Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-02-07

courage, insisting ngain and again
that he was not going to die.
II was decided by his friends to call
In the services also OF DIR. McMurty, q
prominent surgeon OF Louisville. and
urgent messages were at once sent
for him. After the wound had been
dressed, Senator Goebel showed
great exhaustion and it was an.
nounced by the physicians that he
would In all probability die within a
short time.
He rallied. however, and under the
influence OF an opiate sank into a
gentle slumber, which lasted several
hours.
Where the Shot Was Fired.
The bullet which struck Mr.. Goebel
was fired from " indow In the CEN
ter Of the third story of the office
building just east OF the capitol.
The window was raised about
eight inches from the sill to permit IN
unobstructed passage for the bullet
when Mr.. Goebel should come within
range. Both Chinn and Lillard as
sert that while the first shot came
from the direction Of the window in
the third story, there were othershots
fired from different portions OF the
same building.
Some of those who heard the shots
say that at least one shot was fired
from the Office of the secretary Of
state. This, however, Is not true, as
there were men In the Office of the
secretary of state who rus he'd to- the
window as soon as the shots were
heard, and all Of them declare that
there was no shot fired at ali from
that part OF the building.
The window In the third story was
left open. no effort having been made
to close 1t by the would-be assassin.
while not another window In the
building was opened nor were there
any places where bullets had been
fired through them.
Whitaker Arrested.
Whitaker was arrested as he came
down the steps on the east side Of
the state office building. directly be-
low the windo w from which the shots
had been fred. As he reached the
sidewalk and was Fastening toward
the scene of the shooting. he was met
by John +. Miles, who is 76 years of
age. without hesitation, Miles
threw himself upon Whitaker, wind
ing his arms around him and calling
loudly for help.
1t was right at hand and In an in
stunt Whitaker was surrounded by
a group OF men, many OF them with
drawn revolvers. He made no at
tempt to escape, knowing well that
the slightest attempt to do 40 would
bring dozen bullets into his body.
He submitted quietly to a search
Of his clothing. which was quickly
made. the proceeds being three
revolvers and a big knife.
A quick examination Of the revol-
vers showed that none Of the cart
ridges had been used and there was
no powder smut on any part OF his
weapons, proving cOnclusively that
| he could not haze used any OF his
three revolvers. In addition to this.
all those who heard the shots join in
the statement that they were from a
rifle and not from u small weapon.
Whitaker waa quickly led away
and placed Ia JUL, while u guard was
placed Mt the outer entrance to keep
out all people who had no connec-
tion with the institution. The pris-
oner is a man slightly over the me
dium size. with sandy hair and
moustache.
Declares Mis- Innocence.
He was disposed tn take things
calmly, although he repeated again
md again that he knew nothing
whatever ubout the shooting.
81 was ON the first floor Of the
building" he satd, "when ! heard
Gov. Taylor tell that man Davis, the
capitol policeman. to go over at once
to see Gen. Collier. 1 said Iwonld go
with him, and that was where ! was
going. wanted to know. too, what
the shooting was ubOut. When |
stepped outside that man grabbed
me. That Is all | know. and that's u
fact"
Few people believe that Whitaker
is guilty, hut the fact that he was
hastily lenving the building from
which the shooting was done was
enough to make trouble for him.
THAT man Davis" to whom Whit
taker referred ia Col. John Davis. the
custodian of the capitol grounds.
His story agrees with that Of Whit
taker.
81 WAS just outside OF Gov. Tay-
lor's Office" said Col. Davis. when
heard the shots and heard Gov, Tay-
lor sny. "My God. what have they
done?" He called to me to ut once
90 over to the office OF Adjt. Gen.
Collier, and Whitaker went along.
am positive that he could not have
done the shooting. We were at the
door Of the building In too short u
time for that"
As soon as IL was known that the
bullet which struck down Mr.. Goebrl
had come from the building to the
east number of men gathered In
front OF the door on the east ride.
Others ran around to the door on the
west side 70 prevent the escape of
anybody from there. Several men
attempted to enter the doors from
the outside, but were prevented by
groups of mOuntaineers who stood
In the doorwayR.
Carefully Planned.
Thnt the shooting Of Mr.. Goebel
w0s the result OF acareiully laid plan
In without question. The man WIN
did the work had evidently taken his
stand at the window which had pre-
viously been raised In order to allow
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