 40 years, was convicted of sedi-
tion in the district court at Virgins
City in October. 1918. and was sentenc-
ed to term of from four to eight
years in the penitentiary and to pay
fine of $1,000. At the time of his
trial, he had appeared without council.
but later obtained the services of
George Pease, of Bozeman, who carried
his case to the supreme court in an
attempt to obtain new trial through
a writ of probable cause. The supreme
court was unable to order re-hearing
but in it's decision gave the opinion
that the penalty imposed was severe
and suggested as the only remedy in the
case an appeal to the governor for
pardon or Communication.
Hundreds Sign Plea; 10 Jurors.
Following this decision of the court.
petitions to the governor for executive
relief were circulated in the Madison
valley and were signed by 557 persons,
including 10 of the jurors who had con-
victed Fowler. the. two principal wit
nesses against Fowler. and 33 men who
had served under the flag in this coun-
try and overseas.
The governor. after reviewing the
testimony and the petitions. recon-
mended communication of the entire pris-
On term, of which Fowler has served
nothing. leaving the $4,000 fine stand.
this having already been paid
Fowler had been convicted upon the
testimony Of r. A. Paisley. a neighbor-
ing rancher, who told that in April.
1913. in conversation regarding the
growing of wheat and referring to the
soldiers said:
LET the ----------- eat hay. |
That's what I used to have to do /
This testimony was partially corrob- |
Grated by Paul Paisley. son of the 9TH /
er. and by his ranch hand, z. G. Gran |
DALI although the latter admitted
Fowler might have been referring to |
the people instead of the soldiers.
Objected to Liberty Bond.
John NJ. Kennedy. who is referred to
as having been unfriendly toward Fow-
Ter for a number of years, testified
that when asked to buy Liberty bond,
Fowler had said he would sooner save
and bury his money than to use it
against his own people"
Testimony was also put in to the
effect that Fowler had justified the
sinking of the Lusitania.
Several months after the conviction
# Fowler. affidayits were sworn to
~ the Two Pasleys, which were later
presented to the governor. in which
hey admitted they might have been in
'rror in repeating the conversation
With Fowler and they could not say
hat his version of it was incorrect.
These affidavits added that they did
rot believe Fowler meant to speak
of the soldiers or insti-
utions of the United States.
Ranch Manager Charges Theft.
For the purpose of impeaching the
principal witness at the trial, r. A.
'asley, counsel for Fowler, called
everal Madison county men before the
oard at the afternoon session, they
eing allowed to make statements after
bjections had been raised BY Attor-
ey Pew.
G. w. Chowning, q merchant of En-
liz. said he had been there for 20
ears and always knew Fowler as a
ood and upright man. He made the
tatement that while manager tof the
'om Hodgens ranch in Madison VAL
y, Paisley with the assistance Of the
ritness Crandall, had misappropriated !
0 bushels Of wheat which swas after
ards sown on Pasley's ranch. and a
uantity Of betting which he and Gran
all used on a threshing machine. HeI
hid Paisley, In an affidavit now In the
Of Hodgens, had admitted
,ese acts. He informed the board .
lat it had been found that Paisley had !
sued pay checks to men not employ {
on the ranch, had signed their names
hereto and cashed the checks.
Admits Being Army Deserter.
Chovning's story was corroborated 4
John Crum, the presAnt manager /
(Continusd on Pa&e Ten) 10