Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-03-26
GOLDEN'S TESTIMONY
Star Witness of the Democrats in
the Goebel Assassination
investigation.
He MAKES STARTLING STATEMENTS

Accuses a Prominent Republican of Talk
ing About killing on" Democrats and
Assassinating GOebeI in n Most Cold
BlOOded way-says the Men Who Were
to Do the Deed Were Two Negroes-Jok-
ing on a Serious Subject.
Frankfort, March 26-The trial of
Secretary of State Powers, charged
as accessory to the murder of Goe-
bel, was resumed this afternoon. Col
den Immediately was placed on the
stand and the cross examination was
commenced, with ex-Gov. Brown as
interrogating witness.
Frankfort. Ky. March 26.-"John
Powers told me they had two niggers
here to kill Goebol. They were Hook
ersmith and Dick Combs" This state
ment was made Saturday by Wharton
Golden. frdil. conSumptiVe-lookin
Kentucky mountaineer. while on the
witness stand in the preliminary exam
ination of Secretary OF state Caleb
Powers. charged with conspiracy to
kill GoeDeL Golden told story of the
events leading up 10 the murder that
IL substantiated will in the minds of
those connected with the prosecution,
at least, probably go far toward prov
ing the contentious of the common
wealth that he murder was the result
of a plan in which several prominent
men were involved Whether the de.
fense will seek TO impeach Golden's
testimony in this preliminary eXamina-
tiOn is not known, as the attorneys for
the defense will not talk on the sub
ject.
brought in Some Prominent Names.
Golden. who claims TO have been a
friend to Secretary Powers and his
brother. John Powers. for years. gave
testimony that was particularly dam
aging TO John Powers. but lie also
brought in the names of many others.
including Charles Finley. w. ii. Cul-
ton and Governor Taylor. in his story
of the bringing of the mountaineerS TO
Frankfort previous TO the aSSaSSina
ton. Governor Taylor. however. was
not directly implicated, and the attOr-
ncys for the commonwealth intimated
that they do not expect TO have his
name brought forth prominently in the
story of the alleged conspiracy, of
which the bringing of the mountain
GERS here is claimed as a part.
Talked of "KiIIing Or Democrats.
Golden was not croSS-eXamined and
adjournment was taken at an early
hour in the afternoon on account of his
physical condition, the witness having
SllSnt lelnOfrDaSe during the mOfu-
ing, and becoming 50 weak under the
strain of the examination in the after
noon that he begged to be allowed Il
respite. He was quite nervous atl
times. GOlden's testimony tended TO
show that plan was made To bring
several hundred regular mountain
feudiStS' 10 Frankfort. who would. ii
necessary, as Golden expressed it go
into the legislative hall and Kill of
enough Democrats to make it our
way The testimony did not show
that the alleged plot to kill GOebel was
part OF the original plan. nor did il |
contain the names of those who con.
ceived that idea.
The whole of GOldcn'S testimony
tended to throw suspicion on "Taliow
Dick" Combs. Il colOred barber at Beat |
tyyille Combs says he can prove his |
Innocence and is willing to go into
custody if he is wanted. Harland |
Whitaker (whitel, Dick Combs, and |
numerous other persons have at Yari- |
Gus times been suspected of firing the |
fatal shot. but the prosecution has not
yet Identified the murderer. Mrs. Golden. !
WhartOn'S wife, will be introduced as
4 witness for the prosecution. and il |
is reported that she will cOrroborate |
her husbands testimony on many inn |
portant points.