The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-04-24
kE:NTUCK
PARD0NS
REFUGEE


Special 10 Daily Leader.
Frankfort. Ky, April s4-Yeslerday
Governor Wilson granted pardons to
former Gosernor w. .. Taylor and
former Secretary Of State Charles Fin
Icy. both refugees IN indiana, charged
with completely IN the murder Of WI
liam Goebel In 1900.
In addition to the pardons granted
to Taylor ana Finley similar pardons
ire issued to all others remaining un.
der Indictment and not yet tried In
connection with the Goehel murder.
Powers Asked Psrdono.
The petition asking for peidon for
Taylor and Finley was presented to
Governor Wilson recently BY caleb
Powers, who himself had only recent
W been pardoned by the governor up.
on Indictment and after four trials
for alleged connection with che same
crime. The petition was largely sign.
cd in Kentucky and other states.
Clearing Record.
Governor Wilson's action olearen
the Kentucky court records " all
charges growing mi Of the murder
In January, 1900, Of Senator william
Goebel, who was declared to have
been elected governor, except those
hanging over states evidence witt
nesses IN the alleged conspiracy The
additional pardons vert granted TO
John Powers. who Is believed TO be IN
Honduras, to Holland Whitaker;
John Davis OF Louisville and zRch
Steele Of Bell county under indict.
ment and who did not Zee the state.
Youtsey Pays Penalty
Those over whom indictments arc
left hanging are Wharton Golden OF
Knox county now In Colnrados Frank
Cecil Of Bell county. now a railroad
detective In 81. Louis and William Fl.
Culton Of 0wsley county, said 10 hay,
died IN the west q few months ago
These cases will be dismissed leavlnr
Henry %. Youtsey. nov serving . life
sentence In tho state %penilenllary,
the only person TO suffer for the tax
ing al OF Goebel
Governors Statement.
In extending clcmencg en- Ia Tay.
Tor case, tho governor says.
For years il seemed az L there
would be no end Of tho political use
Of the Goebel murder 10 keep up hat.
red and contention. in the campaign
81 1907. It wis again brought into
place as Il had been IN every Gem.
naign since 1859. ~ speeches Ia which
It was claimed that the Democratic
nominee for governor would not par
don Taylor Powers and others and
that the Republican nominee would
pardon them It elected
- made no answer To thcse speech
as until ! came 10 the home 81 Pow
era in the mountains, where I told
the people, bis friends, that ! would.
not preludge these cases; that I would
not promise anybody either 10 nsr.
don or moi 10 pardon these men, but
that IL the cases ever came before
me. / would take them up officially
and decide them on their merits,
and that n was al anxious for the con.
ton and punishment Of every person
guilty OF the murder OF William Goob.
el as any one IN Kentucky.
Believer Taylcf Innocent.
From the fair, impartial study OF
The reports Ct all the trials and from
my knowledge oi the conditions Of
those times believe that Governor
William s. Taylor had n5 guilty
knowledge Of tie murder OF William
Goebel, and that be would never have
been indicted but for political e.
element and passion"
story 81 aoobsl Mnrder
The assasslnatlog OF Senator G0e-
bel gas committed In front oi the
stats house on January 30 tie shot
beng fred as afterwards conceded IN
various trials. from the office on Ca.
leb Powers. the secretary Of stale,
and adjoining the reception room OF
The executive offices. 1t was proven
that Powers had gone to Louisville.
that day 10 arrange for the bringing
Il more men and that the lsey 10 his
office fad been secrreG By Henry
Youtsey. then private secretary 70
Governor Taylor.
Great excitement followed he shoot
Ing end for some time following. the
capital weo IN charge of trqeps call
ed oat by Governor Taylor. The
Democratic majority IN the icglals-
ture daeIarpI that Senator a0nbel
was governor and he q worn IN
practically on bis death bed lie died
on February 3. 1900
Warrants eharglHg Powers ana Sc,
eral others With completely IN tho
assassination we're taken oft soon
after the tragedy.
Governor Taylor vns net formally
accused of connection Nlth It until
the returA 0f en I%nlictment by the
grand jury IN april, 1903.
-
Taylor and Finleyis statement
Indianapolis tndp Aprll 1drMli
liam s. TAYLOR anI Charles Finley
closeled themselves m Mf. Taylor
Office as snnn as they recelved word
Of their pardon end later gave ont
the following statement:
"The final ending BY Goyem5r VII
son 81 the terrible reign o. wfnna
and persecution Of innocent men IN
Kentucky "A 10 our minds a added
proof thai there Il q Cod II Israel
and thar right win pt remain for
ever "a the auanold. nor wrong for
ever on the throne.