Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-03-24
GOLDEN ON TIE STAND
Star Witness in the Trial Of Goebel
Suspects Gives Testimony
Today.
F. Wharton Golden Tells What He
Knows About the Conspiracy
Among Officers.
His Testimony Neither Conclusive
Nor Startling Big Crowds at
the Hearing.

the hearing.
frankfort Ky, March 24-The pros
ecution in the case against Secretary OF
State Caleb Powers, charged with CONF
plicity in the Goebel assassination, in
troduced its principal witness today, f.
Wharton Golden. of Knox county, an
intimate friend of Powers. and who is
said to have made confession inpli-
eating number of people in the mur-
der. Attorneys for the commonwealth
say Golden's testimony is practically the
cap stone of the whole structure of evil
dence, and expect 10 prove by his testi-
nony that not only Il conspiracy exist
ed but also who We're implicated in it.
The court room was jammed long before
the hour set for examination and when
finally the doors We're closed a large
crowd remained outside The commons
wealth expects to rest its case during
the morning session.
Secretary of State Powers was the
only one of the defendants brought into
court this morning. j. Wharton Golden,
Of Baiboursville, was sworn as the first
witness. He testified that he had known
Secretary Powers seventeen or eighteen
years: also knew Culton He was also
acquainted With Governor Taylor and
Capt. John Powers. Said he was a good
friend to all the defendants. Witness
then testified in regard to the conversa-
tion which he had with Secretary Pow
ers in which the latter requested Golden
to 90 to Harlan county and tell POST
master John Hirst TO send down ten
witnesses in the contest case going on
an Frankfort. To a question in regard
to his opinion Of the kind of men want
led as witnesses Golden replied: We'll,
irlen Who would stand up. and if neces
Isaly go intoa that legislative hall and
! kin enough 10 makesit in our favor"
III reply to a question. Golden stated he
9did not know the witnesses who came to
/ F'rankfor;
When questioned as 10 who selected
4 the men TO come to Frankfort to see
hat Taylor got his rights. Golden re-
5tpliea thar Hamp Howard selected about
forty men from Harlan county, while he
thought Caleb Powers selected the men
faena Knox county. Who numbered sew
enty Mighty JIM Sparks, county att.
eofney OF l.aarti county. selected the
men from Laurel county. In answer to
further questions, Golden said Powers
gave MIN sloe 70 give to Judge Bing
sBham iii Fell county. but only part of
this Was given Bingham for the purpose
3 Of bringing ten men to Frankfort. Ac-
eoiding 10 Gcldsn j 200 or 800 men were
h,oueh; 10 Frankfort by the Taylorites.
Most Of these were sent back home.
4 with The exception Of l75 who remained
g see that Taylor got justice Golden
stated ne MAS in the executive building
the day before tFle shooting, wrere he
lnet Caleb Powers Tne court then adj
journed untsl / 80 y NJ. 4
Golden resumed his testimony at the
afternoon session. He said Jonn Pow
ers and Black, a red moustached man,
had q talk concerning tbs closing of
Secretary Powers Office during the lat
ter's absence. y had my back turned"
said Golden. bur whfn I turned saw
John powers give th@ key to the man.
-.1onn Powers said IL me. .Goebel is go
This must not be fone. He said Don't
I get excited; gavg that man the wrong
:, key l said. W. must go and see
J, Caleb. John Powers saw him. I
/, didn't Wien questioned Golden stat
. ed that he knew Dick Coombs. Did
gou have any talk with Caleb or John
Powers about Rick Coombs. 2" No.
but they had wd negroes there to Kill
6ioebe.l Johr Powers told me so. They
9 were HockeTs mitrl and Dick Coombs.'
Golden said he saw COMBS in Frank
fort every morning for a week or SO
previous to the shooting. Golden then
testified IL regard to the conversation
r. j Howard. of Harlan county, had
With Governor TaNlor' and said Howard
insisted on Taylor calling out the
g militia Taylor said My God. you peo-
nle must do something first, adding:
81 can get militia quick enough. You
fellows must act first. BY that un-
: eierstood We fellows must raise riot
IN the senate chamber. Goebel was
there.
r Golden, WHO was taken i'll in the
i mornlns. suffering from hemarrhage,
y begged to be allowed a few minutes
e rest, which was accorded him.