The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-02-08
ASSASSINATION OF
GOVERNOR-ELECT GOEBEL
POLITICAL CONSPIRACY AND
TRAGEDY.
The Democratic Leader of Kentucky y
Shot Through tho Lungs While on
His Way 10 tho State House.


contestant for Governor OF Kentucky
WAS shot down and dangerously wound
cd while walking the capitol grounds
at Frankfort. KY, on Tuesday, Jan
3Oth.
Senator Goebel was wounded by 8
rifle ball Of small calibre, not over 49,
which struck him in the right lung,
across the body in y diagonal line,
passing out below the left shoulder
blade. The vital organs were not in.
jureC, with the exception Of the rig ht
lung.
Mr.. GOebel was on bis ways to the
Senate chamber In company with Col
Jack Chinn and Warden Eop Lillard,
Of the Frankfort penitentiary. Mr..
Lillard was a few feet in advance OF
Goebol and Chinn, who were walkin.
side by side, Goebvl being on the right
and Chinn on the left. From the outer
edge of the capitol grounds to the step
of the capitol building the distance is
about three hundred feet Two-thirds
OF this had been passed and the men
were walking slowly, when suddenly q
shot rang out from Il large three story
building, which stands fifty feet east
Of tho capitol building. This building
is used for offices by nearly all the
leading officials ( the State, Governor
Taylor and the Secretary Of State bav
ing rooms on the first floor.
AS the shot was heard Goebel gave q
quick involuntary exclamation Of pain
and made an effort 10 draw his re-
vOlver. His strength was unequal to
the task, however, and he sank upon
the pavement. With great rapidity
several more shots were fired, the
bullets all striking the Brick sidewalk
close to where Goebel lay. None OF
them touched MIN, however,
Ltllard hastily turned around to aid
Goebel, who WAS supported by Chinn,
who had his arms about him u most %
soon as he touched the pavement
Get help" said Chinn to Lillard, and
turning to Goebel, he asked
49,. Are Are ,yy you hurt Goebel? Did they
They have got me this time" said
Goebel. "I guess they have killed
me-"
In less than M mute u crowd of men
was around Go9bel. He was losing
much blood and was becoming very
weak. lie was hastily carried to the
Office of DR.. E E. Hume, in the base
ment Of Capitol Hotel, about one
thousand feet from the spot where the
shooting occurred. Here he was laid
on sofa, while Dr.. Hume made q
hasty examination, pron0uncing the
wound to be Of nature that must cause
death IN short time. Goe bel, who
showed great fortitude and courage
throughout, smiled weakly as he hearc
the verdict and ieebIy rolled his head
from side to side In token of dissent
from thGt opinion. He was then
carried to his room, on the second II DOR
Of the Capitol Hotel, and, in addition
to DR.. Hume, Drs. Mccormick and Il v
were summoned to attend him. After
careful examination OF the wound
the doctors announced that. while ex-
ceedingly dangerous, it was necessarily
fatal, unless complications or blood
poisoning should set in. The patient
himself Kept up his courage, Insisting
again and again that he was not going
to die.
1t was decided by his friends to call
in also the services OF DR.. McMurty, q
prominent surgeon OF Louisville, and
urgent message were at once sent for
him. After the wound had been
dressed Seantor Goebel showed great
exhaustion and it was announced by
the physicians that he would in all
probability die in short time. He
rallied, however, and under the in
huence Of an opiate sank into q gentle
slumber, which lasted several hours.
The bullet which struck Mr.. Goebel
was fired from window in the centre
of the third story OF the Office building
was raised about eight inches from the
sill to permit an unobstructed pas sage
for the bullet when Mr.. Goebel should
come within range. Both Chinn and
Lillard assert that, while the first shot
came In the direction OF the windo iu
the third story, there were other shots
fred from different portions Of the
same building. Some of those who
heard the shots say that at leas, one
shot was fired from the Office Of the
Secretary Of State. This, however, is
not true. There were several men in
the Office OF the Secretary of State
the shots were heard, and all of them
declare that there WAS no shot fired ut
all from that part Of the building. The
window in the third story was left
open, no effort being made to close 1t
by the would-be assassin, while not
anothor window in tho building was
opened, nor were there any places
where bullets had been fired through
them.
AS soon as it was known that the
bullet which struck MIR. Goebel hal
come from the building to the east 9
group of men gathered in front of the
uOOI Oh ShSG 6lu6. oGuorS raf
around to the door on the west side tt
prevent the escape of anybody from
there. Several men attempted tt
ented the doors from the outside, bu
were prevented by groups OF noun
taineers who stool In the doOrways
Some OF these men held Winchester.
in their hands, and presented an aspec
80 generally uninviting that no attemp
was made to seach the building, ant
nobody gained entrance to 1t for severa
minutes after the shooting had beer
done, and the assaasion had ample Cd
portunity to escape.
That tie shooting OF Mr.. Goebel wa
the result Of carefully laid plan II
without question. The man who die
the work had evidently taken his stan(
at the window, which had previousl,
been raised In ordor to allow the frel
passage Of the bullet, and waited unit
his victim was in full sight befor'
firing.
Ever since tho influx OF mountaineer
ast week large number Of them have
. on sleeping In the upper part o. tn,
State House. Il Ia not known, how
aVar. that anv NJ tSoso MAN 6jd fh,