The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-27

Frankfort. Ky, March es-"John
Powers told me they had two negroes
here TO kill Goebel. They were Hook
er Smith and Dick Combs"
This statement was made today hy
F. Wharton Golden. a frail. consumil-
tive looking Kentucky mountaineer.
while on the witness stand in the pre-
liminary examination of Secretary OF
State Caleb Powers, charged with con-
spiracy 10 kill Goebel.
Golden told the story OF the events
leading up TO the murder that, IL sub
stantiated. will. il the minds OF those
connected with the prosecution at
least. probably go far toward proving
the contentious of the commonwealth
that the murder was the result OF
plan in which several prominent men
were involved.
Whether the defense viii seek TO i'm
peach Golden's testimony in this pre-
liminary examination is not known, as
the attorneys for the defense win not
talk on the subject but unless such
| attempt is made the commonwealth
will rest tits case, both County Attor-
| ney Polsgrove and Attorney Campbell
| being satisfied that enough evidence
has been presented TO hold the defen-
| dant on the charges.
| Golden, who claims to have been
| friend of Caleb Powers and lis brother,
! John Powers, for years, gave festi-
! mony that was particularly damaging
to John Powers, but he also brought In
the names OF many others. including
| Charles Finley, w. II. Culton and
Governor Taylor. in story OF the bring
| ing of the mountaineers TO Frankfort
| previous to the assassination.
| Governor Taylor, however. was not
| directly implicated, and the attorneys
for the commonwealth intimated today
| that they did not expect TO have his
name brought forth prominently In the
story of the alleged conspiracy.
Golden was not cross examined today
and adjournment was taken at an ear
ly hour this afternoon on account OF
his physicical condition. the witness
having a slight hemorrhage during the
morning, becoming so weak under the
strain of the examination in the after
noon that he begged to be allowed n
respite. He was quite nervous at
times.
Golden's testimony tended to shows
that plan was made to bring several
hundred regular mountain feud.sts"
to Frankfort who would. If necessai y,
as Golden expressed 1t. "go into the
legislative hall and kill off enough
democrats to make IL our way.
The testimony did not show that &c
alleged plot to Kin Goebel was part oi
the original plan. nor did ii contain
the names Of those who conceived that
idea, but the commonwealth sought to
show by Golden's conversations with
: various people that, not only John and
t Caleb Powers. but others as we'll hat
full knowledge OF the alleged plan ot
assassination.
THE GOVERNORSHIP CASE.
Louisville, Ky. March 24.-The Beck
ham-Taylor suit involving title to tn,
!, governorship reached its final stage IL
the circuit court here today. Judg'
Field entered judgment In accordance
with his recent rulings, overruled {
/, | motion for a new trial and granted
, counsel for republicans an appeal u
| the court Of appeals.
: The record in the case is made III
; | and will be submitted early next week
A decision from the court OF appeal.
is expected within a week or ten days
Governor Taylor was in town al
day in consultation with his lawyer
= and political friends. He declined {,
see reporters.