The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-05
GEN. COLLIER EXAMINED
CALLED BY THE DEEp~sE I'M NUN
TRIAL AT GEORGE
TOWN
GOOD EVIDENCE ADDUcE1
Reuben Miller Positively Contra
diets Testimony of Prosecution
as to Where Shot Was
Fired From.

GEORGETOWN, Ky, Aug. 4.-The
cross-examinat ton of Adjt Gen Collier,
of the Taylor administration, and the
direct and oss-examination of Reuben
Miller, chief clerk for the defendant,
while he acted as secretary of state,
We're the features Of the Powers con-
spiracy trial today. Miller had been
brought back from Indiana by the de-
Tense, and he proved good witness for
their side. 1t was his opinion that the
shot which resulted in the death of Gov
Goebel was fired, as We're those which
followed 1t, outside of the executive build
ing. He was the person closest to the
private office of Powers, and he said the
shot did not come from that room. He
located the shot where Goebel fell about
fourteen feet away from the spot fixed
by the prosecution, and stated that the
militia did not appear On the scene for
thirty minutes. He also stated that Pow
ers was not In his office during the af-
ternoon Of Jan. %, the day on which the
mountain petitioners arrived at the state
capital, and at which time witness
Noakes, of the prosecution, charged him
with making several statements of a
threatening nature and of comforting
with Youtsey, CuIton, and others of the
alleged conspirators. Ben Rowe, colored
porter of the executive office also
brought back from Indiana by the de-
Tense, also corroborated the statements
or Miller about movements of persons
in the public office of the secretary Of
state at the time of the shooting. Mil
Ter quoted Gov. Taylor as saying as he
ran from his private Office into the room
on hearing the shots: What is the
natter" and on being told a man was
shot, said: This is horrible" In cross
examining Gen. Collier, the prosecution
was allowed much latitude, the court
however, admonishing the jury that
statements containing incidents which
occurred after the shooting should be
considered only to show the interest of
the witness who was placed on the stand
by the defense.
The prosecution brought out that Col
lier, by order of Gov Taylor, kept civil
officers from entering the capital grounds
for several days after the firing of the
fatal shot. He also testified that by
Gov. Taylor's orders he prevented the
general assembly from meeting at any
point in the city of Frankfort for several
days after the Taylor proclamation adj
journing it to London.
Adjt Gen. Collier, whose direct eXami-
nation in the Powers trial was concluded
at the adjournment of court yesterday
afternoon, was placed on the witness
stand for crOSS-eXaminatiOn.
Witness told of keeping soldiers at the
state arsenal at Frankfort, prior to the
shooting, but could not remember wheth-
er he had brought any arms into the state
capitol grounds. He admitted having re-
fused to allow civil officers to go into the
executive building to execute the writ Of
habeas corpus, saying that he had orders
from Gov. Taylor to do so.
Over the objection Of the defense Judge
Cantrill allowed the prosecution to show
prior to Jan. 80, that IS, on the day of
the CoIson- Scott duel, and on the arrival
of 200 mountain petitioners, the feeling
at Frankfort was intense, but no soldiers
were then called to preserve peace.
Witness said that he never before the
shooting heard any one say that the
best way to settle the contest was to kill
Goebel. Witness told of preventing by
military force the assembling Of the legis-
-lature in the city of Frankfort on the
day following the shooting. After an OBJ
lection by the defense had been over
ruled, witness stated he went to the pro-
prietor of the Capital hotel and told him
he would close his hotel if he permitted
the assembly to meet there.
Gen. COlIler lett the STAND AFTER TWO
hours, and Rev. C. r. Cody of George
town, was called. He testified to meeting
Wharton Golden about March 81 at the
home of Witness John Stamper, and of
Golden saying that he had made a con-
fession only for his own protection. On
cross -eXamlna ton, prosecution brought
out that the witness had displayed much
interest in the case on the side of the de-
Tense, working in conjunction with the
attorney for that side.
Reuben n. Miller, Of Breckenridge
county, but later of indianapolis, was
next placed on the stand. He stated that
he was in the general reception room OF
the secretary Of state, next to the office
of the defendant when Goebel was shot.
He heard rifle shots. The first, he said
seemed to come from the outside of the
| executive building Gov. Taylor came
from his private office into the room, and
inquired what was Transporting outside.
At this juncture the court adjourned.