The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-06-17
CALEB POWERS PlnDofD.
ALLEGED ACCOMPLICE OF GOE.
BEL'S SLAYER FREED.
Ww1so2 Kentucky's Republican Chief
Execstive. Intervene IN Notorious
Anrder Casc-Howard is Also
Pasd0ne0.

POWERS and James Howard. Coy.
willson closed the last chapter Of one
OF Kentucky's noted cases. In which
the people Of all sections Of the UNI
ted States have formally 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
s&t occupied by william q. Taylor
vas being heard. 0oebei was mot.
dying later from his wound. The shot
was believed to have come from
half-opened window Of the the secre-
tary OF states once and. a. Caleb Pow.
ers was then secretary OF state, ,sus-
picion fell on him and his arrest fol-
lowed. Four times Powers has been
put on trial for his life on the charge
ct completely In the murder, three
trials resulting in conviction and scn-
tencs. death being the penalty in two
two trials. '
On the fourth trial. which came
after the case had been carried to the
United states court and hnally been
appealed 20 the supreme court,
which turned Il back to the state
courts. the jury disagreed and there
upon the efforts for q pardon for
Powers ~ well ~ for James Howard,
who had been convicted some years
ago on charges Of completely were re-
nswsd.
The names Of many thousands OF
people Of al parties and all sections
wsre appended to the petitions that
poured 10 on Gov. Wilson. who for
sevsral weeks has bssn considering
Ne cass. His dseisi6n was made
kaowa today in th% shape Of for
nal stats,asnt Of the pardon ana lis
esaseas thsrsfor. f.'
sSAfesr rseitipg the fact that the an
psscptisn fer psrdon had hssn aceom-
pAaisd ~ = pstitiSu fron nearly hslf|
: million psrsdns. some S4s.ooo Of
whom were Ksntuckians. Gov. wnl-
son In his statements reviewed the
history Of the. case. dspioring the
crime. and then saiA:
Tho sympthy which makes all the
world akin. Of every good man and
woman. II with the brothers. kinsmen
and friends Of the victim Of the MUIR
derer.
II have not heard nor considered.
but have refused to consider. any pri-
vate or secret request or apepal in
either Of these cases and have with
out exception required that all Of the
proceedingz should be heard publicly
In the presence Of representative OF
both sides. 20 that all should know
everything to which any weight was
given for or against the applications,
and that all the world should have q
chance to Judge that the reasons for
the decision were Just and righte-
GUS"
After detailing the political condi-
lions which existed when the murder
was committed. he continued:
II have considered the case re-
gardless Of my personal wishes, SYM
pathy or Ifirst impressions and wholly
In the light OF truth and right. I
neither seek to avoid criticism nor to
win applause. am reverently thank.
ful that I should be the instrument of
justice and mercy a. God has given
me to see my duty and know the
right and my faith II that good may
come OF II. that peace may end these
troubles.
IL grant Caleb Powers a full and
unconditional pardon for the offense
with which he stands charged, a res.
toration to all his rights Of citizen
ship and order that he forthwith be
released from the jail in which he Is
incsrcerated. My reason TOR granting
pardon In that I am firmly convinc-
ed that he In, beyond all reasonable
doubt, innocent Of the crime charged
against him In the indictment and
that any further prosecution against
him for the crime 90 charged would
De great wrong and against the
peace and wellbeing Of the common
wealth. ... y...
In the trial Of Youtsey the State
contended earnestly for q verdict that
he nred the fatal shot. Ny reading Of
the testimony leaves no doubt that
this charge was conclusively proved.
At the end Of his trial Youtsey ac-
cepted q life sentence and decided not
to appeal.