The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-11

ScrlDeS warrants against foWers anu
Davis-l / made in the name OF the COM
monwealth1 of Kentucky and as sheriff OF
Franklin county attempts TO execute the
above warrants by going to the door OF the
Statehouse yard, within this city and coun-
ty. / was stopped at the door and entrance
into said building, where 1 had
and believed the above named Powers and
Davis at that time were, by armed SOL
diers. who presented their bayoneted guns
and barred my entrance and refused me
admittance. / declared to them my office
and my intentions. I was taken from one
military officer to another until 1 stood in
the presence of one Colonel Morrow, who
pretends to be a soldier in the kentucky
State Guard. 1 Informed him of my office,
my intention and purpose. and demanded
that / be permitted to enter said executive
building that i might execute the
of the commonwealth contained in the war
rants above. That military officer said
to me-:
~ have orders from the Governor to
permit no one to ENTER and / failed to
gain entrance. Afterwards / returned TO
presence of Colonel Morrow and requested
Of him that I be permitted to go into the
presence OF William S. Taylor. Colonel Nor
row said to me: L am very sorry. sir, but
1 Will have to enforce the same order that
1 told you OF this morning, n I cannot
permit you to CO. / said to him then:
will you please deliver to him this written
communications He directed me to hand
Ii to one Colonel Dixon, who was there
present, and said that he would take it
to Governor Taylor. Dixon took the letter,
minutes when he returned the letter to me
with the statement: Some stranger is with
the Governor. He has not time now to at
tend to this matter
S. Taylor, which was delivered to Dixon
and by Dixon returned to me, as above re-
cited, is in words and figures as follows:
"Frankfort, KY, March 10.
" Hon M g TIA Vlnr Fra nkfnrf W
MY Dear Sir-Unaccompanied by any
other person, l have just requested of the
officer who seems to be in of the
soldiers upon the Capitol square in this
come into your presence for the purpose of
an interview with you upon a matter per-
tanning to my duty as sheriff Of Franklin
county, and that officer has refused to ad-
NIT me. AS such sheriff 1 have warrants
commanding me to arrest Caleb Powers
and John Davis. Early this morning / had
reason to believe that these gentlemen We're
In the executive building, and as sheriff of
Franklin county made an attempt to enter
said building that / might execute the
warrant mentioned. / was then stopped
by soldiers at the entrance of said building,
taken from one military officer to another.
and finally into the presence of Colonel
Morrow, of whom L made demand that L
be permitted to enter that 1 might execute
the warrants, when he told me: Il have
orders from the Governor to permit no one
to enter"
81 desire this interview that I may COM
municate to you my desires and intentions
with reference to the matter involved, and
/ write this. as 1t seems to be my only
means Of communication with you. VIII
you give me an audience? Won't you please
".B. F. SUFFER-,
Sheriff Franklin County
my visits to the Capitol square disclosed
to me the fact that there are many armed
soldiers and others Quartered and pretend
tpR IN Ia nm dntv there. With the means
now at my command / feel that 1 am help
less to execute the warrants hereinbefore
recited. I deem 1t my duty that put all
these facts before your Excellency. 1 have
no desire In the premises to do anything
except to perform my duty as an officer,
and that duty to perform In a manner that
will best subserve the interest of the com
monwealth of Kentucky. 1 submit this
matter to your Excellency with the state
ment that I am ready my duty to perform
as you shall advise, and assist.
"B. +. SUFFER-,
Sheriff Franklin County,"
After all attempts to arrest Powers and
Davis had failed. the Democratic officials
had settled down to a campaign of watch
ing, when they suddenly were electrified by
the news that the two men had been spir-
tied aboard a c. & O. train to Lexington.
Ar hour later came the news that they had
been arrested by the local officials at that
point.
A CHANGE OF CONDITIONS.
It is said late tonight that Democratic
Governor Beckham will not give an answer
to Sheriff Suffers request for instructions
till next week, and since the escape of
Powers and Davis he may decide that the
changed condition of affairs does not neces-
state the giving of instructions on his
part. The Triplett resolution authorizing
the expenditure of 500. 900 in arming and
equipping a State Guard under Governor
Beckham and Adjutant General Castleman
will come up in the House Tuesday and it
is said that early this evening Mr.. Beck
ham determined to wait till after the pas
| sage of the measure when, If the men
wanted by civil officers were still barri-
caded in the Statehouse, he would call on
Adjutant General Castleman and authorize
him to muster in enough men to tax the
prisoners. Since the escape of Powers and
Davis. however, the conditions have
changed and what will be lone now de-
Ponds altogether as to their future move
mentS.