Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-13

Who parioned today by Governor Wilson.
while the contest of William Goebel for
the gubernatorial seat occupied by Will
liam S. Taylor was being heard. Goebel
was Shot. dying later from his wound.
The shot was believed to have come
from a half-opened window Of the sec
retary of states Office. and as Caleb Pow
ers was then secretary of state sus-
picion fell on him and his arrest followed
Four times had Powers been put on trial
for his life on the charge of completely
in conviction and sentence, death being
the penalty in two trials.
On the fourth trial. which came after
the case had been carried to the United
States court. and had finally been ap-
pealed to the Supreme Court. which
turned it back to the state courts. the
jury disagreed. and thereupon the enorts
for a pardon for Powers as we'll as for
James Howard. who had been convicted
some years ago on charges of completely.
were renewed.
Many thousand signatures Of people or
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 pardon and his
reasons therefor. which he gave to the
press at once.
Gov. Wilson's Statement.
Gov. Wilson gave out the following rea-
sons for pardoning the two men:
application has been made to the gov
ernor for the pardon Of Caleb Powers.
who stands charged by indictment found
| in the Franklin circuit court, and after
ward transferred on change of venue to
the Scott circuit court. with the crime OF
| being accessory before the fact to the
| Ivrrill II Of &c
| application is supported by petitions rec
ommending the pardon of the accused
| signed by nearly 5OO.OOO persons. some
100000 kentuckians, and a large proper
| tion are democrats.
| 1T is not likely that at any time during
my term of Office I 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. / have given to their considera-
tion the most careful. conscientious and
thorough investigation and thought in my
power. / realize that whatever my de-
! cision 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 murder of Senator Goebel de-
stroyed remarkable life. brought the
! deepest grief to his family and thou
sands 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
| neighbor. made politics almost war.
stained the good name of Kentucky and
shocked the civilized world. There was
and is no shadow of excuse or pallia :
! tion for this base crime. There can be
murder or of aiding or H:etting 1t. but
the more grave the crime the more seri
Gus is the responsibility of deciding the
| question of guilt and the more impera
i tive the duty of guarding against in
| Justice and wrong imposed under the
pressure of public excit ement. passion
or prejudice.
The sympathy which makes all the
| world akin. of every good man and
woman. is with the brothers. kinsmen
and friends of the victim of the MUIR
! der.
Il have not heard nor considered. but
| have refused to cOnside" my private
or secret request or appeal in either
of these cases without exception"
Many Dramatic Incidents.
The campaign that ended in the de-
feat of Goebel at the polls. the struggle
incident to his Legislative contest
whereby he snatched the governorship
from Taylor, his assassination and the
campaign Of prescription waged by his
partisans after his death were replete
| with dramatic situations and crowded
the stage with actors who PLAYED i'm
portant parts, but of all the partici.