The Governor of Pennsylvania to Mr. Sherman.
Sir: Replying to your letter of December 10 and the telegram of 22d instant, calling for response to your request for a report of my investigation in regard to the alleged killing and wounding of certain subjects of Austria-Hungary near Hazleton, September 10, 1897, I have the honor to say that I have now in my possession the report of Brig. Gen. J. P. S. Gobin, who commanded the Third Brigade, National Guard of Pennsylvania, which was sent to Hazleton on the night of September 10 to quell the riots; I have also the report of James Martin, esq., high sheriff of Luzerne County, who was in charge of the deputies at the time of the disturbance; and also the report of Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Stewart, adjutant-general of the State, who directed the movement of the troops.
Inasmuch as Sheriff Martin and his deputies are now under indictment for murder growing out of the riots at Hazleton, I am requested by him and his counsel, as well as the counsel for his deputies, to submit to you that if his report, which I am ready to send you, should be made public before trial, it might prove prejudicial to the case of himself and his deputies. I therefore beg leave to submit to you the question whether I shall forward these reports at the present time, or whether I shall hold them until after the trial, which is now set for the latter part of January. The sheriff is entirely willing that the report shall be sent forward if I should receive the assurance that the same will not be made public before the trial.
Awaiting your good judgment in regard thereto, I have the honor, etc.,
Governor of Pennsylvania.