The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-09-21
IN HIS OWN BEHALF
Jim Howard Testif1es I'm His Indct-
ment for the Murder OF Governor
Goebel.

Frankfort. KY. September 1e.-Tne
nrst evidence for the defense in the
Howard case was taken today, tne
defendant himself being the first vii
ness. He told in a straightforward
way of his arrival in Frankfor.. aad
movements here January 3Oth and lis
testimony, as anticipated, was 20
prove an alibi.
The defense said proof would be il
troduced TO show shat Howard arriv,d
in the city only thirty minutes prbr
TO the assassination and did not 60 TO
the state house until several hours al
ter the tragedy; that Howard was
then and had been clean shaven forla
year and that he was not the man
seen running from the capitol groun{s
or, later, standing on the steps of ore
OF the buildings, as that man, accort-
ing to the witness, had a beard.
Howard then took the witness stant.
He testified that his train was lae
and that he went from his train to a
hotel and was there when Goebels
Dody was carried by. Howard, in b
general way, contradicted everything
Of an discriminating nature told againS
him by James Stubblefield and othe
marks concerning the murder of Goe
bel
Howard resumed the witness boz
this afternoon and was subjected ID
a most rigid cross-examination con
Quoted by Lawyer Campbell Howart
retained his composure and answered
all questions deliberately Howardt
story OF his movements on the day o.
the shooting was as follows:
arrived in Fra nj fort ba 4
OF the shooting. / walked over to thu
Board of Trade hotel and stayed there
Tor few minutes. Then / strolled
down the street. / met a knot of men
and singing out one of them I asked
him If he lived here. He said no; that
ms home Jwas in Breathitt county and
tnat his name was Robinson WE
walked together about five minutes
and then Robinson and L went back
TO the Board of Trade hotel Several
OF us We're sitting by the fire when d
man opened the door and said: "TheJ
have shot Mr.. Goebel.' I have sinca
Identified that man as a Mr. Triplett. |
AS soon as Triplett told us what
had happened We all ran to the doorl
Ihere was great confusion Just as /
got out of doors a party of men camj
up the middle of the street CARVING
body. 1 was told this man was Goe1
DEL The men carrying him turned into
an office in the Capitol hotel building.l
After little 1 walked down to theI
corner of the state house fence. WhileI
L was standing there the soldiers ar
rived.
about O'Clock 1 went to the state
house for the first time / was stand
ing near the restaurant when I saw
George Thompson, whom I knew. He
told me that he could enter the
grounds 1 asked him to pass me
through the lines and introduce me to
GoVernor Taylor I at that time was
stlli cleanly shaven. 1 had no NOUS
tache. My moustache, when I have
one, is not black, but a light SANDY
red in color.
l was not able to see Governor
Taylor after entering the grounds. bur
did meet Bill Culton, whom 1 knew.
stanolnS in front of the central build
ing. L said nothing to him abort
1nowing that Goebel would die ncr
did L tell him that if a cer-ain sub
stance mad been put on the cartridge
Toebel would have died instantly. He
asked how long 1 had been here. l
said jestingly that L had been here
some time. 1 told him 1 ne lrd Goebcl
vas shot from the executive building.
he pointed to an upper window in the
vest ana said: They say he was shot
from there, but let 'em prove it. Cul-
ION told me that they were very anx-
ons not to let any outsiders in. l told
luton nothing about the best way of
a man being to aim at a tree
IND then to pull down when the man
passed the tree nor did L mention hay-
ng seen Jack Chinn run. On January
list, L was introduced to Governor
[aylor by George Thompson and
brought up the matter of my pardon.
he told me he could not consider the
natter at that time and gave his rea-
;ons"
Howard will resume the stand to-
morrow.