Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-07-28

different From That Given mt the
Preliminary Hearing Mt Frank
fort-Remarkable Statements oi
Powers and Taylor sworn To-
Taylor Favored Murderous Fight
ON Democrats in the Legislature
and Was Ready to Back Up Those
who Conducted 1t.
GEORGETOWN, KY, July 27.-Ser-
geant F. Wharton Golden, the prose-
cution's star witness, was placed in the
witness box to-day in the trial of Caleb
Powers charged with completely in the
assassination Of Governor Gobel.
Unless present plans are changed the
State will rest it's case tomorrow at
the conclusion of Goldens testimony.
His statements to-day did not vary
materially from those made by him at
the examining trial of Powers in
Frankfort.
W. Hampton, Republican member
of the legislature from Powers home
county, preceded Golden on the stand.
He swore that Governor Taylor want
ed the Republican members to start a
fight in the house, and assured him that
he, as governor, would back them up.
Judge James D. Black, of Barbours-
vile, who was a candidate for the
Democratic nomination Of governor be-
fora +ba vacant Stata convention 40
scribed a letter which he said Powers
wrote James Stevens, of Barboursville,
February 20, in which he declared the
statements: Il am largely responsible
for the disorganized condition of the
Democrats" and Il am an open advo-
cate of war" were used.
Private Williamson, who was a mem
her of the military company which was
called out and took charge of the State
house Immediately after Goebel was
shot, testified that the members of the
company were
Drawn Up in the Arsenal
that morning, prior to the shooting.
They were given overcoats and side
arms, about an hour before the shoot
ing. Witness said that the company
had been kept inside the arsenal since
the legislature met, but previous to that
day had not been uniformed.
D. H. Sinclair, former manager of
the Postal Telegraph Gable company
OF Frankfort, testified as to the many
kilograms sent through his Office be-
fore and after the shooting Some re-
lated to calling out the militia, others
to supplies for the mountaineers.
Sinclair was subjected to a rigid
cross examination by Gov. Brown.
Geo. Weaver, of Denver, Col, was
the next witness. He was in Frankfort
at the time Of the assassination and
was just entering the capitol grounds
rear when the shot was fired. When
the shot was fired witness looked in
the direction of the executive building
and saw the muzzle of a gun pointing
from the Secretary of States office
Witness said he thought he
Saw the Hand of Man
holding the gun. Witness had never
been in Frankfort before that day and
left that afternoon.
In cross-examination witness said he
was native Of London, KY, and went
to Colorado in 1871. He could not give
a very good account of his movements
while in Frankfort. The point where
the witness located Gov. Goebel at the
time of the shooting was almost in
line with the blackberry tree from
which the bullet was extracted, which,
according to the theory of the prose-
tuition, was the bullet that had passed
through Goebel's body. Weaver de-
clared he heard bullet strike near
him and that he then left the scene.
L. w. Hampton, Republican mem
Der of the legislature from Knox coun-
ty, testified that he was talking with
Governor Taylor in January upon the
subject of the contest. The witness
said Taylor told him that human life
would have to be sacrificed. Hampton
continued:
II replied, Well if the Governor
says but he broke in and said to me,
Oh, l can't advise you
Il had called on the Governor to
urge him to call out the militia. He
told me something would have to be
done before he could do this. 1t was
In this connection that he spoke of
Sacrificing human Life"
On the day after the contest board
was drawn witness said he heard that
Taylor was cursing the Republican
members. He went to the executive
office and Taylor said to him with an
oath, "You fellows sat over there and
allowed me to be robbed"
Hampton also said he was in fire.
quent conference with Caleb Powers
and asked the latter if he did not have
q chance to hold on to his Office even
L Taylor should be unseated Powers
replied to witness that he did not want
The office If Taylor lost the Governor
ship, as Goebel would have him assas-
nnated. Powers also told witness he