The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-06-16
Governor Of Kentucky Ends Famous
case-Gives Reasons for Issuing,
Pardon-8elieved Howard Was Not
Guilty Of Completely.

SECRETARY aof state, and as Caleb Pow
ers was then filling that position sus-
IiciOn was at once directed toward
him and his arrest followed. Four
times has Powers been put on trial
for his life on the charge Of compile
lty in the murder, the first trial re-
sulting in conviction and sentence to
death being the verdict.
On the fourth trial, which came aft
er the ase had been carried to the
United States courts, being finally ap-
pealed to the supreme court, which
sent 1t back to the state courts, the
jury disagreed, and thereupon efforts
for a pardon for Powers, as well as
for James Howard, who had been
convicted some years ago on a charge
OF completely, were renewed. Many
hundreds of thousands of signatures
OF people of all parts of the country
were appended to the petitions that
poured in on Governor Wilson, who
for several weeks has been consider
ing the cast. His decision was made
known today in the shape of q formal
statement Of the facts and his rea-
son therefor.
s@@H&4s&#%S tNVaOVIo @lVUS&E 0bOVbI0s 8%g&l%&{
Governor Wilson gave out the fol
lowing reasons for pardoning Caleb
Powers and JamesgB. Howard:
Application has been made to the
governor for the pardon of Caleb
Powers, who stands charged by in
dictment, found in the Franklin cir
cult court and afterward transferred
on change Of venue to the Scott cir
cult court, with the crime Of being
accessory before the fact to the will
full murder Of William Goebel.'
The application is supported by
petitions recommending the pardon Of
the accused signed by nearly 100000
persons, some 100000 Kentuckians,
and a large portion are democrats.
1T Is not likely that at any time
during my term Of Office shall. l be
called upon to decide matters Of
graver Importance than those pre-
sented by the applications for pardon
Of Caleb Powers and James B. How
ard. I have given to their considera-
ton the most careful, conscientious
and thorough investigation and
thought in my power. / realize that
whatever my decision may be 1t will
be harshly criticised. 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.
The GoebeI Murder.
THE murder Of Senator Goebel de-
stroyed a remarkable life, brought the
deepest grief to his family and thou
sands of friends who loved him, over
threw q whole state election, destroy.
ed the peace and good feeling Of the
state for eight years, set neighbor
again-t neighbor, made pol...cs almost
war, stained the good name of Ken
lucky and shocked the civilized
world. The sympathy which makes
al the world akin. Of every good mar
and woman, is with the brothers,
kinsmen and friends Of the victim Of
the murder.
Z have not heard or considered, but
have refused to consider private or
secret requests or appeals in either
of these cases, and have without ex-
ception required all proceedings to be
heard publicly in the presence of rep
resentatives on 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 the de-
cision. 81
Startled the State.
There were rumOrs of threats that
the republican state officers were to
be turned out of Office and fraud and
violence and they appealed to the
state to protect them, and on the
other side similar reports Of intense
violence were taken as true. The e
element increased as the contest
went on and there was reason for the
constant fear that the passions and
menace OF the contest might any day
suddenly break out in a clash which
would cause loss OF life and disgrace
Kentucky.
Reasonable men on both sides
tried to quiet the excitement and to
disprove the rumors and to maintain
and uphold law and order. The state
officers believed there was grave dan
ger and that the peoples selection
would be wrongfully set aside and
that their lives were not safe and In
some instances added fuel to the
flames which later on returned to
plague them; but through all the
storm the great body Of the people
men and most of the members Of the
general assembly kept their senses
and went OF under the constitution
and law and the whole state was full
of hope for a fair decision OF the con
test on its merits when suddenly ey,
erybody was startled by the news OF
the. murder of Senator Goebel and
there ensued such q storm of passion,
that while many good men on both
sides stood frm, the voice Of reason
was drowned in the tumult.
peace and good will, law and order
and the support Of the government OF
the state we're for the time almost
destroyed. The commonwealth was
rent by partisan threats and cries for
vengeance end terror took the place
Of law.
The omsers Of the law. close per.
SEAL Friends of the murdered senator.
kppsTed by duty and eifection alike,
need every effort 70 agenge the muir
Hses2sclue and rumor were eagerly
mon and followed up with all