Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-08

GEORGETOWN, KY, August r.
To-day's session Of the trial of form
er Secretary of State Caleb Powers de-
yeloped the fact that both sides in the
case will deal extensively in contradic-
ton and impeachment of witnesses.
The most important testimony heard
to-day was given by Corporal Milt
Trasper, Of the Barboursville company,
of which John Powers was captain.
Trasper testified that the shot which
killed Governor Goebel was fired from
the third story Of the executive build
ing and not from the Secretary of
States office which is on the second
floor Trasper declared he saw a Win
dow raised and the smoke from the
explosion but did not see the gun or
the person who fired it.
AT the afternoon session the defense
further sought to contradict w. H.
Culton by introducing two witnesses
who testified that Culton told them he
had an agreement with the prosecu-
ton by which he was not to be con-
fined in jail. Culton on the stand de-
MED that he ever made such a state
ment
The prosecution was granted sub
poena duces tecum on State Auditor
Coulter requiring him to bring his rec
ords into court. This is done in an
effort
Contradict the Testimony.
of former Auditor Stone, who testified
that he discharged w. H. Culton in
December and charged him with steal
ing $1,000. The prosecution ANNOUNCE
ed that it expected to show by the
record that Culton was paid his sal
airy in both December and January and
by other witnesses to prove that since
that Stone had recommended Culton
to various people as being entirely
trustworthy.
George l.. Barnes, who was a clerk
in the auditors Office, saw rife in
the vault at the auditors Office. 1t
formerly belonged to Henry Youtsey,
he said, but at the time of the shoot
ing it belonged to Frank Roberts, who
had since been appointed a clerk in
the census bureau at Washington.
John B. Hurst of Corbin, testified
he was in Frankfort several times in
January. The last time he went was
with the mountaineers, January %.
More than half of the men were armed.
He contradicted several of the state
mentS of Robert Noakes. Hurst de-
clared that the men in the mountain
army were average mountain citizens,
and closed by saying that he had him
self been delegate to the Republican
national convention.
did you see any of the alleged
Assassins of Governor GoebeI
at that convention?" asked Attorney
Golden.
The witness said he did not, but at
terward said he saw Ex-Governor Tay-
lor there.
Were there any of the others who
were in that armed crowd that went to
Frankfort at the Philadelphia conven-
tion?" asked Attorney Golden.
The witness said he did not see any
such persons there. Ex-Governor
Brown objected to the manner of the
examination and there was hot ex-
change of words between him and
! Golden.
Hurst admitted that he himself had
been indicted and tried for forgery at
| Knoxville, Tenn. He was asked con-
corning another alleged forgery at
Pineville, but the defense objected The
court allowed the question to be ans
wered and the witness admitted that
he was charged with the crime, but
there was no prosecution.
| w. H. Culton was recalled and asked
! If he had not said to Capt. D. B. Wal
| cult that he had a written contract
with the prosecution by which he was
| to confess and receive immunity. He
| denied that he made the statement to
/ Walcutt or anybody else Walcutt was
then recalled for the purpose of contra
| dieting Culton. He testified that Gull
| ton did make the statement c. O.
| Reynolds also swore that Culton made
a similar statement TO him.
Corporal Milt Trasper, of the Bar
| louisville militia company, followed
| He said he arrived in Frankfort on
| January % and remained until after
January 80. He was in the house cloak
room looking out of window toward
the executive building when the shoot
| ing occurred. He saw
Window the Third Floor
of the executive building raised, heard
the shots and saw smoke, but could not
see either man or gun. Witness did
not go into the executive building for
over an hour after the shooting. He
claimed that he found two boxes. one
! upon the other, near the window he
had noticed open when the shots were
fired.
Cross-examination Trasper said he
was member of John Powers mill
/ tary company. The latter sent for
him on January oath and told him he
had secret orders from Governor Tay-
lor to bring his military company to
Frankfort. Witness was afraid troub-
lie might come up over the soldiers go
| ing in this manner and preserved Pow
| Continued on Sixth Page.