The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1907-08-29
TAYLOR OFFERS TO
I RETURN FOR TRIAL
Asks CERTAIN GUARANTEES OF
THE KENTUCKY AUTHORITIES.
"lMMuNlTY" IS NO GOOD
Wouldn't Trust to Promises the OF
ficlals Could Not keep-what
the Fugitive Demands
of Them.

indianapolis, Ind, Aug. 24--William
s. Taylor, former governor of Ken
lucky, whose extradition has been
sought by the authorities OF that
state since the assassination OF Gov.
William Goebel. seven years ago. gave
out signed statement Friday, night
which he says is the first public state
ment he has made since leaving his
native state.
He first dissects the promise of Inn
munity said to have been offered him
recently should he testify in the Pow
ers case, and then makes a proposi-
ton to the Kentucky authorities to re-
turn to his home state and stand trial
on the charge against himself II
granted certain guarantees. The state
ment says:
For more than seven years / have
borne in silence the ISLANDERS and per-
secutions of those who robbed me of
what Heaven knows was my own,
and who, to conceal that crime against
liberty and for no other reason, In
dicted and drove me into exile.
trust an indulgent public will permit
me now to break that silence.
Can't Grant Immunity.
Commonwealth Attorney Robert B.
Franklin knows that have fully tes
titled In the Powers case, by deposit
ton. This testimony is a part of the
record of the case and is accessible
to him at all times. He knows, too.
that he had right to cross-examine
me at the time gave 1t, and he did
not do 80. He knows that neither he
nor any other officer or combination
of officers in Kentucky had the legal
power to grant such immunity, and
that were / to return under such
promise Of Immunity, would at once
be arrested, denied bail and, like Mr..
Powers, be subjected to nothing less
than a mock trial by partisan court,
before a packed partisan jury and
with 100000 corruption fund as a
powerful incentive to conviction. The
law is clear that Mr.. Franklin, or any
other offieer, has no power to prom
ise immunity.
But, inasmuch as Mr.. Franklin
abounds in propositions and promises,
and seems enamored of the idea that
he can do things. will say this: II
he will, In some way, provide an abso.
lutte guaranty-not merely a promise
"a guaranty that will inspire conf
dence among sensible, leVel-headed,
honest men-a guaranty, the spirit of
which may not be violated though the
letter be observed-that / will be civ.
en- a fair and impartial trial, / will
gladly return to Kentucky and sub
NIT to trial.
GUARANTEES He Demands.
IN other words, If Mr.. Franklin will
cause what remains of the 100000
corruption fund to be returned to the
treasury of Kentucky, no part of It to
be used in these prosecutions, thus
putting my case on the same footing
as other criminal cases; will guar
antee that all trial juries In my case
shall be composed of six upright DEM
ocrats and like number Of upright
Republicans; will guarantee that bail
will be granted me within the limits
Of 100000; will dismiss the indict-
ments against all parties used as pros
ecuttng witnesses, except myself,
leaving them free to testify without
fear. coercion. or restraint; and, last.
but by no means, least, will, in ad-
vance. by mutual agreement, select an
able, upright and impartial judge to
try my case. will, without any prom
ise of immunity, voluntarily and glad
ly, return to Kentucky. not only to
testify in the Powers case, but to sub
NIT myself to trial before Jury Of
my native state"