The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-05
CASE OF GoEBEL.
Former Resident of Kentucky Be-
Heves Him to BE a Martyr.

CASE OF GOEBEL.
Former Resident of Kentucky Be-
Heves Him to BE a Martyr.
To the Editor of the Globe:
Your editorial in today's issue on that
blacklist of all black crimes, the assas-
sination of William Goebel, brings out a
point which will be overlooked by the
general public outside the state Of Ken
lucky
Six years Of my life were spent In the
buildings at Frankfort whence issued the
shot that. In all probability. has killed
this much abused and villified man, and
at the same time destroyed civil law In
that unfortunate state.
I am familiar with every nook and
corner of those buildings and. basing my
statements on the description of the
wound, 1 am safe in saying that the
shot could not have been fired from a
window higher than the first or ground
floor, on which the Offices of the gov
ernor of the state are located This floor
Is about six feet from the ground and
shot fired from a window on that floor
would about take the course through the
BODY as described by the surgeons at
tending the stricken man.
William Goebel lies today. a martyr to
fearless, man Of strong convictions
coming from a poor family Of Pennsyl-
vania Germans, he adopted the state Of
Kentucky as his home.
Through force of strong intellect, and
with strong and firm convictions for tho
right, he rapidly made his way to the
front in public affairs And since. In the
days Of 1885, following the national cleo
ton of that year. when he ferreted out
the theft of that state for William Nc
kinley, he has been a marked man.
In this rape of a state Is to be found
the genesis of the much talked of Goe-
bel law.
By this law, enacted by the legislature
of the state, not by William Goebel. as Il
often charged, 1t was made impossible
that second steal could follow.
Had the Republican party been In
good faith, and had the Goebel law been
so bad, they would have made their fight
for a legislature to repeal it. but seeing
their opportunity to secure the aid of
the Louisville & Nashville Railroad COIN
pany, who had fought Mr.. Goebel in the
primaries, ard had attempted to control
the state convention. they made the fight
bitter personal attack, and in every
county of the state, on the stump, and
through paid newspapers, they showed
him no mercy, but painted him monster
in human form.
These trustees under Cod the Re-
publican party, these immaculate ones,
anointed from above, did not wait for
the people to cast their ballots, but In the
campaign, and before a vote was cast,
began their threats Of bloodshed and dire
vengeance il the people elected this man.
After the election, which was close, the
vote, under the law passed to the three
election commissioners, all Democrats
and all Goebei men, who took the ground
that they were simply a counting board
and under the law had no authority 10
go behind the returns, and would there
fore be compelled to issue the certificate
to Taylor, whose majority was about
1000 on the face of the returns, but that
If they had the power, under the law, to
go behind the returns they would be COM
PEELED to give the certificate to Goebel.
These commissioners decided also that
under the law, If contest was made, 1t
could only be made before the state lesiS-
lature.
Mr.. Goebel. at the request of his party,
began a contest, and before decision
was rendered either for or against him,
and, In fact, before the arguments or OPP
posing counsel had been made. these
cowardiy murderers, knowing from the
evidence submitted to the contesting
board that a second attempted rape OF
the state had been brought to light, Turk
ing behind closed doors, in the very sane
t,1ary Of the law, laid In wait for their
Drev. and as he, In the discharge OF his
duties as a state senator, passed peace
ably and quietly up that broad, open ave-
nue. to the entrance Of the state capitol,
shot him as they would have shot DOG.
Too cowardiy even to give human De-
ing a chance to fight for his life.
I'm oil history
Tinted States there is no parallel to this
black and damnable conspiracy, en-
g,ineered by corporation whose Will,
thew determine, shall be law, and pol1ti-
cal party which seems to know no afgu-
merrt but force, fraud, coercion. and,
now, assassination.
I speak from experience and from
knowledge of the character of the people
making up the ten car loads of mountain
outlaws brought Into Frankfort, armed
no the teeth, men whose only business Is
to shoot and kill. the promoters OF the
vendetta and the feud, the very people
whom. the former Republican governor
of the state Bradley had said he could
not with the whole power OF the state,
control: I say I speak from experience
when I say that In the whole ten car
loads Of these outlaws not more than
two in q hundred could be found able to
pay his fare into Frankfort.
Who brought these desperadoes to the
capital. and for what? Every one OF
them came from along the line OF the
louisville & Nashville railroad.
Since the crime was committed the civil
officers of the law have been denied ad-
mission to the building from whence this
shot was fred.
Is It not time. Mr.. Editor. that the
people should stop and consider? Is 1t
not time that all men should search the
history Of this political crime of the Cen
tury and look well to the future?
-B r. Meek Jr.
st. Anthony Park. Feb