Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-31
Is Declared the Governor
of Kentucky.
WHILE ON DEATH BED
Members Of the Legislature Want to
Give Him the Honor Before he
Dies.-The Verdict Was on Strict
Party Lines.

Frankfort, Ky, Jan. so.-While Will
liam Goebel lay at the point of death IN
his room, as the result of an assassin's
bullet. the contesting boards which for
two weeks had been listening to the evil
dence in his contest for the governor S
chair, declared him entitled to the seat.
The boards having in charge the con-
test between Goebel and Taylor for gov
ernor and Beckham and Marshall for
lieutenant governor, met at Z o'clock to-
night at the city hall.
A few legal authorities were read to
them at the request Of Senator Allen, n
wished light shed upon a few doubtful
points. The vote was then taken and by
a strict party vote of 10 to l William
Goebel was declared to have been legally
elected governor of Kentucky.
The Beckman-Marshall contest was
then voted upon and a strict party vote
of 9 to 2 settled this matter. No an
nouncement was made of the reasons
leading up to the report being made to-
night. the boards taking everything at
one leap. Each one of the members Of
both committees that he had
made up his mind as to the merits of the
case and voted promptly as his lame was
called.
In the contest for governor Represen-
tative Yarberry was the one vote in favor
of Taylor, and in the Northumberland
contest Reds and Lilly We're with Mar
shall.
An effort was made by a number of
democrats to get together a quorum of
both houses. hold a night session, hear
the reports of the two committees at once
and adopt them and declare Mr.. Goebel
tho - ~@,D,n
ing. They were anxious to give him the
honor before he died. So many legisla-
tors had zone to Louisville and Lexing-
ton for the night that it was found i'm
possible to carry out the programme. 1t
is a certainty that Mr.. Goebel will be
made governor tomorrow If he is alive.
The attempted assassination of Sem
ator Goehel had precluded the advisable
fty of a sitting of the boards his after
noon. but tonight the boards met in the
city hall, being kept out of the capitol
building by the militia. 1t was a solemn
gathering. Mr.. Edelen. one of Governor
Taylor's counsel. said that it would be
idle to argue the case in view of the state
of mind generally prevalent.
MI. Edelen and Colonel w. c. P. Breck-
1nridge Were the only attorneys for Gov
ernor Taylor present. Sir. Edelen, in
asking for a poStponement. said that he
did SO on his own responsibility, not hav-
ing had time to confer with his col
leagues.
Colonel Bennett H. Young. for. the con-
~testants, followed Mr.. Edelen and said
the contestants waived the right of ar
gument and would make none.
Colonel Breckenridge said he had a1-
dressed a communication to the chair
men Of the two boards, setting forth why
the arguments should not proceed. He
said that the lives of the attorneys for
~ r,,n ~, Dso I i-l 49,
Il have no fear for my personal safe
ty.' said Mr.. ~Breckinridge. 81 have felt
that I should be here and no threats can
deter me from what I regard as my duty.
These threats, however. came from a
source emitting them to serious consider
alton"
The rest of the counsel had agreed not
to appear at the meeting. as the das-
tardly crime committed today might be
repeated under cover of darkness.
Mr. Edelen stated that he entertained
no fears for his personal safety.
Chairman Hickman responded that he
thought the attorneys were perfectly
safe.
Mr.. Lilly. the republican member of the
lieutenant governor board, addressed the
board. He aid
NO heart is more panied than mine
over the occurrence of today. I want to
say that my mind is made up in this
case, and ten years Of argument could
not change it. Assassination is a crime
OF the most einous character, and I car
under no circumstances fail to express
my utter contempt for it's perpetrators
and instigators.'
1t was then agreed that there should
be no arguments.
Only a few members of the legislature
attended the meetings of the board to-
night. The speeches that were made
We're given in subdued tones, showing a
full appreciation of what had happened
and the impending disturbances. The
republicans, as soon as the decision is
rendered in favor of Goebel, it is believed
VIII make application to the United
states circuit court at Cincinnati for an
injunction restraining Goebel and Beck
ham from taking their seats, and the
battle will then be continued before
Judge Taft of that court.
me grounds upon which the Injunction
VIII be asked are the prejudice of the
legislative body. the alleged unfitness Of
the contesting boards to sit in judgmen,
upon the case, and several other grounds
which they declined to discuss tonight.