The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-22
HAD ONLY Two PISTOLS
Robert Noakes Tells Why He Did
Not Warn Gsebel.


GEORGETOWN, KY. July 21.-Roberi
Noakes. the sensational witness in the
Powers trial yesterday. was cross-ex.
amined today by the defence. and proved
to be shrewd. He was not confused moi
did he contradict himself in a single in
stance. The defence tried hard to show
that Colonel Campbell or some one for the
prosecution had promised Noakes i'm
munity from prosecution or 4 money con-
sideration for testifying, but he denied
the insinration emphatically in every
form. He said the 100000 reward was
never mentioned by anyone as an induce
ment to him to tell what he knew. The
following in substance. are the new points
brought out by Noakes' testimony:
Il met man at the hotel in Big Stone
Gap in June. and We talked about Ken
tucky politics. was hot-headed and made
some intiscreet remarks and committed
myself somewhat as to what knew about
the assassination before 1 found out the
man was talking to was Col. Tom Camp
bell the attorney. Campbell positively did
not promise me to let me on II would
come to Kentucky and testify, and never
told Governor Bradley or anyone else that
what l knew to Colonel Campbell here in
Georgetown since this trial began.
''On January Is, when John Powers told
me that Goebel was to be killed by our
men upstairs, he indicated that the men
were upstairs in the executive building.
and not the legislative building. and they
were to shoot Goebel. Trimole. Chinn. aad
Others as they walked in the gate. When
John Powers told me Goebel was to be
rod hat raS
Had you not heard before thea that
Goebel was to be killed?'
"Yes, heard 1t, but l thought he was to
be killed in fight. did not want Trim
BILE, GQ.bel, and others murdered, SO
started to warn them. but was detained
on the way and did not give the warning.
was only lightly armed that day: l lad
only two pistols on.
Newton Green, member of the Legis,a-
ture from Montgomery County. saw Wade
Skidmore and other armed men come out
on the steps of the executive building a
few minutes after Goebel was shot. He
said he saw the mountain men trying to
force their way into the House of Repre-
sentatiyes on the 26th of January, and
they told the doorkeeper they would kill
him IL he refused them admittance.
Ed Steffle, q telegraph messenger, who
was killing time on the front steps of the
Atatehouse. heard the shot, saw Goebel
fall, ran down and looked at the front OF
the executive building. He saw a rife
barrel sticking about two feet out of the
window in the Secretary Of States ONCE
and saw a little smoke just above the
window.
r. NJ Hurst, who was in the insurance
commissioners office, on the third floor Of
the executive building. when the shots
were fired. said he did not hear the shots. |
but others in the room did hear them. He !
looked out and saw a man lying on the
pavement near the fountain. In minute
or two the negro elevator boy came In,
and in a laughing way began describing
how the man was shot, fell, and Quivered.
when asked what man, the negro said:
''why. Goebel: 1 thought you all knew
shat
Hurst thought the soldiers arrived If
6sen minutes after the shooting.