Charles Finley (politician)

Charles Finley
Louisville Courier-Journal, March 10, 1900.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 11th district
In office
February 15, 1930 – March 3, 1933
Preceded byJohn M. Robsion
Succeeded byDistrict eliminated
52nd & 54th Secretary of State of Kentucky
In office
December 12, 1899 – December 29, 1899
GovernorWilliam S. Taylor
Preceded byJohn W. Headley
Succeeded byCaleb Powers
In office
January 1, 1896 – December 10, 1899
GovernorWilliam O'Connell Bradley
Preceded byJohn W. Headley
Succeeded byJohn W. Headley
Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
from the 69th district
In office
January 1, 1894 – January 1, 1896
Preceded byJohn M. Tinsley[a]
Succeeded byW. R. Black
Personal details
Born(1865-03-26)March 26, 1865
Williamsburg, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedMarch 18, 1941(1941-03-18) (aged 75)
Williamsburg, Kentucky, U.S.
Resting placeHighland Cemetery
Williamsburg, Kentucky, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Parent
Alma materMilligan College
Profession

Charles Finley (March 26, 1865 – March 18, 1941) was a United States representative from Kentucky and son of Hugh Franklin Finley.[1]

Biography

Finley was born in Williamsburg, Kentucky, where he attended the common and subscription schools.[1] Later, he attended Milligan College. He engaged in business as a coal operator, banker, and publisher.[1]

Finley was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives 1894-1896 and a delegate to the Republican state convention in 1895.[1] He served as Secretary of State of Kentucky from 1896 to 1900.[1]

Indicted for murder

On January 30, 1900, Democrat William Goebel was shot while the results of the previous year's election for Governor of Kentucky was still being contested; Goebel was declared the winner, and died shortly afterwards.[2] Finley was one of several Republicans suspected of involvement; they were indicted, and arrest warrants were issued.[2] Along with several others, Finley fled to Indiana to escape prosecution.[2] The Republican governor there refused to honor extradition requests, and they continued to reside in Indiana while the case was litigated.[2]

In 1909, Kentucky Governor Augustus E. Willson extended clemency to Finley and other suspects; they never faced trial, and then returned to Kentucky.[2]

Other service

Finley was chairman of the Republican executive committee of the Eleventh Kentucky Congressional District from 1912 to 1928.[1] He was elected as a Republican to the Seventy-first Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John M. Robsion and was reelected to the Seventy-second Congress and served from February 15, 1930, to March 3, 1933.[1] He was not a candidate for renomination in 1932.[1]

After leaving Congress, he retired from business activities before dying in Williamsburg, Kentucky in 1941.[3] He was buried in Highland Cemetery, Williamsburg, Kentucky.[1]

Notes

  1. ^ As the representative from Knox and Whitley Counties.

References

Sources

Internet

  • United States Congress. "Charles Finley (id: F000130)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

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