The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-03-29
CHARGES plot 70 MURDER.
Wharton Golden Specific in His
Testimony.
SAYS POWERS PLANNED DEED.

PLOT, He Insists, Was Not Only to XIII
Goobel but Also Sufficient Number
OF Legislators to Give Taylor v.orkin.
Majority.
Frankfort, Ky, March 27.-protect-
ed by a guard of fifteen soldiers, r.
Wharton Golden of Barbourville. the
star witness for the commonwealth in
the case Of Secretary of State Caleb
Powers, charged with being accessory
before the fact to the assassination OF
William Goebel, Saturday told tale
that has startled and shocked Ken
lucky from center to border.
If what Golden said upon the witness
stand in the Franklin County court is
true-and his reputation for veracity
stands unimpeached-men of high sta
ton not only plotted to have Goebel
murdered, but actually contemplated
the slaughter of other democratic
members of the legislature for the pur-
pose Of giving the republicans ma
Jority in both houses of the legislature.
Golden's evidence was tremendously
sensational throughout, and twice he
broke down completely under the
strain, and required the services of
physician.
After detailing his personal and po-
litical intimacy with Secretary of State
Powers, witness declared that the lat
ter had sent him to Harlan county to
tell Postmaster Hirot to send down
ten men who were regular mountain
feudists, men who would stand up,
and, If necessary, go into that legisla-
tive hall and kill off enough to make
1t in our favor. We wanted men who
had good Colts Ass.
In answer to further questions, Gold
On said Powers gave him $16O to give
to Judge Bingham in Bell county. He
gave some OF it to Bingham to send ten
men down to Frankfort The witness
identified receipt for $50 given by
Bingham. The witness also said he
gave Mr.. Howard $3.50 for ten tickets
to Frankfort and return. He knew
some of the men from Bell county.
Inc men, good many Of them, were
mountain feudists. In ALL about 1000
or $500 men were brought to Frank
fort. They were fed hack of the state
house. Capt. Davis and Charles Fin
ley provided the provisions. I'VE sent
most of them back that night, but
about It's men of the mountaineers
brought to Frankfort remained here to
see that we got justice. We under
stood what they were kept here for.
We knew that those men were here to
go into that legislative hall, and, if
necessary, clean out the democrats;
enough to make a majority on our
side"
The above created sensation in
the courtroom. Golden said he was in
the executive building on the day be-
fore the shooting. He met Caleb Pow
ers in Gov. Taylor's ante-room and
agreed to go with him to louisville.
Powers az-asszi |,
man had talk concerning the closing
Of Secretary Powers office during the
latters absence.
i had my back turned" Golden said,
but when turned saw John Powers
give the key to the man. John Pow
ers said to me, 'Goebel is going to be
killed this morning. said, This must
not be done
"They had two negroes there to kill
Goebel. John Powers told me so.
They were Hockersmith and Dick
Coombs. saw Dick Coombs at a drug
store near the depot every morning for
a week or so previous to the shooting.
Coombs, talking to man named Wal
lace, in my presence, said: D.
MIN, l know him as far as can see
him, and l can kill him as far as / can
see him. He was talking of Goebel
rms conversation was in the adjutant-
generals office. He also said, 4 know
his every movement, and l can hit him
as far as I can see him. He carried a
Colts 80 that shoots Winchester
cartridge, six or eight inches in the
barrel. Coombs was in the assistant
adjutant-general's Office on the morn
ing of the shooting with Hockersmith
and Jim Wallace.
'FR. j. Howard of Harlan county
came up and he talked to Taylor. He
insisted on Taylor's calling on the mi
litia. Taylor said, My God, you peo-
pie must do something first; adding,
I can get the militia quick enough.
You fellows must act first BY that |
understood we fellows must raise a
riot in the senate chamber Goebel
was there. AS l told you this morn
ing, we would clean out enough of that
legislature to make it our way"
Taylor Calls for Federal Help.
Louisville, KY, March Glow. de
Facto w. S. Taylor has officially noti-
fed President Mckinley and Secretary
of War Root that there is danger Of
conflict between two armed forces at
the Kentucky capital
President Will Not ACT.
Washington, March 27-It is au-
thoritatively declared that the admin
istration will take no action in the
Kentucky affair, unless the situation
should become acute.
Baxter and Lemieux Guilty.
Montreal, March 27.-James Baxter.
the Montreal broker, and Ferdinand
Lemieux, former accountant of the de-
funct Vile Marie bank, charged with
r. lofro,,d +lo I.-1-