Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-26
Valley Chuychmen
Express Faith in
Convicted Member

wESLACO, Dec. ga federal
convict sitting in a cell at Leaven-
worth ~penitcntiary received a Christ
mas communication from the Valley
that probably amounted to mental
liberation from the bars and stone
OF the institution.
He was L. W. Forbes, formerly or
Weslaco, now in the peniteitiary aft
er conviction of violating federal
banking laws at Waco, and the
communication was a resolution
from members OF the First Baptist
church Of MeslsSo c@pressing their
belief Of hiS I~nnoccass in violating
the spirit of the law and extending
sympathy to him.
The resolution follows:
Resolutions Expressing Confidence in
and sympathy for
w. l.. FORBES
Adopted by tIrst Baptist Church
v e~siaco, Texas
The members OF this church and
the people generally Of this
ity nave beer greatly shocked, griev-
cd and perpiexed by the recent news
mat one of our most active and
much loved members, w. l.. Forbes,
had been sentenced TO a federal PEN
itentiary for a year and q day BY n
fedora judge in Waco for violating
some national bank law. We could
not understand, neother could we
hardly believe II. Those OF US who
kno. him we'll could not aud did
not believe he had done anything
TO defraud or injure anyone inten-
~tionally, or that he had knowingly
broken any law for the purpose of
enriching himself or protecting him
SET.
Since getting the facts in the case,
We are thoroughly convinced that
our faith in him was well founded
and that while he was possibly
guilty Of technically breaking a
banking law, IL was not intentional
on his part and by that act no n
lost a single penny. lie showed his
noble spirit by requesting the Judge
to assess al! the penalty against him,
AZ there were any wrong done. He
did not ant anyone else TO suffer
Tor any mistake that might have
been made.
Since this very great misfortune
has come 10 one OF our members,
therefore be il resolved:
4. That We, 1he First Baptist
Church Of Neslsco, Texas, 20 on
record as believing in law and law
enforcement. We believe criminals
should be punished. but we do not
believe all law violators are criini-
mails. We believe before one IL con-
yicted and humiliated by being sent
to the penitentiary three things at
least ought to be considered. First
the past record of the one accused
should be taken into account. Sec
ond, the intent Of the accused surely
should be considered. Third, as to
whether any one was wronged or
injured in any way by the act. We
believe no man among us has a bet
ter record for fair dealing and right
living than has our Brother Forbes.
None OF us believe he purposely vic.
lated a law in this instances. IL was
simply a mistake, and nobody was
wronged or injured IN any way by
IL.
Resolved 2. That ~e assure our
dear brother and his loved ones that
they have our Profound sympathyc
they have our profound confidence,
love and sympthy. We want him,
his loved ones and the world to
know that we believe in him just
as thoroughly today as ever before
and that our hearts are deeply griev-
cd by this tragedy that has bcfallcn
him.
Resolved .. That We pledge 10 him
and his noble family our prayers
and our help in any way possible.
IL ia our most earnest desire that
those in authority may come TO re-
alize that a good man is having to
suffer greatly from n wrong that
was not intended and that az soon
as IL is possible, under the Law, he
may DC %pardoned with full citizen
ship restored, that he may return to
his family. his church and his bust
ness 10 serve God by serving human
ity in a larger and better way than
ever before.
Resolved 4. That q copy of these
resolutions be sent 10 Brother For
hes, a copy he given 70 the family.
a copy be spread upon our minutes.
and a copy be given TO the Weslaco
News.
The above resolutions were adopt
ed heatilv and unanimously by the
church Sunday morning, December
2, 1928.
p. l.. COMPERE, Pastor
J. T.. COMPERE, Jr., Church Cork.