, 1891-05-22
THAYER TO BARBER.
The Nebraska Governor Wants VIM.
Kingen Turned Loose.
Thinks its a Matter for Action of
the Executives,
And Not a Question to be Decided
by Courts.

In February last Governor Barber re-
ceived a communication from Governor
Boyd OF Nebraska, asking that William
KinRen be released from custody, having,
it vas charged, been unlawtullY abducted
from his home in Nebraska and brought
to Wyoming for trial. Governor Barber
replied that the matter was one for the
courts to decide and that the executive
had no %volItion in the matter.
Governor Boyd took no further action
in the matter. but his successor, whom
the Omaha papers. both Democratic and
Republican, term the de busto" COVER
nor, Is making a move IN the matter to
try and effect the release of the Nebras-
kan.
Yesterdays World Herald says: MIR.
Thayer has donned his war paint and
feathers and gone after Governor Barber
of Wyoming with a stuffed club. The
ossifed man today indicted a long letter
to Governor Barber, the substance being
as follows:
His Excellency, Amos w. Barber, Gov
ernor of Wyoming-0n the 9th day OF
February the petition OF William KinGen
of SCOTS Bluffs county was filed in this
Office alleging that he had on Nov. 1880.
been unlawfully kidnapped from his home
in said county of SCOTS Bluffs by a posse
of armed men from Wyoming. consisting
of one William Lykens and ten others;
that said person did without warrant.
requisition or authority and contrary to
the laws of Nebraska threaten the life OF
KIngen and abduct him aud give him in
to the custody of the sheriff OF Laramie
county, Wyoming. and said Kingen has
since been confined in said county jail. A
communication setting forth these facts
vas sent you, together with a copy of the
petition. In reply 1 have your communi-
cation OF Feb. IS, wherein you state that
even if the facts be as asserted by the
petitioner. Kingen, it appears to me that
the vuestiOus arising are wholly judicial in
character to be determined by the courts,
and not such as would authorize action on
the part Of the executive"
l find that Lykens testified in the die
trict court OF Laramie county hat he ar
rested Kingen at bis home in SCOTS
Bluff county aud forclbly abducted him
to Laramie county. 1t seems conclusive
that Kingen was kidnapped for the purpose
of placing him on trial for grand larceny.
| know Of no case where the governor Of
Nebraska has refused to honor a requisi-
ton from the governor of Wyoming. and
why such outrageous methods are re-
sorted to l am at a loss to understand. L
cannot view it IN the light of a question to
be decided by the courts. In a matter
like this it cannot be commended that |
have resource to the courts of Wyoming
or of the United States for the purpose of
securing an adjustment of our rights in
this matter. 1t is a matter which calls
for action of the executives of Nebraska
and Wyoming. | would, therefore, re-
specially request you, as governor OF the
state OF Wyoming, in conformity with
justice, the rights of the state of Nebraska
and the petitioner that consistency with
the principles of conformity which do now
and ought always to exist between Wyo-
ming and Nebraska, to cause the release
of William KinRen, so that he may be
permitted to return to his home. Very
truly, JOHN NJ. THAYER.
The ossified man is exceedingly
wrathy, and Capt. Rhody and his brave
boys are expected to move on Governor
BARRIERS forces at any moment"
Up to the present time the conmuni.
cation has not reached Governor Barber.
When it does come it will probably re-
ceiye the same answer as the first com
munication on the subject.
Kingen meanwhile is resting quietly in
Jail. His case will come before the court
next week On a bill of exceptions. The
bill will no doubt be allowed by the court
which will permit the case to go before
the state supreme court.