Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-14
GIVES OUT A Statement
Will Remain in Retirement to Re.
gain His Health.
70 RESUME LAW PRACTICE
1vades Reply to Query About Poll.
tics-aov. Wilson's Reasons
for Pardous-Howasd' Case.

which he says:
1.-THE decision Of Gov. Wilson to the
effect that an, entitled to my liberty
after his long and painstaking examina.
| ton Of the records in all the triala is.
think, As much q vindication Of my
good name a. though my liberty had
come through the decision Of the average
jury, especially in view Of the fact that
ten OF the jury In the last trial voted for
my acduittal.
AMI vtll remain there q few weeks In
tho hope Of regaining my health. II my
health 10 suf1cientiy recovered by Sop
tensoer l shall re-entsr the practice Of
law In my home town. Barboursvilie, KY,
unless something much better presents
itself between now and then.
Asked If he meant to re-enter politics.
Powers said:
Don't mention politics to me. 70 all
since the inception OF my trouble again
express my lasting gratitude"
Gov. wilson's Statement.
FRANKFORT. KY. June 13.-tsov. Will
son gave out the following reasons for
pardoning the two men:
Application has been made 70 the gov
ernor for tho pardon Ct Caleb Powers
who stands charged BY Indictment found
IN the Franklin circuit court. and after
ward transferred on change Of venue. to
the Scott circuit court. with the crime Of
being accessory before the fact to the
willful murder Of william Goebel' The
application is supported by petitions rec
o o,S the pardon .Sc ~ Of the accused
24O. 600 Kentuckians, and a large proper
ton are democrats.
1T is not likely that at any time during
my tern Of once shall be called upon
than shS:. 8 sss
for pardon OF Caleb Powers and James B.
Howard. have given to their constdera-
ton the most careful. conscientious and
thorough investigation and thought in my
power. I realise that whatever my de-
ctsion may be 1t will be harshly criticised
For moro than eight years this group OF
cases has held the attention. OF the whole
state ana indeed, Of the whole country
as no cases in this state ever did before
stroyed 4 remarkable life. brought the
deepest grief to his family and thou
sands OF friends who loved him: over:
threw I whole state election; destroyed
for eight years; set neiShbor against
nelGhbor; made politics almost war;
stained the good name Of Kentucky. and
shocked the civiiised world
No 1alliation for Base Crime.
'"rhere was and 10 no shadow Of excuse
or palliation tor this base crime. There
can Be no mercy for any one guilty OF the
murder or Of aiding or abetting II, but
the more grave the crime the more teri.
Gus IL the responsibility Of deciding the
question OF guilt and the more ifnpera-
tive the duty Of guarding against In.
justice and wrong imposed under the
pressure Of public excitement, passion or
prejudice. tit, ~ al -.
world akin Of every good man and won1-
an is with the brother. ktnsn1en and
friends OF the victim Of the murder:
Il have not heard nor considered. but
secret request or appeal in either Of these
cases without exception. and have without
exception required that all Of the pro-
ceedtnEs should be heard publicly IN the
presence OF representatives Of both sides
50 that all should know everything to
| which any weight was given for or
against the applications. and that all the
world should have \ chance to Judge that
the reasons for tho decision were just
I and righteous"
Political Conditions.
After detailing the political conditions
which existed when the murder was COM
mitted, bitter struggle in the democratic
party having resulted In the election OF
| the republican state ofncers and certid-
! Gates Of election having been issued to
| them BY two OF the three members OF the
state election board, and three being DEM
ocrats Gov. Wilson's statement says that
| in the bitter contest which ensued. "ex-
| element increased ~ the contest went
on. and there was reason to fear that the
| passions and excitement OF the day might
any day break out In 4 claah which would
cause loss Of life and disgrace Kentucky
This was the state Of affairs, says the
| statement when the news Of the murder
| OF Senator Goebel was followed by such
storm Of passion and excitement that
stood Arm the voice OF reason was
| downed In the tumult.
Selfish politicians in turn put the feel
| ing against the crime for base use and for
land the whole state was divided into
| two camps. with neiEhbor against neigh
Dor in frenzy. while all the world marvel
ed at the sight. until 1T last the pas
sion was spent and tho people gave their
trust and confidence e my promise 70
consider the cases just like other cases, on
the law and the facts.
Regardless Of Personal Wishes.
| Il have considered the case regardless
Of my personal wishes. sympathy or hrst
| impressions. and wholly in the light OF
| tTutn ana right ! ucltu0g SceA 10 oVOlO
criticism nor win praise-and my faith Ia
that good may come Of it. that peace may
| end these troubles.
Il grant Caleb Powers . full and un-
conditional pardon for the odense with
| which he stands indicted. . restoration to
all his rights OF citizenship and order that
he forthwith be released from the Jail in
which he Is incsrcerated. My reason for
granting q pardon is that l am firmly
| convinced that he Is. beyond all reason
able doubt. innocent Of tho crime charged
against him in the indictment and that
any further prosecution against him tot
the crime so charged would be q great
wrong and against the peace and vel
being OF the Commonwealth.
| The TRIAL Of Youtsey.
I'm the trial Of Youtsey the state con.
tended earnestly for verdict that he
fired the fatal shot. My reading Of the
testimony leaves no doubt that this chstze
was cnnclusivsiy proved. At the end Of
his trial Youtsey ace .pted life sentence
and decided not to appeal.
There 10 very little hope Of ever hav-
| inx 4 Jury trial Of this case In kentucky
| without political questions upperuanst il,
| the minds OF the court. the counsel and
tho jury. Because Of this and the unequal
| struggle Of the defendant. with no m.ans
| except those given him against the whole
power OF tho commonwealth, feel 1. q
plain duty to end this futile struxRle. the
anxisty. distress and waste Of time,