Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-02-07
GOEBEL, A VICTIM OF
AN ASSASSlN'S BULLET.
The Kentucky Democratic Leader
Shot Down Tuesday and Dies
the FOiIowinR Saturday

esesS VI NohtuShl kEom OOIucI W
border during the past year, culmi-
mated In startling tragedy Tuesday
last, that is blot Oh the political
history of that State which quarter
OF time will never effsce.
AS William Goebel, the central
figure of kentucky's political arena
and the democratic contestant for
the GovernOrship, Was making his
way to the Capitol at Frankfort,
he WAS shot down by a concealed per-
son on Tuesday, death resulting Sat
urday.
1t will be remembered that Goebel
contested the election of Gov. lay
ior, but the election board, sustained
by the courts, declared Taylor to be
Governor and be took his seat. Goe-
bel instituted u contest in the legis-
lsture, which, according to the cleo
ton law of that state, finally decides
sll contests for state officers. When
the legislature met it had a demo
cratic majority, but in order to in
sure a safe working majority the
democrats proceeded to unseat several
republican members. This exaspe
rated the repu blicans, who threatened
retaliation. The governorship con
test was to be determined on Wednes
day, and as the democrats had al
ready given evidence of electiug Goe-
bel, it is supposed some over Jealous
republicsl fired the bullet that ended
Goebels life, thinking that, perhaps,
his death would deter the democrats
from ousting Taylor from the Cover
nor's chair.
The wound that caused Goebel's
death, was Inflicted by rifle ball of
small calibre, not over 80, which
struck him in the right side just be
low the arm pit, passed through the
back part of the right lung, across
the body on a diagonal base, and
passed below the left shoulder blade.
Goebel WAS on his way to the Sen
ate Chamber with Colonel Jack Chinn
and Warden Eph Lillard, of the
Frankfort Penitentiary. Lillsrd was
few feet in advance of Goebel, who
was on the right and Chinn on the
left.
From the outer edge of the Capitol
grounds to the step of the Capitol
building is about 800 feet. Two
thirds of this had been passed when
shot rang ont from a large three
story building so feet east of the Cap
ltol. The building is used for of
fees by nearly all the leading officials
of the State, Governor Taylor and
the Secretary of State having rooms
on the first floor.
As the shot was heard Goebel gave
n quick, involuntary exclamation of
pain and tried TO draw his own re-
volver. His strength was unequal to
the task, and he sank upon the pave
ment. With great rapidity several
more shots were fired, the bullets
striking the brick side walk close to
where Goebel lay, but none of them
touched him.
In less than a minute q crowd was
AROUND GOebel, who was losing niue h
blood and becoming very weak. He
WAS hastily carried TO the office OF
DR.. h. L. Hume, in the basement Of
the Capitol Ho ell. He was after
wards taken to his room in the Hotel
where he died.
The bullet which struck Goebel
was fired from a window in the cen
tire of the third story of the office
building. The window was raised
about eight inches, to permit an uu
obstructed passage of the bullet.
Chinn and Lillari assert that while
the first shot came from the direction
| OF the window In the third story,
there were other shots fired from diff
ferent portions of the same building.
The window in the third story was
left open, no effort having been made
by the would be assassin to close IL,
while not another window in the
building was opened, nor were there
any places where bullets had been
fired through them.
That the attempt to kill Goebel
Was deliberate admits of no doubt.
and the only reason it failed was poor
craftsmanship. Goebel's tall figure,
In black OvercOat, was in sharp re
lief against the snow covered ground
behind him. 1t is claimed that the
assassin was misled by the looseness
of the overcoat and fired too much to
one side.
The man who fired the shots took
the precautlon TO conceal his loca.
ton by using smokeless powder car
tridges. Chinn and LIllsrd are men
Of experience IN affairs i'll which
powder smoke is u more or less prom
lnent feature, and both declare that,
while they could tell the general di-
rection from which the bullets come.
they could not guess ut the spot.
The House of Representative was
in session and every one of the 90
members present heard the five re-
ports of the rifle AS they rent the air.
When the news of the assassina-