The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-14
Governor Wilson Pardons
Him and Howard, Charged
With Goebel's Murder.
HALF MILLION SIGN
PETITION FOR PARDON
Kentucky Executive, i'll State
ment Issued, Tells Of Pressure
Brought to Bear on Him.
End of One Of Alnc-
rica's Famous
Cases.

| =
Gases.
FRANKFORT. KY, June 13.-By
announcing to-day the pardor of
Caleb Powers and James Howard,
i Governor Wilson closed the last
chapter Of one OF Kentucky's
noted cases in which the people of all
sections OF the United States have for
maily expressed their interest by sign
ing petitions for cemency.
| History Of Case.
| In the closing days OF January, eight
years ago, while tho contest of William
Goebel for the gubernatorial seat, oc-
cupied by William S, Taylor, was being
| heard, GoebeI was shot, dying later
from hts wounds. The shot was be-
lieved to have come from a half-opened
| window OF the Secretary of States
! office, and as Caleb Powers was then
Secretary OF State, suspicion fell on
him, and his arrest followed. Four
times has Powers been put on trial
| for his life on the charge of compile
]Ity In the murder. three trails resulting
in conviction and sentence. death be-
| ing the penalty in two. On the fourth
trial, which came after the case had
| been carried to the United States court.
| and had finally been appealed to the
Supreme Court. which turned 1t back
to the state courts, the jury disagreed,
and thercupon the efforts for pardon
| for Powers. as we'll as for James How
ard, who had been convicted some years
ago on charges OF completely, were
irenewed
| Many thousands of signatures of
people of all parties and all sections
were appended to the petitions that
lpoured In on Governor Wilson. who
ifor several weeks has been considering
1.-The case. His decision was made
| known to-day in the shape OF for
! NAL statement of the pardon and his
lreasons therefor.
Many Signed IT.
After reciting the fact that the appli-
! cation for pardon had been accompanied
/ by petition from nearly 100000 per-
sons, about 100000 OF whom are Ken
/ ltuckians. Governor Wilson. In his
statement. reviewed the history OF the
/ case, deploring the crime. and then
said:
1 "The sympathy which makes all the
world akin, of every good man and
woman. is with the brothers. kinsmen
| and friends of the victim OF the mur-
| der have not heard nor considered.
| but have refused to consider. any pri-
lvate or secret request or appeal IN
either OF these cases. and have, Win
lout exception, required that all OF the
proceedings should be heard publicly,
| in the presence OF representatives Of
both sides, so that all should know
everything to which any weight was
| given for or against the applications.
/ and that all the world should have a
| chance to Judge that the reasons for
the decision were Just and righteous"
Innocent, He Thinks.
After detailing the political condi-
tions which existed when the murder
Twas committed, he continued:
'I have examined the cases regard
less of my personal wishes. sympathy
Tor first Impressions. and wholly In the
Hight of truth and right. neither seek
to avoid criticism nor win praise.
am reverently thankful that I should
| be the Instrument Of justice and mercy
las God has given me to see my duty
and know the right and my faith is
that good may come Of 1t. that peace
may end these troubles.
IT grant Caleb Powers a full and un-
conditions! pardon for the offense
with which he stands accused; a trestor-
alton to all his rights of citizenship.
and order that he forthwith be released
4 from the Jail in which he is incarce-
rated. My reason for granting a par
don is that am firmly convinced that
he is, beyond all reasonable doubt, IN
nocent OF the crime charged against
him In the indictment, and that any
4 further prosecution against him for the
crime SO charged would be great
wrong. ana against the peace and we'll
being OF the Commonwealth.
Yout.ey Fired Shot
..In the trial OF Youtsey the State
4 contended earnestly for a verdict that
4 he fred the fatal shot. Ny reading
Of the testimony leaves no doubt that
this charge was conclusiyely proved
At the end of his trial Youtsey accepted
a life sentence, and decided not tc
4 appeal.
I. .There is very little hope ofEever
Having jury trial OF this case in Ken
lucky without political questions up
u permost in the minds fthe court, the
4 counsel and the jury. Because ofAthis
and the unequal struggle OF the de-
\ fendant with no means except those
II given him, against the whole power
of the Commonwealth I feel 1T a plain
duty to end this futile struggle, the
|;anxiety, distress and waste Of time
money and care, and toStake away from,
both parties the bone of contention and
4 do all / can to restore peace to the
State. ,53,
For these reasons I pardon Caleb
Powers and order his immediate re-
.lSlease from the Scott county Jail, at
i llSTeOTEetoWll, CnlS y JuHe q ID, tlSUo.,5
Howard PardOned.
Governor w llson also grants par
don to James 3. Howard upon the In
4 |dictment pending against him In the
4 sI3Franklin county court, charging subor-
nation OF perjury. Tho Governors rea-
son for tho pardon Of James B, Howard
land the restoration OF, Howard to all
4 the rghtsof citizenship.is that a care
l ful examination of all the evidence and
4 proceedings OF the trial satisfied hin,
i beyond all doubt hat Howard had
thing whatever4t TO do with the mur-
der of lam Goebel, but that Henry
4 ||Youtsey.ias set forth in4the reasons for
the Powers pardon, formed tho plan,
!. which was carried out for the murder
H OF Goebel, Vt *, 3s,
Powera'a Long Eight,
4 3 The campaign that ended In the defeat
u OF Goehel at the polls, the struggle 8inci-
Ident to shls legi iTlntlYe con tests whereby
he sratened the goYesnorsh hip from 1ay-
N Continued 7Fon SIXTH Page,J a