Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-02-07
A VILLAINS DEED
William E. Goebel of Kentucky Shot Down While
Entering the State Capital Building
at Frankfort.
At Last Accounts the Assassin Was at Large---His
Victim Still Alive and There are Hopes
of His Recovery.

Frankfort, Jan. Ex-senator Goe-
bel was shot and fatally wounded at
10 minutes after IL this morning.
The shooting was done by some one
mt present unknown.
Goebel was walking up the side
walk leading to the senate chamber
when a man In the second story OF a
building Immediately to the east Of
the capitol fired upon him. Five
shots were fred and Goebel fell to
the groung fatally wounded. He
was at once carried to the Capitol
hotel.
The widest excitement was in
stantly created in the town and
within ten minutes after Goebel had
been shot the streets were filed with
men carrying rifles and revolvers.
A guard was instantly thrown
around the building from which the
shots were fred In order to prevent
the escape OF the assassin. A force Of
men dashed into the building and up
into the room from which the shots
were fired, but could find no one.
The guard was doubled and Adjt.
Gen. Collier, an ardent political op-
ponent OF Goebel, took charge Of it,
leading the work of finding the man
who fired the shots. The widest ex-
citemsnt prevails throughout the
town.
"They have assassinated Senator
Goebel." was shouted into the house
doors an instant after the shots rang
out. Members rushed pell-mell over
one another down the steps to the
front of the building, coatless and
hatless. In Ave minutes hundreds
poured into the state house yard and
1t looked as II a riot would arise.
Cooler heads advised a surrounding
OF the building from which the shots
came, and In less than three minutes
fifty special police surrounded it.
Senator Goebel was wounded by a
rifle ball Of small caliber, not over Is,
which struck him In the right side
just below the armpit. The ball
passed through the back part OF the
right lung, across the body in dag
onal line, passing ont below the left
shoulderblade. No vital organs were
injured except the right lung.
Mr.. Goebel was on his way to the
senate chamber in company with Col.
Jack Chinn and Warden L. Lillard,
of the Frankfort penitentiary. MIR.
Lillard was u few feet In advance OF
Goebel and Chinn, who were walking
side by side, Goebel being ON the right
and Chinn on the left.
The Shot Fired.
From the outer edge of the capitol
grounds to the steps Of the capitol
the distance is about 800 feet. Two
thirds Of this had been passed and
the men We're walking slowly when
suddenly IA shot rang out from a
large three-story building which
stands 81 feet east Of the capitol
building.
The building In used for Offices by
nearly all the leading officials Of the
state, Gov. Taylor and the secretary
OF state having rooms on the fifst
floor. As the shot was heard Goebel
gave a quick, involuntary exclama-
tion Of pain and made III effort to
draw his revolver.
His strength was unequal to the
task, however, and he sank upon the
pavement. With great rapidity sew
eral more shots were fired, the bull
let's all striking the sidewalk close to
where GOebel lny. None OF them
touched him, however.
Lillard hastily turned around to
aid Goebel, who was supported by
Chinn. who had his arms about him
almost as soon as he struck the epaye-
ment.
"Get help" said Chinn to Lillard,
and turning to Goebel, he nsked:
"Are you hurt. Goebel? Did they get
you?"
"They have got me this time" re-
piled Mr.. Goebel, II guess they have
killed me-"
In less than n minute. n crowd oi
men was around Mr.. Goebel. He
was losing much blood and was be.
coming weak. He was hastily car.
ried to the office of DIR. +. Z. Hume,
In Tho tnaamant nf tho can mia, hotel
and about 1000 feet away from
the spot where the shooting occur
red.
Pronounced Fatal.
Here he was laid on sofa, while
DR.. Hume made hasty examination
pronounelng the wound to be of such
a nature that must cause death In a
short time.
Mr.. Gobel, who showed great cour,
age and fortitude throughout. smiled
weakly as he heard tile verdict and
feebly rolled his head from side to
side in token Of dissent from the opin-
ion expressed by the physician. He
was then carried to his room ON the
second fiopr OF the Capital hotel and
In addition tn DR.. Hume, Drs. Nc
Cormick and Ely were summoned to
attend him.
After careful examination Of the
wound, the doctors announced that
while exceedingly dangerous, IL was
not necessarily fatal unless compllca.
tions Of blood poisoning should SET
In. The patient himself kept up bis