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PERFECT PAROLE WIELDING OF POLITICS CLUB BY WALB ON PRISON BOARD
Stock in Chairman's Company Sold to Family of Convict Championed; Denies Any Connection.
CLEMENCY SUDDENLY IS GRANTED
Huntington Man, Convicted in Girl Case, Had Been Refused Freedom on Previous Occasions, After Hearings.
Fenton Letter to Walb Page Section How the influence of Clyde Walb, chairman of the State Republican committee, was exerted to obtain the parole of Guy Perfect from the penitentiary after the board had refused clemency was revealed in report made to Walb by Harry Fenton, secretary of the committee. It also developed that the brothers of Perfect, wholesale grocers of Wayne, purchased worth of stock in the Walb Construction Company, whose permit to sell $250,000 worth of preferred stock was revoked by Secretary of State Fred Schortemeier on Oct. 10. Both Walb and Perfect, who purchased the stock, state that there was no connection between the sale of the the activities of Walb in getting the parole of Perfect. stock and
The of Walb of explanation his activities in behalf of fect is given in this statement which he made to The Times: "Walb Construction Company curities owned parties the city of Wayne. Among those who these securities Arthur made purchase on about Sept. No Connection Seen my knowledge this sale of curities Perfect had no nection with any assistance dered the family of Guy Perfect. for the matter of his release from want to say that the prison, prosecuting attorney, judge Protestant Catholic ministers, the public in general in that joined requesting that vicinity Perfect paroled. This to me Guy showed the justice of the petition clemency. asked Harry Fenton to investhe matter report whether the parole board would feel justified in taking further action in Also whether the board the matter. members felt that they would consider favorably. Fenton made his report "Harry to his letter of per
Parole is Granted after the Republican On Aug. had intervened in State chairman the prison board this matter. granted Perfect the parole which had refused in May. had been repeatedly The parole refused by board abolished by the last Legislature. Frederick State responsible for the said, when curities regarding the this questioned the permit to sell that had been the securities had sold by Walb. Walb and his The activities release Perfect interest in through letter became the State by Harry secretary the Fenton That directed by Walb to survey board the the prison liberty for chances which had been denied in of the rules of the prison One board not after clemency has within year that one member the John of board, that othKnox, streaks' and might "yellow which would arouse public indignation.
Wanted to Help
When interviewed, Fenton readily written letter that was willing and help anyone in trouble. asked the of the When stock for $2,500 had anything the matter he replied: have had nothing to do with Walb business. relations come about through politics. Perfect's parole by Governor the Jackson board, after he had served fifteen months sentence, caused surprise, efforts in his behalf previous had failed and the board abolished the Legislahad refused persistently listen. crime for which Perfect was The convicted shocked the city of ington, when place The charge made was the girl had attacked by Perfect while his employ She below the age whom the entitled and care and not misprotection the time his Perfect the wealthy case was fought bitterly through the lower courts to the Supreme Court. Perfect was defended the best who sought vainly to technical fault The Supreme Court confirmed the verdict of the Circuit Court. the influence of the powerState Republican the secretary of the committee, the appeal Joe Hutpolitical factor Wayne, Michael Foley, member the prison board member the church which Hutzell belongs, all are revealed the which Fenton made to superior.
Close to Family The Walb had been in close with relatives family Perfect, whom stock in his construction company had been sold, also revealed in Fenton's letter. What happened between July 11, the date the letter and Aug. the of the parole, known. The board the latter July. At meeting in the prison board, which started to function pardon board under new law in had refused grant But the board members voted for They did more. They the and saw him sign prison. Influence Evident
What Walb anything after the survey made him by Fenton, who frankly his size-up of the and especially of Foley, yet disclosed. That influence changed the minds various board this notorious case evident the record. In discussing the affairs of the which cializes in ditch drain work, regular finanfiled this office July that time affairs were reported "Along heard rumors LaGrange bank, of which had viceafter State Banking Examiner's Securities Weatherholt to LaGrange to these Stock Sale Halted
"What was learned there and Chief Earl banks that held much the Walb where Mr. Walb did order the license sell stock. told. no stock had since far office concerned. could do grant mission on sworn presented There never any political significance the Organized years the Walb capital stock from March 1926. The report showed that time Walb personally held that issued. The increase stock to preferred shares pay annual and not cent the less than 85 per value. According to records on file in the office of securities official permission for sale granted March Attaches securities commission office stated that disclosed that the had been sold when ferred the order to stop was issued, Oct. No complete list of persons purthe stock obtained. The National Bank Laof which Walb had been officer, closed tional bank examiner, caused, said, run on the bank.
