The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-30

though most of the residents OF Clay
county hold him blameless. Between
the Towards and the Bakers there had
existed for generations a deadly feud.
Sometimes it would sluInber for a dec
ade, but it always awolze with fresh
virulence. AS the result OF a business
deal in which the Bakers were worsted
the quarrel was renewed with all its old
time ferocity One day the Bakers,
concealed in a clunp Of shrubbery, shot
Towards father and two brothers as
they We're riding in the public highway.
Soon afterward James Howard met the
father of the Bakers as ne was coming
into the village on horseback. Both
men drew revolvers and fired, but How
ards aim was the more unerring. and
the old man fell from his horse desper-
ately wounded.
Howard was arrested and brought to
trial The shooting had been witnessed
| by several persons, but 1t was fmpos-
sible to find a jury willing to convict
the young avenger of his slain father
and brothers. Old man Baker and his
adherents had a bad reputation in the
county. They had shot and killed the
Towards from ambush without Wit
nesses, and il was not thought worth
while to arrest them. No one doubted
| their guilt, and the opinion was general
in the county that young Jim had
done no more than strict equity de-
manded. Although he could not be &C
quilted. it was absolutely impossible to
convict him, and finally the case was
dropped. That he lost no prestige in
the mountain community is evidenced
by the fact that he was elected subse-
Quently to the office Of assessor.
But Howard was not satisfied with
this lawless conformation OF his act OF
summary vengeance. He determined
to go to Frankfort and secure a full
pardon from the new executive, who
was a personal friend and knew the cir
cumstances. He rode into the capital
just as the election committee WAS
about to report, and it did not take him
long to find out that his friend Taylor
might not be declared to be the rightful
governor. His hope of obtaining the
coveted pardon grew faint.
After the tragedy Howard did not re-
turn Immediately to the mountains. He
remained nearly a week in a hotel at
Frankfort, and then, realizing that Mr..
Taylor would never be acknowledged
governor OF Kentucky, he went back to
his native mountains, his burden unfit
ed, but, he AYERS, with no additional
weight imposed upon his conscience
He was not arrested until the following
April.
According to the confession of Henry
L. AOANSOSs SeAAAASS 4 e@y A1A , SbEAAO6
rapher, now serving a life sentence II
the Franklin county penitentiary fol
completely in the crime, the shot wal
fired from the window of the private
Office of Secretary of State Caleb Pow
ers, and Howard and himself were tn
only persons in the room. He declare
that Howard got on his knees. took
rife which Youtsey had borrowed and
taking steady aim, fired. Then Howart
fred four shots from his revolver. H
also insists that a meeting was held OF
the Monday evening preceding tn
shooting to devise some way to get ri
of Goebel and that both Taylor an
Powers were present. At that meetin
it was decided that Howard was tn
man to do the deed. and he was sum
moned to Frankfortsfor that purpose.
ARTHUR n. HATCH.