The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-02
TAYLOR DEFIED.
Penitentiary Warden and Bank Cash.
Ter Refuse to Recognize His
Authority.

Frankfort, KY, Feb. 1.-TWO direct
slaps were given Governor Taylor yes
terday by public officers VINO declined
to obey his orders. The first came from
President ROdman, of the Farmers
bank, which is a state depository. Some
vouchers on the bank were signed by
Governor Taylor in favor of some of
the militia officers, who wanted money
for their companies When they were
presented a t the bank payment was re-
fused. President ROdman said that he
did not see how he could pay out the
money on orders signed by Governor
Taylor until he knew for certain who
was the actual governor of Kentucky.
He had asked an opinion from the at
tOrney of the bank, he said. and when
it was received would act accordingly.
He declared that he would take no
chances of paying out money until he
was satisfied that he was acting I'M
der proper authority.
The second instance promised for a
time to have serious consequences and
trouble may yet arise from it.
Governor Taylor issued a pardon to
Douglas Hayes, convict in the Frank
fort penitentiary, who is serving a five
years term for manSlaughter, having
been sentenced in March, 1899. When
the pardon was sent to Warden Iillard
he decided that he could not turn the
man loose until he was satisfied re-
garding the legal status of the govern
OrShip. He made no reply to Governor
NICI, DQl QGCilIl6u " uOtlOI the par
don and informed the penitentiary com
missioners of his action. They agreed
with the position taken by the warden,
and the man was held.
The action of Mr.. Lillard, who is an
ardent supporter of Goebel aroused in
tense indignation among the Republi-
cans, ard it was declared that a de-
tachmen. of soldiers would be sent to
the penitentiary to take the man away
by force if Warden Lillard persisted in
hi I.af7 n 70 rail- n n
talk came, however, from the office of
Governor Taylor or that of Adjutant
General Collier. This talk was natur-
ally resented by the Democrats, and
Mr.. Lillard received open offers of aid
in case he should decide to engage in
| a battle with the soldiers over their
right to enter the hall and take Hayes
out. When his office was visited the
warden was engaged in conversation
over the telephone. He was giving the
man at the other end of the wire in
formation regarding the number of men
he could provide to resist a possible at
| tack. He rang off as several visitors
| entered his office and discontinued the
| conversation, declining to disclose the
| identity of the man at the other end OF
/ the wire, who was evidently asking him
| if he desired assistance.
81 can do nothing more or less than
/ hold the man." said the warden. 1.-THE
/ situation is known to everybody, an6
[ can not assume the responsibility OF
/ releasing men on the order of Mr.. Tay-
! lor when the legislature has declared
| specifically that Mr.. Goebel is the gov
/ ernor Of the state.
Had the order been received Wednes-
| day I would have let the man go, and
would have been glad to have done so
/ I wish to keep no man in this place
! but I can not release conVlcts on the
order of man who it has been de-
clared by the laWmaking power of the
state has no right to issue such orders.
When asked if he intended to offel
| resistance to a detachment of troops
if one should be sent to release Hayes
the warden replied
"Oh, no; it would not do for me. t
| attempt any such thing as that 1 hav,
| fourteen guards only, and they coulC
| not do much against soldiers
When asked if he did not know where
| he could obtain plenty of help if he
| needed it, the warden said:
| when the soldiers come up here anc
| demand the keys for the purpose OF
| taking out Hayes. I think they arr
| likely to get them. If convicts are ia
ken out of here in that manner the re.
| SpOnsibility will rest on the men whC
take them away and not upon me-
No answer was returned to Governor
Taylor either by Warden Lillard or BY
the board of penitentiary commission
erS. His letter Yves quietly ignored.
is possible that a reply will be made t.
it but it is not likely.
1t is now definitely decided that Gen
John q. Castleman of Louisville, is no
to be adjutant general for Governor
Goebel and while it was asserted will
great pOsitiveness that he had been ap
pointed, it is said now that he was nev
er rendered the place. No man ha
been appointed as yet, but the name o
Col. T. J. Smith, of the Third Kentuck,
infantry is prominently mentioned.
No attention whatever has been pal,
by the militia to Governor GoebePs or