Governor, Under Death Threat, Refuses Guards at Executive Mansion

Article taken from The Lima News, May 3, 1934

Frankfort, KY - May 3 (AP)--Adjt. Gen. H. H. Denhardt assigned state troopers to guard the executive mansion and the capitol because Gov. Ruby Laffoon has received threatening letters, but the governor won't have them around. Overruling the adjutant-general., the chief executive said:

"There are no guards around the mansion and there won't be any."

The adjutant-general was forced to yield. There were no guards at the mansion last night.

"If I get a few minutes notice before someone starts shooting." the governor said, "I'll outrun any of them in spite of my game leg." Governor Laffoon is slightly lame. One of the letters threatened the governor's life and a bombing of the mansion unless a pardon was issued within ten days for Neal Bownman, Ohio fugitive charged with two Kentuckymurders who is confined in the state retormatory here. The letter demanding the pardon was post marked "Portsmouth, Ohio" and was signed "Dillinger squad No. 13"