The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-06-18
Governor Explains Action.

Gov. Wilson gave out the following
reasons for pardunng Powers and How
ard:
Application has been made TO the Cover
nor for the pardon of Caleb Powers, VINO
stands charged 10y indictment found III the
Franklin circuit court and afterwards
transferred on change of venue to the
Scott circuit court with the crime of be-
ing accessory before the fact to the wiIiui
murder of William Goebel. The apptca-
ton is supported by petitions rccommcnd-
Ing the pardon of the accused, signed by
nearly 10000 persons, some 10000 Ken
tuckians, and a large proportion are Demo
Gratis.
1t is not likely that at any time during
my term of office / shall be called upon 10
decide matters OF grayer importance man
those presented py the Applications Tor
pardon OF Cabel Powers and James Il. How
ard / have given to their consideration
the most careful, conscientious and thof-
ough investigation and thought in my pow
or. | realize that whatever my decision
may be it will be harshly criticised. FOR
more than eight years tins group OF casvS
has held the attention Of the whole st"te'
and, indeed, of the whole country, AS no
cases in this state ever did before.
Stained Kentucky's Name.
The murder of senator Goebel destroyed
4 remarkable life, put the deepest grief TO
his family and thousands Of friends VINO
loved him, overthrow a whole state oiev'
ton, destroyed the peace and good ltcl'hs
of the state for eight years. set helShooI
against neighbor, made politics almost war
stained the good name of kentucky ana
shocked the civilized world, There was,
and is 10 shadow OF excuse OF Pa','"''oH
Tor this base crime. There can be no
mercy for any one guilty Of the murder or
of aiding or abettlng it, nut the more grave
the crime, the more serious the RESPONSE
Illity of deciding the question or gum, ana
the more Imperative the uuty OF SuuIulh-
against Injustice aud wrong imposed uhurt
tic pressure Of public excitement, passion
or prejudice. .,.,
akin of every good man and woman, Is
With the brothers, kuSmru and friends OF
the victim of the murder.
Heard No Private Request.
have not heard nor considered, but have
refused To consider any private or secret
rpqurs. or appeal in either OF these cases,
ana have without exception required that
iii Of the proceedings should be heard pub
Ncly in the presence of representatives of
both sides 50 that all should know every
thing to which any weight was gwen Tor or
against the applications and mat all the
world should nave a chance to Judge that
the reasons for the decision were Just ana
The conditions which existed when the
murder was committed battle description
ana already after only eight years seem in
credible rhe bitter struggle in the Demo
cratic party had resulted in the election Of
the Ertuhlican state officers and the issue
of the certificates Of election to them by
two of the three members of the state cleo
lion hoard all three being Democrats.
After full argument before me in pubic
lv both sides and after most patient,
lHbor,uuS aud careful examination of an OF
the evidence, in the trials, | grant Caleb
Powers "A full and unconditional pardon tor
the OffenSe with which he stands charged,
and - restoration to all his rights of clt-
Zcnship aud order that he be forthwith
released from the jail.
Believes Powers Innocent.
state as my reason for granting n par
leyonl all reasonable doubt innocent OF
the crime charged against him, and that
any further prosecution against him for
the CRIME so charged would he a great
wrong aud against the peace and well be
Ing of the commonwealth.
| may say, IN addition. that, in my judy
mcnt. after the fullest inquiry, the release
OF the accused from liability to further
prosecution of the charge preferred against
people of kentucky without distinction as
TO party.
Caleb Powers was released from jail
Mt 10 o'clock and went at once to no
tel James +. Howard was also re-
leased from the pcnltentiary at Frank
fort this morning