Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-06-14
CALEB POWERS AND
JAS. HOWARD FREED
CASE HAS BEEN IN PUBLIC EYE
EIGHT YEARS
Formsr Kentucky Secretary Of State
Four Times Tried for Killing OF
Goebei and Twice Con-
demned to Death


cision of the contest on its merits when
suddenly everybody was startled by
the news of the murder OF Senator
Goebel. and there ensued such storm
of passion and excitement that while
many good men of both parties stood
firm 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 were for the time almost de-
stroyed. The commonwealth was rent
by partisan threats and cries for VEN
geance, and terror took the place of
law.
1.-THE officers of the law, close per-
sonal and political friends of the muir
dered senator, spurred on by duty and
affection alike. made every effort to
avenge the murder, and every clew and
rumor were eagerly seized upon and
followed up with all of the energy that
horror of the crime and personal devo-
ton could inspire, and all sorts and
kinds of men, good and bad, honest and
dishonest, and harpies attracted by the
reward, Joined in the man hunt. The
brothers of William Goebel, devotedly
attached to his memory, made 1t the
chief end of their lives to punish the
criminal, and in that they had the
sympathy of every good man and
woman
Reviews Situation
After reviewing the situation in
which Kentucky found itself, with the
people divided into hostile factions over
the noted case with all of it's features
of political strife and hatred, the gov
ernor says:
81 have considered the case regard
less of, my personal wishes, sympathy
or first Impressions and wholly in the
light of truth and right. I never seek
to avoid criticism or win praise. But
reverently thank God that IT has come
to pass that / should be the instrument
of Justice and mercy as God has given
me to see my duty and know the right,
and my faith is that peace and neigh
borly feeling will put an end to those
troubles.
IT grant Caleb Powers a full and un-
conditional pardon for the offense with
ration to all his rights OF citizenship.
and order that he be forthwith released
from Jail.
my reason for granting pardon Is
that / am firmly convinced that he is,
beyond all reasonable doubt, innocent
of the crime charged against MIN, ana
that any further prosecution against
great wrong and against the peace anu
well-b being of the commonwealth.
"In the trial of Youtsey the state con-
tended earnestly for a verdict in that
he fired the fatal shot, and my reading
of the testimony leaves no doubt that
this charge was conclusively proved. At
the end of his trial he accepted and
decided not to appeal from the sentence
of Imprisonment for life.
Duty to End Struggle
"There Is very little hope of ever hav-
ling a Jury trial Of this case in Kentucky
without political questions uppermost
in the minds of the court and counsel
and because of this the struggle of the
defendant, with no means except those
given him, against the whole power OF
the commonwealth, feel it a duty to
end this futile struggle, the anxiety
distress and waste of time, money and
care, and take away from both parties
the bone of contention; to do all that
can to restore peace to the state.
e'For these reasons I pardon Calet
Powers and order his immediate release
from the Scott county jail at George
town, this June 10, 1908. (Signed)
AUGUSTUS WILSON,
Governor of Kentucky"
The governors reasons for the pardon
of James B. Howard are set forth to bt
that after careful examination of all OF
the evidence and proceedings of tht
trial he is satisfied that Howard hac
nothing whatever to do with the muir
der of William Goebel, but that Henry
Youtsey formed the plan which wal
carried out in the murder of Senator
Goebel