New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-04-24
GOEBEL CASES ENDED
PARDONS FOR TAYLOR
And FIVE OTHERS.
Charges against Kentucky State
Uitnesses also To Be Dropped
"A Noted Case.

Frankfort KY April Ex-Governor Wilson
to-day cleared the Kentucky court records of
all charges growing out of the murder, IN jan
uary 1900. Of Senator William GoebeL VINO
was declared by the Legislature to have been
elected Governor, except those hanging over
states evidence witnesses in the alleged con-
spiracy.
He granted pardons to ex-Governor W. -
Taylor and Charles Finley, fogmer secretary VI
State, who have been fugitives in Indiana Tor
nine wears; to John Powers, brother of Caleb
Powers who is believed to be in Honduras; 10
Holland Whitaker. OF Butler County John
Davis OF Louisville, and Seach Steele OF Ben
County, who did not flee the state
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 Wllilam H.
Culton. of Owsley County said TO have dleo IN
the West recently. These cases, with the pos
sible exception Of that against Cecil VIII De
dismissed leaving Henry E. Toutsey' no" serV-
ing life sentence in the state perltentlary' the
only person 10 suffer for the ASSASSINATION OIL
Goebel.
Reterating the belief he expressed seVeral
months ago when he pardoned Caleb Powers
and James b. Howard. that no one put houtsey
had part in the murder. and that it was not
consnirscv as the commonwealth charged. Gov
ernnr Wilson saws in the memorandum at
tached to the pardons that he believes 1t a 'sa-
cred duty to pardon the men who fed the
state. as they had the greatest reasons TO oe-
Iieve" that they could not have fair ulaI
THE GOVERNORS STATEMENT
In eyter ding clen1encv in the Taylor case. the
,.o,.orro- after reviewing the election for Gov
ernor in 1899. and the contest instituted before
the LEGISLATURE by Senator William Goeoel' says
that when the Powers and Howard applications
for nsrdon we're presented to him q pupllc
hearing was held. and he became Thoroughly IA
miIiar with the whole case Of the prosecutor
and defence He continues:
After that hearing the whole record of all the
trials with the opinion Of the Court OF Appears. peas
was faithfully read and after glVlhs tnSSS -
the most impartial consideration which tiS
"a rnest wish and purpose TO decide rlghty COu!t
riZs them. I reached the firm and earnesI
belief that Powers and HOWARD vi ~ thHse
and issued the psrdons- Inc STUDY "
records constrained me 10 believe 70 tns - -
cIusior Of a doubt that Howard did not HI7 'i'7
shot which killed GoebeL x .-;1. of
Powers and the three trials of Howard oy "IlICH ~
the prosecution in any way at'si.,p5er 5 "a IN.
tes,i,no1v as 10 his writing 70 get Howard 10
come 10 Frankfort 20 kill William Goeoel am
tending 10 show that Howard on tne IeS NC
that letter, did come 70 trshktoIt' eh'7L01 nv
the plot and committed the hurGTt- ,~,,-.-,,o-
But Howard did not kill Goesel, sn0 ~'ToVerhog ~
TaI.Ior could not he guilty Of getting Ho"srd
70 do what he did not DO -. 49,, .,or+s
Fror, the fair impartial study Of the reports
~ all of the trials, and from my knoWleuSe =.
,be conditions of these times, oeheFe ina ma
Governor William s. Taylor had no suntii
l-ro,.ledre OF the murder of William tIoeoe!:
and that he would never have been 1iloic'eo
bt,t for political excitement and passion.
GOVERNOR DEFENDS TAYLOR
Governor Taylor had the greatest reasons to
bs could have fair trldl tnaL
he would he thrown from his position OF GOV
ernor Of this commonwealth into the CoinInpn
iaiI and that he would be forced to trlal nelo!S
nartieap Jury under conditions WnlCH Nouiu
give him no chance for Just decision;
TJa had large family, all wholly depehQen'
on his Ia bor and decided that II was ms qutE ,
not 70 submit 10 a trial under those cohdltlolls'
and he went to Indiana 49,. 80
Governor Tayor's experience has beeh one
~ the sad6est in the history or the common
,reaItb In 1899 he was elected Governor ol
BentuoLy,. and reached the greatest honor tnal
ronid have been within his brightest hopes he
Vas f,1lhlling the duties faithfully When th!s
tragedy and the storm of feeling following u
ruined the crowning glory of A useful ire over
tbra,,. the elected state government and put IN
neriI the safety Of the people