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The following Columbus dispatch, with reference to an alleged effort being made to secure a pardon for ex-Sheriff Tressel, appeared in today's Enquirer:

COLUMBUS, O., MARCH 18 -- It leaked out tonight that a quiet movement has been started to secure a pardon for ex-Sheriff Leonard Tressel, of Richland County, who is serving two years in the penitentiary for embezzlement.  Tressel was convicted a year ago, after a desperate effort had been made to save him from the clutches of the law.  His downfall was preceded by a long period of "high rolling".  While ostensibly an exemplary citizen and official at Mansfield, he was making visits at intervals to the most sportive cities of the state, where he soon earned a reputation as one of the most reckless devotees of wine, women and gambling known to the fast resorts.  He basked in the deceptive smiles of the faro bank, showered the demi-monde with ducats and let the popping of champagne corks drown his conscience to the tune of $6,000 of Richland County's public funds.  The first inkling of his fast life and embezzlement was secured here, where one of his bondsmen chanced to see him indulging in a debauch, and instituted inquiries.  Soon afterward he was arrested, and the facts came out in detail.  Tressel was released on bond, and shortly before his trial he participated prominently in a religious revival in Mansfield.  He became a worker in the vineyard of the churches and won the favor of the pastors.  Now it appears that the pastors have instituted a movement to have him pardoned.  It is known here that there is to be bitter opposition to his application for clemency, inasmuch as many of the citizens of Richland County suffered deeply from a financial standpoint in consequence of his duplicity.

The foregoing as to the extent of Tressel's offenses is somewhat exaggerated, and so far as the other part of the correspondent's story is concerned it is mainly exaggeration also.  A SHIELD reporter made diligent effort today to ascertain how much, if any, truth there is in the above reference to the proposed pardon and could find no evidence that any such effort has been made or is being made.  Rev. Dr. Wiles, pastor of the church to which Mr. Tressel belongs, was called on and he stated that he knew of no concerted movement of the pastors or any others to procure a pardon;  but Dr. Wiles stated that he stood ready to join in such a movement if it should be inaugurated.  The reporter also learned that there are other friends of Tressel, notably among them being Geo. F. Carpenter, who takes the view that Tressel had been punished enough and ought to be pardoned.  As to there being any movement of the kind, the SHIELD has been unable to find any except preliminary steps taken to that end by Mrs. Tressel.

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