The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1905-1910, 1910-08-16
ALLEGED LINCOLN
COUNTY HORSE Thief
PERMITTED TO ESCAPE JUSTICE
BY GOV. WiLLsoN-cAUoHr
IN WEST

Frank Gross, who stole a horse
and runsbout from II. r. Howard.
OF Lincoln county and sold them
in Harrodsburg on April court day.
will escape the penalty OF his crime
because Governor Wilson will not
issue a requisitlon for his return to
the scene of his misdoings. Says the
Harrodsburg Herald. Gross hired the
turnout from Howard, drove to Har-
rodsburg and sold the horse on the
street to the highest bidder, I'd Ruth
erford, Of Jessamine. county, beconl-
ing the purchaser. and tae vehicle
and harness going to some one else.
Shortly after buying the animal Ruth
erford offered the horse for sale, Mr.
T. J. Royalty, of Mercer, becoming
the purchaser at $71.50, Rutherford
making Is dollars in the transaction
Several days ago this Howard put
in an appearance at Harrodsburg
| looking for his horse. He learned OF
Rutherford's part in the transaction
and went to Jessamine 10 interview
him. but Rutherford informed him
he did not know who the second pur
| chaser was. In the meantime
Howard had made a diligent search
for his property and being unable tC
find his horse, gave 1t up as gone
from him and his heirs, ard return
ed home.
Three weeks after this Mr.. Royalty
/
lie drove Ia miles and came here tc
say that he had bought a horse OF
the day named that answered the des
oription of the one missing. He then
saw Chief Of Police Smith and inform
cd him OF the matter. The Officer
telephoned Howard to come and get
his property. Rutherford refused tC
make good to Ryaolty and there
for he is out the s7l.50. but he has
instituted suit against Rutherford for
that amount.
In the meantime Chief Smith and
his subordinates. assisted by County
Attorney Rodman Keenon, got busy
After many weeks and much trouble
| they located Gross IN an extreme
Western county of Nebraska, border
ing on the Idaho line, the western
sheriff going to considerable trouble
10 locate him. When everything had
been planned out and policeman BeI
Bonita had arranged to make the Ions
journey after the horse thief and
bring him back to Harrodsburg, Gov
Wilson was applied for a question
To the great surprise OF the officers
His Excellency wrote County At
torney Keenon last Saturday refusing
the necessary papers, saying that the
horse was worth only 500 and he did
not th'H the State could afford q
pay out $500 TO send an officer to Ne
braska for a man who had stolen only
$40 worth OF horseflesh. A
The amount involved should cut nc
figure in this case. The horse sold
for $71.50 and had IL been worth 81
the principle involyedis sufficient e
have had the thief returned. The pre-
cedure OF the Governor viii not tend
to suppress night riding and Other
crimes. The lawbreaker should know
that he will be brought to justice re
gardless of cost. We believe that
on former occasion Governor
| Wilson refused extradition papers
| for a criminal who had fled to In
diana, saying that IL was good
radiance for Kentucky. He should
remember that $1,000 reward was
offered for vending and that the
city OF Louisville expended $4,000
Ia the 1900 mile chase to bring
him TO the scene OF his alleged
crime. II he is guilty the cost Of
apprehending him Is insignificant.