The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-28
GOLDEN ON THE STAND.
Is THE PROSECUTIONS STAR W.T.
NESS IN GOEBEL CASE.
Acknowledges His Own Purpose to
XIII LEGISLATORS, and Charges
That He Was Induced Thereto
by Powers and Gov. Taylor.

GEORGETOWN. KY. July G-The
prosecution placed their star witness, f.
Wharton Golden, on the stand in the
Powers conspiracy trial this afternoon
;snd ariess their present plans are chang
ed, VIII rest their case at the conclusion
OF his testimony tomorrow. Golden went
over the details OF the organization of the
mountain people, who were brought to
Frankfort. 1t was the purpose of the
men. himself included. 10 kill of enough
Democratic, legislators TO give the Re-
pubficans a majority. Louis w. Hamp-
ton, Republican member of the legis-
Iature from Powers home county, gave
sensational testimony against both Pow.
ers and Gov; Taylor. Hampton testified
that Taylor wanted the Republican, mob
to start fight In the house and assured
him that he as governor would back them
up
Golden said that caleb Powers. in jan
nary asked MIN TO go to the mountains
ana get crowd OF mountain feudists
to bring to Frankfort. Powers accom-
panied witness part OF the way on the
trip and witness went through Harlan.
Bell and other counties. getting up the
crowd. A DR.. Bingham and other men
were paid money to come, he said
Powers who was present, spoke ap-
provingly Of the plan to kill the majority
Of the Democratic Legislature.
On the day before the shooting Witness
saw John Powers give Youtsey the keys
to the secretary OF states Office, and
later Powers told him they had procured
Dick Combs, TO kin Goebei On the morn
ing Of the assassination he saw Caleb and
John Powers and Walter Day when they
went to Louisville. Before leaving they
were IN the secretary of states office.
Gov. Taylor was there. as were several
OF the men from the mountains.
E, j. Howard, of Harlan county, want
ed the governor to cali out the troops.
but the governor replied:
'sYou all must act first."
Witness walked home with Gov. Taylor
one evening. and the latter asked him II
he and the other mountain men. would
back up a Republican member Of the Leg
islature II fight should be precipitated.
and further along I'm the conversation he
Golden. atslo like a horrible thing
Ito kill i man but that looks like the. only
way to handle Goebel and his gang"
The cross-examination was begun. but
had only. progressed little way when
court adjourned v
The first witness called In the Powers
I trial to-day was Judge James y. Black, OF
Barhcursville, who was candidate for
the Democratic nomination for governor
before the recent state convention. He
testified as to the letter which Powers
wrote James Stevens, of Barbonrsvilie,
February 70 The statements, Il am large
iy responsible for the disorganized con-
fiition OF the Democrats" and Il am an
open advocate of war were used.
Private Dudley Williamson. who was a
member OF the military company which
took charge of the state house Immediate
iy after Goebel was shot, testified that
the members Of the company were drawn
up In the arsenal that morning, psior to
the shooting. Witness said that the com1
pany had been kept inside the arsenal
after the legislature met. but previous to
that day had not been uniformed.
D. n Sinclair, former manager OF tho
Postal Telegraph Office at Frankfort. tes-
titled as to many kilograms sent through
his Office before and after the shooting.
Some related to calling out the nliitiA
others to supplies for the mountntneerr
who came to Frankfort before the shoots
ing.
next Witness He was in Frankfort at
the time sof the assassination and was
lust entering the rear or the capitol
grounds when the shot was fired. The
witness looked in the direction of the
executive building and saw the muzzie
OF gun pointing from the secretary Of
states office Witness said he thought
gun Witness had never been IN Frank
fort before that day and left that after
noon.
on cross-examnation. witness said he
was native Of London, Ky. and went
TO Colorado In 1871 He was barber un-
I'll last fall and since then has been em-
Il pioyed by the Woodmen OF the World. a
fraternai organization. Weaver could not
remember about the weather on the day
az the shooting and could not give good
account OF his movements I'm Frankfort.