Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-06-13
Three Times Was He Convicted
OF Completely in Murder Of
William GoebeI.
TWICE SENTENCED TO DEATH
Kentucky Executive Issues State
ment Why He Extended
Clemenoy to Him.
Application for Pardon Supported by
Petitions Signed by Nearly 100000
Persons, Many Democrats.

Frankfort Ky. June 1S.-By an
nouncing the pardon today of Caleb
Powers and James Howard. Gov. Will
son closed the last chapter in one of
the most noted criminal cases in the
| history of tkis state. in which people
all over the United States have formal
| ly expressed their Interest by signing
petitions for pardon.
In the closing days Of January. eight
years ago. while the contest Of William
Goebel for the gubernatorial seat oc-
oupied by Gov Taylor was being held.
Goebel was shot dying later from his
wounds The shot was believed to
have come from half-open. window
of the secretary Of states office and,
as Caleb Powers was then filing that
position. suspicion was at once direct
ed toward him and his arrest follow
ed Four times has Powers been put
on trial for his life on the charge OF
completely in the murder the first
three trials resulting in conviction
and sentence. death being the penalty
in two trials
On the fourth trial. which came af-
ter the case had been carried to the
United States court being finally APP
peaIed to the supreme court, which
sent It back to the state courts, the
jury disagreed, and thereupon the eff
forts for pardon for Powers, as well
as for James Howard, who had been
convicted some years ago on charge
OF completely. were renewed. Many
| hundreds of thousands of signatures
| of people of all parties and all sections
were appended to the petitions that
| poured in on Gov, Wilson, who for
several weeks has been considering
the case. His decision was made
known today in the shape OF formal
statement OF the facts and his reasons
| therefor.
GOV, WILSON'S REASONS.
Gov. Wilson gave out the following
| reasons for pardontng Caleb Powers
and James b. Howard:
|, Application has been made TO the
governor for the pardon of Caleb Pow
ers VINO stands charged by indictment
found in the Franklin circuit court and
afterwards transferred on change OF
Venue to the Scott circuit court, with
| the fact to the wilful murder OF Will
| liam Goebel.'
IMMENSE PETITIONS.
THE application is supported by pc
| tltions recommending the pardon OF
| the accused signed by nearly 100000
| persons, some 100000 Kentuckians and
u large proportion are Democrats.
ut il not likely that at any time
during my term of office shall l be
| called upon to decide matters of gray
| er importance than those presented by
| the applications for pardon of Caleb
| Powers and James b. Howard. have
| given to their consideration the most
| careful. conscientious and thorough In
| SestigHtion and thought in my power
| | realize that whatever my decision
may be IL will be harshly critk,ized
For more than eight years this group
of cases has held the attention OF the
whole state and indeed, of the whole
country. as no cases IN this state ever
did before.
A REMARKABLE LIFE.
"Th murder of Senator Goehel des-
truyed remarkable life, brought the
| deepest grief to his family and thous-
/ ands OF friends who loved him, over
! threw a whole state election, destroyed
| the peace and good feeling OF the state
| for eight years, set neighbor against
! stained the good name Of Kentucky
| and shocked the civilized world. There
| was and is no shadow of excuse or
| nalliation for this base crime. There
can be no mercy for any one guilty OF
the murder or OF aiding or abetting
IL, but the more grave the crime, tho
more serious is the responsibility of
deciding the question Of guilt and ths
more imperative the duty OF guarding
against injustice and wrong imposed
under the pressure Of pubic excitement,
passion or prejudice.
THE sympathy which makes all tho
world akin Of every good man and
woman. Is with the brothers. kinsmen
and friends Of the victim OF the muir
der.
II have not heard nor considered. but
have refused to consider any private
or secret request or appeal IN either
OF these cases, and have without eN-
| ception required that all OF the pro
| ceedings should be heard publicly IN
| the presence Of representatives. on both
sides. so that an should know every
| thing 10 which any weight was given
| for or against the applications,and that
| all the world should have chance To
Judge that the reasons for the decision
were Just and righteous
CONDITIONS AT TIME FMuRpER
The conditions which existed
when the murder was committed hAt-
| no dissertation and already after only
| eight years seem iIErodlhle The Bit
ter struggle IN the Democratic party
| had resulted I'm the election Of Repub
| lean state officers and tho Issuance
NJ certificates ~ elections TO teen bN
two OF three members OF the state
election board, all three being Demo-
| Gratis. This was followed by contest
on the ground OF military intimidation
in Louisville aud mscounting of ball
lots with no real merit lu either charge.
RUMoRs or THREATS
There were rumors Of threats that
the Republican state officers were TO be
turned out Of Office by fraud ana
violence and they Appended To the state
10 protect them aud on the other side
similar reports ~ intended violence
were taken as true. The excitement
Increased as the contest went on and
there was reason for the constant fear
that the passions and 'nenace OF the