The Mt. Sterling Advocate

W. S. TAYLOR.
Governor Beckham and Attorney Franklin Offer Protection to Him.

An armed military escort to protect him is the immunity which Gov. Beckham and Commonwealth's Attorney Robert B. Franklin offer to ex-Gov. William S. Taylor to return to Kentucky from his refuge in Indiana to testify in the coming fourth trial of Caleb Powers, charged with the murder of Senator Goebel.

Following the receipt of a letter from Gov. Beckham in which the executive pledges his every aid to Franklin in his offer of immunity to Taylor to return to Kentucky, the prosecutor addressed and mailed a letter to the ex-Governor Tuesday night as follows:

From Frankfort, Ky., Aug. 27, 1907.
To W. S. Taylor, Indianapolis, Ind.

Sir: - In the public prints I have read a statement above your signature, bearing date Indianapolis, Ind., August 23, 1907, from which I quote the following:

"To the Public - Some time ago there appeared in the public print what purported to be a statement of Robert B. Franklin, Commonwealth's Attorney, in which it is said that if I would return to Kentucky to testify in the Caleb Powers case, waiving my constitutional rights, he and other State officers would guarantee me immunity from arrest during the time necessary for me to go there, testify and return. Later on the press contained what was published as a letter from him to Governor Beckham, asking the Governor to co-operate with him in guaranteeing this immunity.

"I have waited for more than a week and have received from neither of them any communication concerning the matter. This fact indicates that the proposition was not made in good faith and mainly for newspaper talk and political effect."

I now desire to say to you that should your presence be desired by Caleb Powers, at his coming fourth trial, as a witness for him, if you, waiving your privilege to decline to answer any question because the answer might tend to incriminate you in the conspiracy to murder William Goebel, will come to Kentucky, appear in the Scott County Court as a witness for Caleb Powers and subject yourself to an examination and cross-examination, you shall be immune from arrest during that period of time you are necessarily present in Kentucky for that purpose.

In guaranteeing you this immunity from arrest from the time and for the purpose above indicated, I have asked the co-operation of the Governor of Kentucky and have just received from Governor Beckham a letter, the original of which I enclose herein, as follows:

August 27, 1907.
Hon. Robert B. Franklin, Commonwealth's Attorney, Frankfort, Ky.

Dear Sir: - In response to your communication of August 15, in reference to the matter of assuring Wm. S. Taylor immunity from arrest in the event of his coming to Kentucky to testify in the case of the Commonwealth vs. Caleb Powers, I wish to say to you that in every way possible I shall co-operate with you in seeing that said Taylor, if he comes to testify in that case, shall be protected from arrest and allowed to return to Indiana. There is not the slightest question that I, the Governor of Kentucky, and you, as Commonwealth's Attorney of the district in which he is indicted, can absolutely insure him such immunity from arrest and a safe return to Indiana. You may therefore rely implicitly upon my aid, if needed, to carry out your assurance to him of this immunity.

Very respectfully yours,
J. C. W. BECKHAM,
Governor of Kentucky.

Should you desire it, such military escort as you may deem necessary to your safety, will be furnished by the Kentucky authorities while you are within the State.

Referring to your proposition made in the published statement of August 23rd, hereinbefore mentioned, in so far as they relate to a trial of yourself, I desire to say that the Commonwealth of Kentucky, so long as I continue to prosecute its pleas, will never agree that you shall name the judge, select the jury and prescribe qualifications for witnesses who may testify against you. When you are brought to trial on the indictment now pending against you in the Franklin Circuit Court, if I be the prosecuting officer the procedure shall be according to the laws of the State for such cases made and provided.

Sincerely,
(Signed)
ROBERT B. FRANKLIN.
Commonwealth's Attorney Fourteenth Circuit Court District of Kentucky.