The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1908-06-19

cumstanoes. The facts in the history
of the prosecution of Powers, as known
10 all need not be here detailed.
FOR PUBLIC WELFARE.
1T is sufficinet to say that the Gov
ernor deems This an extraordinary
case and that the exercise now of the
power of pardon and the discharge of
the accused from futher prosecution
is required by the highest consider
atoms of public welfare to say moth
ing of the injuries that will be done
by the further prosecution of man
who cannot possibly under any evil
dence heretofore adduced or likely TO
be adduced be found guilty by an i'm
partial non-partisan jury and yet has
been refused admission TO bail, SO that
his application cannot be refused with
out continuing indefinitely the i'm
prsonment already continued eight
years of man never legally convict
ed and almost acquitted on the only
trial which has not been reversed.
REASONS FOR PARDON.
He sent for his private stenographer
Friday afternoon and had every
Thing in readiness TO dictate his rea-
sons for the extension of executive
clemency. Gov. Wilson's reasons are
as follows:
application has been made TO the
Governor for the pardon of Caleb Pow
ers who stands charged by Indictment
found in the Franklin Circuit Court
and afterward transferred on change
of venue 10 the Scott Circuit Court
with the crime of being accessory be-
fore the fact 10 the willful murder of
William Goebel.
The application is supported by pc
titions recommending the pardon of the
accused, signed by nearly 100000 per-
sons some 100000 Kentuckians, and
a large proportion are Democrats.
1T is not likely that at any time
during my term of office | shall be
called upon to decide matters of graver
Importance than those presented by
the applications for pardon of Caleb
Powers and James b. Howard.
CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.
81 have given to their consideration
the most careful, conscientious and
thorough investigation and thought in
my power. ! realize that Whatever my
decision may be. it will be harshly
For more than eight years
this group of cases have held the at
tention of the whole STATE, and in
deed of the whole country as no cases
in this Safe every did before.
The murder of Senator Goebel de-
stroyed remarkable life brought the
deepest grief 10 his family and thou
sands of friends who loved him, over
nrew whole S ate election. destroy
ed the peace and good feeling of the
Safe for eighC years, Sc. neighbor
against neighbor, made politics almost
war, stained the good name of Ken
lucky and shocked the civilized world.
no SECRET APPEALS.
81 have not heard nor considered,
but have refused TO consider any pri-
waite or secret request or appeal in
either of these cases and have with
out exception required that all of the
should be heard publicly
in the presence of representatives of
both sides so that all should know
everything 10 which any weight was
given for or against the application
and that all the world should have |
chance to fudge whether the reasons
for the decision were just and right
eous.
The conditions which existed when
the murder was committed BATTLE de-
and already after only eight
years, seem incredible. The bitter
struggle in the Democratic party had |
resulted in the election of the Repub-
Iiican State officers and the usual of
certificates of election to them by two
of three members of the State Elec-
ton Board all three being Demo-
Gratis.
LOWED BY CONTESTS.
This was fonowed by a contest up
On the two grounds of military intimida
ton in Louisville and tissue ballots,
with no real merit in either charge.
There were threats and rumor that
The Republican State officers were to
be turned out of office by fraud and
and they appealed to the peo-
pie to protec5 them and on the ottrer
side similar reports of intended vio-
ence were taken as true.
The excitement increased as the
contest went on and there was reason
'or tn constant fear that passion
and menace of the contest might any
lay suddenly break out in clash
which would cause loss OF life and dis
grace Kentucky.
TRY TO DISPEL EXCITEMENT.