The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-04-24
Governor Wilson Says No One
But YOutsey Guilty.
ExiIes, Who Have Been Hiding From
Political Persecution, Free.
TAYLOR WANTED FAIR TRIAL

growing out of the murder in jan
luary. 1900, Of Senator William Goe-
lbel. except those hanging over me
states evidence witnesses in the al
LEGGED conspiracy, by granting par
dons before trial to former governor
wv s Taylor and former Secretary
of State Charles Finley, who have
been fugitives in Indianapolis for
nine years. to John Powers. brother
of Caleb Powers, who Is believed TO
be in Honduras; 20 Holland Whit
taker. of Butler county; John Davis.
of Louisville, and Seach Steele. OF
Bell county, under indictment, and
who did not fee the state.
Three Under Indictment.
Those over whom indictments are
left hanging are Wharton Golden, Of
Knox county. now in Colorado; Frank
Cecil. OF Bell county. now a Bailroad
detective in st. Louis; William II.
Culton. OF Owsley county, said to
have died in the west few months
ago.
These cases. with the exception Of
Cecil, will be dismissed. leaving Henry
Il. Youtsey, now serving life SEN
tence in the penitentiary, the only
person to suffer for the killing OF
Goebel. Reiterating the belief he ex-
pressed some months ago when he
granted pardons to Caleb Powers and
James B. Howard, that no one but
Youtsey had any part in the murder,
and that II was not a conspiracy as
the commonwealth charged. Governor
Wilson says he believes It "his
sacred duty which he must not longer
delay to carry this belief into effect.
and grant pardOns 20 those who were
so charged, and they had the greatest
reasons TO believe that they could
not have a fair trial. and II they
stayed here would be forced to a trial
before partisan jury under cOndi-
lions which would give them no
chance at all for just decision
TayIor's Statement.
In extending clemency in Taylor's
case, the governor, after reviewing
the state gubernatorial election OF
1888 and the contest Instituted be
fore the legislature by Goebel. SAYS;
"When Powers and Rewards appli-
cations for pardons were presented
a public hearing was had and the
whole history and the course of the
prosecutions were thoroughly dis
cussed and theories OF prosecution
and defense made perfectly clear
and I became thoroughly familiar
with the whole case of the prosecu'
ton and defense.
AFTER that hearing the whole rec
ord Of all the trials. with the opinion
of the court Of appeals. was faithful,
Tread. and after giving these cases the
most Impartial consideration which
an earnest wish and purpose TO de
eide rightly could give them,
reached the firm and earnest belle
that Powers and Howard we're mo-
guilty. and issued the pardons.
"The only evidence in all the foul
trials of Powers and the three trials
of Howard by which the prosecution
in any way attempted 20 connect
Taylor with the murder was the ties
tlmony as TO his writing to get How
ard to come to Frankfort to Kill Goe
bel and tending to show that Howard
on the request in that letter did com'
TO Frankfort. entered into the p!ai
and committed the murder
believes Taylor Not Guilty.
| "But Howard did not kill Goebe
and Taylor could not be guilty o
getting Howard to do what he OK
not do.
From a fair, impartial study o
1.-THE reports of all the trials and from
my knowledge OF the conditions Q
these times, believe Taylor had n
guilty knowledge OF the murder
Goebel, and that he would never nav
been indicted but for political excite
ment and passions.
"Taylor's experience has been on
of the saddest in the history OF IN
commonwealth. In 1899 he wa
elected governor of Kentucky an
reached the greatest honor that coui
lhave been within his brightest hope
He was fulfilling. his duties faithful
when this tragedy and storm OF Zee
ling following the browning glory
a useful life. cverthrew the eieete
state government and put in peril u
safety Of the people.
Made No Requlsition.
"While Governors Mount ana Du
bin. OF Indiana, refused requisitlon
no applications were made 70 the
lsuccessor, Governor Hanley' durii
. his four years and no request n