The sun., 1900-03-20
Republicans Form a Secret So
ciety aud Have Called it
Liberty League.
THREATEN TO USE FORCE
They Pledge Themselves to Preserve
Both the Lives and Freedom of
Other Republicans, Who,
They Declare, Are Com
spired Against.

New York, March 1e.-A special dis
patch to The Sun from Louisville says:
Secretary of State Caleb Powers, Cap
tain John Davis, Colonel w. l.. Hazelip
and w. III. Culton, four of the most
prominent Republicans in the state,
charged with being accessories to the
murder of Senator William Goebel,s did
not have their examining trial at Frank
fort as was promised by County Judge
Moore. When the prisoners were ar
raigned, the prosecution asked that the
cases be continued until Thursday, on the
ground that many witnesses could not be
present until then.
The arrest of these men and the belief
that the Franklin county grand jury will
indict Governor Taylor, United States
Marshal James, United States Senator
Deboe and other Republicans for coa-
spiracy in connection with the Goebel
murder have created an unparalleled stu
alton in Kentucky, which has now reach
ed climax. In order to meet and coun-
teract the power of secret organization
of Goebelites formed in every county in
Kentucky, the purpose of which is to
avenge Goebels death, the Republicans
have started the formation of an organ
ization simultaneously in every town in
the state to defend by all legal means
and by force, if necessary, the accused
Republicans and all innocent men arrest
I'd by the Goebelites. The following is
the oath each member swears to:
Whereas Our civil liberties have been assaulted
and a gigantic conspiracy has been formed to
persecute and deiraud us of our rights therefore
we, the undersigned, do hereby organize ourselves
into a Liberty league, pledged to preserve both
I CiXiI nf foil fit il
zcns who are made the victims Of the aforesaid
| conspiracy, and TO this end pledge our prop
| erty and our lives and will follow the command
CT our captain, who is to be selected by us.
Prominent Republicans Take 1t.
The most prominent Republicans in
Kentucky are signing this pledge. The
Goebelites have the 100000 reward to
use in their persecution of the Republic
ans and fully $4,000 raised by their Sc
cret society. The Republicans will have
an unlimited amount of money by Thurs
day. Three Republicans contributed
81 900 each during the day, If the courts
which are all partisans of Goebelism
convict what are believed to be innocent
men, they will be released by force OF
arms by the Republican organization
The 100000 reward money is expected
to procure all sorts of evidence for the
Goebelites, but the Republicans will take
care of their innocent accused, they say.
Ex-Governor John Young Brown ant
Attorney ]. c. Sims of Bowling Green
who, with w. II. Ramsey of London art
TO appear as counsel for Powers, Davi,
and Culton, are prepared Tor the trial, 81
they say, and will insist that the prison
crs have an immediate hearing
Attorney Il. G. Campbell of New Yorl
was here and held three hours consul
tation with Sergeant II. Wharton Colder
of Barbourville relative to the assassina
tion of Goebel. Golden the Goebelite
allege, has been cornered by the detect
ives and has concluded to tell all HI
knows of the assassination. He is one o
four Republicans who will be put on tn
witness stand by the commonwealth at
torneys in the trials whose evidence
depended upon to convict several of tn
men now in custody.
Golden went to Frankfort from Bar
, bourville to nurse his brother, Captain
Ben Golden, who was shot during tn
Colson-Scott fight in the Capitol hotel
He remained as a member of the militi
to guard Taylor. .