The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-25
Names of Prominent Republicans In
vOIved by the Narrative of the
Barboursville Witness.
MURDER OF THE LEGISLATORS
ALLEGED TO BE PART OF THE
SCHEME TO SECURE CONTROL.
Enough Democrats Were to BE Killed
in the House and Senate to
snake Things Our Way"

FRANKFORT. Ky, March 24.-"John
Powers told me they had two niggers here
to kill Goebel. They were Hockersmith
and Dick Combs
This statement was made to-day by
Wharton Golden. a frail, consumptive
looking Kentucky mountaineer, while on
the witness stand in the preliminary ex-
animation of Secretary of State Caleb
Powers, charged with conspiracy to kill
Goebel.
Golden told a story of the events leading
up to the murder that, if substantiated
will, in the minds of those connected with
the prosecution at least, probably go far
toward proving the contentious of the COM
monwealth that the murder was the result
Of plan in which several prominent men
were involved. Whether the defense will
seek to impeach Golden's testimony in this
preliminary examination is not known, as
the attorneys for the defense will not talk
on the subject, but unless such attempt is
made the commonwealth will rest its case,
both County Attorney Polsgrove and At
torney Campbell being satisfied that
enough evidence has been presented to
hold the defendant on the charges.
Golden, who claims to have been a friend
to Secretary Powers and his brother. John
Powers. for years. gave testimony that was
particularly damaging to John Powers, but
he also brought in the names of many
others, including Charles Finley, w. H.
Culton and Governor Taylor, in his story
of the bringing of the mountaineers to
Frankfort previous to the assassination.
Governor Taylor. however, was not direct
ly implicated, and the attorneys for the
commonwealth intimated to-day that they
do not expect to have his name brought
forth prominently in the story of the al
legged conspiracy.
Golden was not cross-examined to-day
and adjournment was taken at an early
hour this afternoon on account of his phys
ical condition, the witness having a slight
hemorrhage during the morning, and be-
came so weak under the strain of the
examination in the afternoon that he beg
ged to be allowed respite. He was quite
nervous at times. Golden's testimony
tended to show that a plan was made to
bring several hundred regular mountain
feudists" to Frankfort, who would, if
necessary, as Golden expressed 1t, ''go into
the legislative hall and kill off enough
Democrats to make it our way" The tes-
timony did not show that the alleged plot
to kill Goebel was part Of the original plan,
nor did it contain the names of those who
conceived the idea. But the commonwealth
sought to show by Golden's conversation
with various people that not only John and
Caleb Powers, but others as we'll. had full
knowledge of the alleged plan Of assassina-
tion.
GOLDEN ON THE STAND.
The courtroom was jammed long before
the hour set for the examination. and when
finally the doors were closed a large crowd
remained outside. Secretary Powers was
the only one of the defendants brought
into court this morning, Captain Davis
and Culton remaining in Jail. j. Wharton
Golden, of Barboursville, was sworn as the
first witness. He said he had known Sec
retary Powers for seventeen or eighteen
years; also knew Mr.. Culton. He was also
acquainted with Governor Taylor and Capt.
John Powers. He said he was a good
friend to all the defendants. He was in
Frankfort in January and February and
saw Secretary Powers and John Powers
nearly every day. He was in Frankfort
Jan. IA and went to Harlan county on the
18th; then went to Laurel county for two
or three days. returning from there to
Frankfort.
when did you go to Barboursville?
asked Attorney Campbell.
The witness hesitated, then said: 81 won't
answer that"
when did you have conversation with
Secretary Powers?'
when Mr. Powers and I left here to-
gether. Colonel Powers told me to go to
Harlan county and tell Postmaster John
Hirst to send down ten witnesses In the
contest case"
How were these witnesses to be selected,
and in what manner were they to Gomez
Regular mountain feudists."
"Give the exact conversation between
you and Secretary Powers relative to get
ting witnesses in Harlan county"
He told me to go to Harlan county and
tell Mr.. Hirst to send down ten men who
were regular mountain feudists.'
did he understand what he meant by
that, and, If so. what was your under
standing of that request?'
Objected TO. but overruled.
II won't answer that" said Golden.
After some parley Golden said: "Well.
men who would stand up. and. IL necessary,
go into that legislative hall and kill on
enough to make it in our favor. / did not
see Mr.. Hirst. I saw Hamp Howard. I
told him we wanted ten regular mountain
feudists for witnesses. We wanted men
who had good Colts forty-ives.''
Were the Colts forty-fives to be put In
evidence?" asked Attorney Campbell.
"1foot aosursdly they were" answered