Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-31
Telephones s1s and 6s4.

the building from which the shooting was
done was enough to make trouble for
him.
Colonel John Davis, custodian of the cap
itol grounds, tells a story that agrees with
that of Whitaker.
AS soon as it was known that the bull
let which struck down Mr.. Goebel had come
from the building to the east, a group OF
men gathered in front of the door on the
east side. Others ran around to the door
on the west side to prevent the escape OF
anybody from there. Several men at
tempted to enter the doors from the out
side, but were prevented by groups of
mountaineers who stood in the d~oorways.
Some of these men held Winchesters in
their hands and presented an aspect so I'M
inviting that no attempt was made to
search the building and nobody gained en-
trance to 1T for several minutes after the
shooting had been done and the assassin
had had ample opportunity to escape.
Carefully Laid Plan.
That the shooting of Mr.. Goebel was the
result of a carefully-laid plan is without
question. The man who did the work had
evidently taken his stand at the window
which had previously been raised in order
to allow the free passage of the bullet, and
waited until his victim was in full sight
before firing. Ever since the influx of
the mountaineers last week a large number
of them have been sleeping in the upper
part of the state house. 1t is not known,
however, that any of these men did the
work or that they had any knowledge of the
premeditated crime. There has not, so far,
been discovered the slightest direct evidence
pointing to any man and it is not likely
that any will ever be found.
The man who fired the shots took the
precaution to conceal his location by using
smokeless powder cartridges. A score OF
people were, where they had a full view Of
the side of the building from which the
firing was done and all declare that no
sign Of smoke was. visible. Both Chinn and
Lillard are men of experience in affairs in
which powder smoke is a more or less prom
inent feature and both declare that while
they could tell the general direction from
which the bullets came, they could not
guess the spot from which they were fired.
Denounced by Republicans.
The republican state officials and members
of the legislature without exception de-
nounced the shooting in the most unmeasur-
able terms. Governor Taylor Immediately
caused a small address to be published in
which he declared the affair to be a disgrace
anu III Oullu6C w tllho va 'N~ 49,
sober condemnation. He sent orders at
once to Adjutant General Collier directing
him to take steps for the preservation OF
order.
General Collier Is a republican and is OPP
posed to Mr.. Goebel. He declared the shoot
ing to be a most cowardly affair and one
that upon every consideration was to be re-
GREETED. He lost no time in making
speeches, however, and before Gocbel had
N- tsn.-1 49, 49, notion tA Ia 90 prin
to the hotel General Collier had telephened
to the armory, a half-mile distant, directing
the local infantry company, which was sta
toned there under ommand of Captain
Walcott, to proceed at once TO the capitol
grounds, take possession OF them and its
approaches, allowing nobody to enter the
gates.
Twenty minutes after the shooting Captain
Walcott and his men marched across the
front of the capitol building and halted at
tie foot of the steps. Orders were Issued
TO outside companies throughout the state
To make ready to come to Frankfort, the
entire state guard being ehiIed into service.
II was feared that tbs news Of the shooting
would so infame the democrats that they
would come 10 Frankfort in swarms, while
the mounta,neerG would lose no time In
coming to the capitol for the purpose of up
holding their party principles.
Democrats Greatly EAcitcu.
Tho excitement among the followers OF
Mr.. Goebel was generated and for a time
Immediately following the shooting of their
leader, there was more than a possibility
that some Of the hotheads would seek ven
geance upon their political enemies. Threats
were made against republican leaders and
attorneys during the excitement, but lead
ing democratic members of the house and
senate soon brought them TO calmor talk.
As the news spread through the streets
that Goeosl had been shot, men began TO
pour coward the capitol grounds from all
sides, enc throng being led by two fremen,
one of whom carried a Winchester rife,
which the other finally prevailed upon him
to lay aside.
A shooting ARRAY occurred in a saloon
about this time, Craig ireland, a sporting
man. fatally wounding Ike Williams, a
negro. TIE men were in an alteration
when williams struck Ireland, who promptly
cent a bullet through the negro's stomach,
ireland was locked up. This second shoot
ing caused great excitement for a time and
Il was thought the loug-threatened political
shooting In general all alcng the line had
been inaugursted. This affair had nothing
to do with the political situation.
Senator-elect Blackburn, who was n
Washington, was informed OF the shooting
through the long-distance telephone anC
sent back a message, urging the democrat,
% remain quiet and take no rash action Of
any sort.
The evening trains did not bring as large
a crowd of people as was expected, Wore