The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-24
Gov. Wilson of Kentucky Ends
the GOebel Case
By PardOning All Under Indict-
ment for the Murder.
YOUTSEY IN PRISON
Alone Must Suffer for the Nine
Year Old Tragedy.
Chief Executive Believes There
Was No Conspiracy.

Frankfort, Ky, April Ex-Governor
Wilson has granted pardons to former
Governor w. S. Taylor and former Sec
retary of State Chas. Finley, both refu-
gees in Indiana, charged with conf
pliclty in the murder of William Goebei
in 1900
In addition to the pardons granted to
Taylor and Finley, similar pardons are
issued to all others remaining under in
dictment and not yet tried in connec-
tion with the Goebel murder. The
petition asking for pardon of Taylor
and Finley was presented to Governor
Wilson by Caleb Powers, who himself
had only recently been pardoned by the
governor after four trials for alleged
connection with the same crime. The
petition was largely signed in Ken
lucky and other states.
Governor Wilson's action cleared the
Kentucky court records of all charges
growing out of the murder in January.
1900. of Senator VIM. Goebel, who was
declared to have been elected governor,
except those hanging over states evil
dence witnesses in the alleged con-
spiracy. The additional pardons were
granted to John Powers, brother of
Caleb Powers, who is believed to be in
Honduras; to Holland Whitaker of
Butler county; John Davis of Louis
vile, and Zach Steele of Bell county,
under Indictment and who did not flee
the state.
Youtsey Suffers Alone.
Those over whom indictments are left
hanging are Wharton Golden of Knox
county. now in Colorado; Frank Cecil
of Bell county, now railroad detec-
tive in ST. Louis and VIM. H. Culton of
Owsley county, said to have died in the
west a few months ago. These cases,
with the possible exception of Cecil;
will be dimissed, leaving Henry E.
Youtsey. now serving a life sentence in
| the state penitentiary, the only person
| to suffer for the taking off of Goebel.
| Reiterating the belief he expressed
some months ago when he granted par
| dons to Caleb Powers and James B.
Howard, that no one but Youtsey had
| a part in the murder and it was not a.
conspiracy, Governor Wilson says that
| he believes it sacred duty, which 1
must no longer delay, to carry this be-
| lief into execution.
Indianapolis, April 24.-William S.
| Taylor and Charles Finley, one for
mer governor. the other secretary of
1 state of Kentucky, exiled for nine
years from that state. under the
| charge of completely in the assassina
| tion of VIM. Goebel have given out
| the following statement:
| ''The final ending by Gov. Wilson
| of the terrible reign of wrong and
persecution of innocent men in Ken
| lucky is to our mind an added proof
| that there is a God in Israel and
that right will not remain forever on
| the scaffold. nor wrong forever on
| the throne.
'.The long agony is over at last.
Kentucky now ends the persecution
begun nine years ago in her name.
Nothing, of course can ever make
| full amends for the great wrong that
| has been done us. nor for what We
| have suffered and lost.
| while the action of Governor Will
son ends these prosecutions it does not
nr76 VIC O.
| ferred For nine years we have
pleaded for a fair trial. There never
| has been a moment during this time
when we would not have been willing
and were not anxious to return to
| Kentucky for such trial. These pleas
| for simple justice have always been
| denied
Mr.. Taylor stated that he would
never return to Kentucky to make his
home He has established law
practice in Indianapolis and has made
| business connections that are per-
| manent-
II have no immediate plan to re-
| turn to Kentucky. even for visit he
said. Mr.. Finley will soon return 20
| Kentucky to visit his aged parents at
! williamsburg
History of the Case.
| Frankfort. KY, April 24.-The guber-
material campaign in 1899. in which the
| candidates were State Senator William
Goebel, Democrat. William S. Taylor,
! then attorney general, republican, and
! former Governor John Young Brown,
holting Democrat, was one of the most
/ hitter ever held in the state.
| Following the election. which showed
that TAYLOR had received majority of
about $500 on the face of the returns.
Senator Goebel and his associates on
the regular Democrat ticket fled con-
! tests. During the progress of the hear
| ing before the legislature in the guber-
/ material contest hundreds of mountain
! eers were imported here. 1t was charg-
/ ed by Taylor, Finley and others. The
state capitol, as the contest progressed,
was overrun with partisans of both
factions and bitterness increased.
The aSSa estimation of Senator Goebel
was committed in front of the state
house on January 80, the shot being
fired as afterward conceded in various
trials from the office of Caleb Powers,
the secretary of state. and adjoining
the reception room of the executive Of
fees. It was proved that Powers had
gone to Louisville that day to arrange
for the bringing to Frankfort Of more
men and that the key to his office had
been secured by Henry Youtsey then
private secretary to Governor Taylor.
Great excitement followed the shoot
ing and for some time following the
out by Governor Taylor. The Demo-
cratic majority in the legislature de-
ciared Senator Goebel governor and he
was sworn in practically on his death
| bed He died February 3, 1900
Warrants charging Powers and sew
eral others with completely in the as
sassination were sworn out soon after
the tragedy. Governor Taylor was not
formally accused of connection with
| until the return of an indictment by the
grand jury in April, 1900.
| Weather Indications.