Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-11-12
BECKHAM To DURBIN
What the Governor of Kentucky
Has to Say to the Govern
or of Indiana.
TAYLOR ExTRADITIoN DISCUSSION.
Viewed from the Standpoint of One
Who Believes Taylor
Guilty Man.

Frankfort Ky, Nov. 12-Governor
Beckham last night addressed to Gov
ernor Durbin, of Indiana, n letter re-
plying TO the criticism by that eXecu-
| tive of the courts and officials of Ken
| lucky in his recent letter refusing to
honor the requisition for Taylor and
| Finley, wanted for alleged completely
in the assassination of Governor Goe.
bel. He severely arraigns Durbin for
his refusal. charging that in doing S.
he violated his oath of office to support
the constitution of the United States.
and that lie became "A party after the
fact 10 the most Infamous crime in the
history of the state" The Kentucky
executive also charges that Governor
Durbin's action was the result of Il
political bargain made before his cleo
tiOn to office. and characterizeS his
charges against the courts and officials
of Kentucky as slanderOus and mex
Cusable misrepresentation
Beckham's View of the Constitution.
He takes the stand that the governor
of state has no discretionary powers.
but only ministerial powers. in the nom
oring of legally drawn acquisitions
from other states, and this is taken
here as an indication that steps viii
shortly be taken in the courts to COM
pei Durbin by mandamus to honor the
acquisitions. If such proceedings are
instituted they will be in the courts
of Indiana. and taken on appeal to the
supreme court. The letter iS dated
Frankfort Ky. Nov. o, 1901. and says
!n part:
Calls 1t ''RemarI>abIe" Letter.
Beckham begins with the statement
that Durbin'S refusal to honor the re-
QUESTION "waS not unexpected. but the
remarkable letter with which you aC-
compauied the return of the papers
was indeed a surprise TO me.
II is true / had been reliably informed
that YOU had incurred campaign obliga-
tiOnS which committed yOu to the pro-
lection of these two valuable adjunctS
to your political fortunes. and that they
bad been promised immunity from ~
rest under acquisitions from Kentucky
authorities in the event Cf v0ur cleo
tiou as governor. You are ut
least entitled to the credit of having
faithfully carried out your reputed
agreement with them.
Could Not Believe 1t of Him
However. in doing 50 YOU have viO-
lated your oath of office and brought
discredit upon the high position yoIJ
hold. But even with this understand
ing of your embarrassing position: con
fl onted. as YOU We're. on the one side
by the law and justice and on the other
by miserable political bargain. I
could not believe that you would so far
foregO the dignity and obligations of
your office " as TO go out of
your way TO Offer 4 gratuitOuS insult to
the people OF Kentucky and to cast Il
reflection upon the courts and public
officials of the state"
CHARGES \ PERVERTED RECORD.
Says He VIII Hold Durbin Up to the Scorn
OF the Public.
Governor BeckhIm then says that
because they come from the governor
of state these scandalous charges"
viii not he treated with "the silent
contempt they deserve" but that their
author shall be held ND to public
scorn'' for willful and ineXcusable mis-
presentations" Beckham declares
that Durbin has perverted the rec
ord in the Powers trial in declaring
that Judge Cautrill instructed the jury
that lit might convict on the testimony
of one alleged accomplice If thar testi- |
mOny was coTrobOrated by that of an
other alleged accOmpliCe; that it might |
convict the defendant for the act of an |
other man. TO which the defendant had |
never agreed. etc"
To show that this is untrue Beckham |
quotes the exact instruction of the |
judge in that case on this point: |
'Eighth-The jury cannot convict the
defendant upon the testimony of an ac-
cOmpIice or Of accomplices unless the |
testimony he cOrrObOrated by other evil |
dence tending to connect the defendant |
with the commission of the offenSe |
and the corrobOration is not sufficient |
it it merely shows that the Offense was
and the circumstances there
Of"
Then Beckham adds: rs this Il |
manly way to attack any one? Is it |
right and proper to manufacture evil |
dence to blacken. if possible, his char !
acter? You insinuate. too, that the |
Judge has been influenced in his trials |
of these cases by his aspirations as |
candidate for the United States senate. |
II rumor speaks true you are not above |
suspicion in that respect yourself. and |
the rancorous spirit of your letter |
shows that You are making a bid for |
the support of the implacables and |
in your own party with a view |
to that end"