Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1909-04-29
Gov. Wilson Clears Records OF
All Charges Growing Out Of
GOebel Murder.
YOUTSEY ONLY ONE TO SUFFER
Finley and Others Under Indictment
Also ardoned-Taylor and Fin
ley Are Grateful.

Frankfort, Ky, April 25.-Gov. Will
son last evening cleared the Kentucky
court records of all charges growing
out of the murder. in January, 1900,
of Senator William Goebel who was
declared to have been elected govern
or. except those hanging over states
evidence witnesses in the alleged con-
spiracy, by granting pardons before
trial to former Gov. w. S. Taylor and
former Secretary of State Charles
Finley, who have been fugitives in the
State of Indiana for nine years; to
John Powers, brother of Caleb Pow
ers who is believed to be in Hondu-
ras; to Holland Whitaker of Butler
county, John Davis of Louisville and
Zach Steele Of Bell county, under in
dictment. and who did not fee the
state.
Youtsey Only One to Suffer.
Those over whom indictments are
left hanging are Wharton Golden Of
Knox county, now in Colorado; Frank
Cecil of Bell county. now railroad
detective in st. Louis, and w. H. Gull
ton of Owsley county, said to have
died in the west a few months ago
These cases, with the possible excep-
ton of Cecil, will be dismissed. leav-
ing Henry E. Youtsey, now serving a
life sentence in the state penitentiary,
the only person to suffer for Goebers
death.
Reiterating the belief he expressed
some months ago when he granted
no To vol
B. Howard, that no one but Youtsey
had part in the murder, and that it
was not conspiracy, as the common
wealth charged, Gov. Wilson says
that he believes it sacred duty,
which |
Must No Longer Delay,
to carry this belief into effect" and
grant pardons to the men charged
and who fled the state as they had
the greatest reasons to believe" that
they could not have q fair trial and
if they stayed here would be forced to
trial before a partisan jury under
conditions which would give them nc
chance at all for just decision.
In extending clemency in the Tay
lor case the governor says:
From the fair, impartial study of
the reports of all the trials (of Pow
ers, Howard and others) and from my
knowledge of the conditions of these
times, | believe that Gov William S.
Taylor had no guilty knowledge of the
murder Of William Goebel and that he
would never have been indicted but
for political excitement and passion
Taylor and Finley Grateful.
indianapolis, April 25.-William S.
Taylor and Charles Finley late last
night issued joint statement to the
public in which they expressed their
gratitude for relief from great bur
den and to their old friends in Ken
lucky and their new friends in In
diana, who had stood by them in the
hours of dire need. They protested
their innocence of murder and de-
,, clared that for nine years they had
pleaded for a trial-a fair trial. There
never was time when they were not
anxious to return to Kentucky for
such !, trial. These pleas for simple
justice had always been denied
Mr.. Taylor stated that he would
never return to Kentucky to make his
home. He has established law prac-
tice in indianapolis and made business
connections that are permanent Mr.
Finley has never engaged in business
here, and has been only waiting and
hoping for the pardon that would per-
nit his going home He was deeply
affected last night.