The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-08-29
TAYLOR OFFERS TO STAND TRIAL.
Ex-Governor Offered To Go To
kentuckyUnder Conditions,

indianapolis, Ind, Aug. 24.-(Special.)
William S. Taylor, who was governor
of kentucky at the time of the
assassination of Governor-Elect William
Goebel seven years ago, offers to return
to kentucky as a witness in the Powers
case ii given certain guarantees.
Political feelings ran so high in Ken
lucky after Goebel's murder that lay
lor, who was a republican, sought re-
fuge in Indiana Immediately after his
term of office expired.
He was accused of having part in the
conspiracy to murder Goebel and indict-
ed. Successfully the republican gov
ernors of Indiana have always refused
to grant requisition warrants which
the democratic authorities made upon
them for his arrest.
Caleb Powers, who was secretary of
state in Kentucky at the time, has been
tried and sentenced to be hanged for
the murder of Goebel. Each time the
higher courts have granted him new
trial. He is soon to be placed on trial
fourth time. Taylor's presence is
wanted as a witness. 1t was to secure
his attendance that the Kentucky
authorities recently offered him immun-
ity from arrest.
Last night Taylor replied in a signed
statement, which he says is the first
public statement he has made since
leaving his native state. He 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 lib
erty, and for no other reason, indicted
and drove me to exile. l trust an in
dulgent public will permit me now to
break that silence.
Commonwealth Attorney Robert B.
Franklin knows that have fully testi-
fed i'll the Powers case, by deposition.
This testimony is 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 it, and did not do so. He knows
that neither he nor any other officer or
combination of officers in Kentucky has
the legal power to grant immunity, and
that were | to return under such prom
Use of immunity | would at once be ar
rested, denied bail, and like Mr.. Powers,
be subjected to nothing less than
mock trial by partisan court, before
packed partisan jury, and with 100000
corruption fund as powerful incentive
to conviction. The law is clear that
Mr.. Franklin or any other officer has no
power to promise immunity.
"But inasmuch as Mr.. Franklin
and seems enamored of the idea that he
can do things, will say this: If he will
in some way, provide an absolute guar
q ntu-rnf y,,nrn1I, ~,
that will inspire confidence among SEN
anty the spirit of which may not be
violated, though the letter be observed
that will be G wen fair and impair
tial trial, l will gladly return to Ken
lucky and submit to trial.
''In other words if Mr.. Franklin will
cause what remains of the 100000 cor
ruptlon fund to be returned to the
treasury of Kentucky, no part of it to
be used in these prosecutions, thus put
ting my case on the same footing as
other criminal cases; will guarantee
that all trial juries in my case shall be
composed of six upright democrats and
like number of six upright republic
cans; will guarantee that bail will be
granted me within the limits of S100,000
will dismiss the indictments against all
parties used as prosecuting witnesses
except myself, leaving them free to
testify without fear, coercion or re-
straint; and, last, but by no means least,
will in advance, by mutual agreement,
select an able, upright and impartial
judge to try my case, l will, without
any promise Of immunity, voluntarily
and gladly return to Kentucky, not only
to testify in the Powers case, but to
submit myself to trial before jury of
my native state