The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-05
COLLIER ON THE STAND
Tells Why He Prevented Legisla,
tors From Assembling.
Says He Had Orders From Taylor
Sent Soldiers Ahead of Lawmakers
Mt Various Places to Keep Them
From MeetinG-Denies That He
Knew of Conspiracy TO Kill GoebeI

GEORGETOWN, Ky, Aug. 4.-The tes-
timony Of Gen Dan Collier. who was adju-
tant general of Taylor's soldiers, today
developed the fact that he had orders from
Taylor TO prevent the Legislature from
meeting at all hazards after the shooting;
that he carried out the orders to the ex-
tent OF sending soldiers ahead Of the legis-
Iators to various places to prevent them
from assembling. and that he finally told
the proprietor of the Capitol Hotel that il
the Legislature attempted TO meet there
he would put soldiers inside the hotel and
take military control of it,
General Collier, on cross-examination,
said:
Il may have had guns brought to the
state house before January %, but don't
remember positively. and don't remember
If I ordered guns brought TO the State
House Square in a wagon at night. l had
ammunition brought TO the state house
about that time. but l don't remember
about the guns, though they may have
been brought there.
i think il was five or six minutes after
the shot before l sent my porter to the
arsenal 10 bring the soldiers. 1t must have
rived at the state house. l then took
charge of the state house grounds and
stationed guards at the state house gates
and at the doors OF the legislative build
ing. ! don't remember whether orders
were given to keep everybody out Of the
yard that day or not. but / did rot give
orders that day to keep the sheriff or other
civil officers out. Later such an order
was issued My recollection is that the
sheriff and other officers were admitted
whenever they demanded il.
Il think there were three men killed
and three wounded in the Scott CoIson
tragedy on January 16 in Frankfort and
no troops were ordered out then. No SOL
diers were called out when the big crowd
OF mountain men arrived and took posses
sion of the state house grounds on jan
uary %.
''I-neyer heard it suggested at any time
or place that the only way TO settle the
contest was to kill Goebel. The day after
the shooting did prevent the Legislature
from assembling in the state house, and
sent troops to prevent them from meeting
IL the city hall. courthouse or CAPITOL
Hotel. / took soldiers up TO the Capitol
hotel, where Goebel was said TO be dying
hut left them out in the street and told
them to make as little noise as possible.
] told the proprietor of the hotel that If
the Legislature attempted to meet there
! would put soldiers in the building and
take control of it."
Reuben y. Miller, chief clerk In Powers
ONCE. who was sitting in the front corner
OF the reception room, next 10 Powers
private office, when the shots came from
between the executive building and the
legislative building. said
Some one In our Office said the inmates
Of our building were TO be mobbed Some
one said there were guns in Powers pri-
vate office. We could not get In there un-
III J. B. Matthews climbed over the tran,
som and opened the door from inside I
went in, but smelled no smoke. The win