The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-07
COMBS DID CONFESS.


Benjamin then gave out an interview
in which he says that the Combs confess
sion was made in the presence Of him
self, Commonwealth Attorney Franklin
and Victor H. Bradley, of the prosecu-
ton, and that Combs made all of tho
statements attributed to him except as to
the amount Youtsey is alleged to have
offered HockerSmith to kill Goebel. He
says Combs did not say $1,000. Benjamin
also produces a letter from his client,
Combs, in which the latter expresses the
utmost confidence in him. Combs nephew
is here tonight, and says he has made a
vain search to find Hockersmith, and he
thinks Hockersmith is in either New Or
leans or San Francisco.
Benjamin further says he concluded 1t
was due his client to tell all he knows,
as long as he could not find Hockersmith,
who told Combs all that the latter knows
about the assassination.
Capt. B. 3. Golden and other repre-
sentatives of the prosecution conferred
with Green Golden, one of the alleged
accessories, in jail at Frankfort, yester-
Gay, and there is a possibility that the
latter may be introduced as a witnesses
in rebuttal to contradict testimony of the
defendant himself Capt. D. B. Walcutt,
who had charge of the Frankfort militia,
said on the stand today that the COM
pany was on duty at the state capitol the
day the legislature met and throughout
the session, but denied that the soldiers
were lined up ready for marching orders
when the assassination occurred. He said
they were equipped with guns and side
arms, but this merely happened So
Ex-Gov. Brown, chief counsel for the
defense, announced that the defense
will conclude its testimony probably on
Friday. but possibly not until Saturday.
After that the prosecution will consume
three or four days in rebuttal Capt.
D. B. Walcutt. who had charge Of the
soldiers that were quartered in the ar
senal at Frankfort, prior to the assassin
alton, and who were called out immedf-
ately after the tragedy, was the first
witness called today. The troops, he
said, were placed In the arsenal Jan. 4,
the day the legislature met. Capt. Wal
cult stated that it was about fifteen min
utes after the assassination when the
company was called out. On cross exam
ination he said he had never before seen
the state arsenal under guard for the
same length of time. He got his orders
from Adjt. Gen. Collier and did not
know for what purpose the guard was
placed there He said it was merely in
ClueHldl lndI the SOIu1erS were equipped
with side arms and equipments, and
ready for active service when Goebel
was shot. 1t was customary for the men
to be equipped inside the arsenal He
denied that the men were already in line,
but said he formed them after he heard
the first of the shooting.
SAW A MAN CROUCHING.
E. r. Bullock, of Lexington, gave some
entirely new testimony. Witness said
he was In the adiutant generals office
when the shooting occurred. He came
out and saw Jack Chinn walking rapidly
into the state house. A man was stand
ing behind the fountain in STOPPING po-
sition. Witness could not tell whether
he was white or black, and did not
know what became of him.
Stewart Stone, Gov Taylors steno-
grapher, testified he was in the govern
or's room when the shooting occurred.
When Taylor heard what had happened
he expressed fear that all of the occu-
pants of the executive building would be
mobbed. They broke into the Office of
the secretary Of state to get some guns
with which to protect themselves Ac-
cording to the witness. Gov. Taylor or
dered Capt Sharp, of Lexington, to arm
everybody in the building and take
charge Of the men.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
At the afternoon session ex-Gov.
Brown, for the defense made a long ar
gument in support of the position that
the defense was entitled to showing evil
dence that the occupants of the eXecu-
tive building after the assassination,
heard threats on the part of the popu-
lace, and they acted upon this in arming
themselves in excluding the public and
civil officers from the building. Mr..
Mitchell for the prosecution argued that
the commonwealth should not be entail
ed with the burden of idle threats that
might or might not have been made by
irresponsible parties and that this char
acter of proof could not be offered in
justification of the course of those who
mad possession of the building. The court
ruled that the witness might relate any
specific threat which he himself heard,
but that he could not tell of common
rumor or threats which had come to him
second hand The defense reserved an
exception to this ruling.