The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-01-31
Bullet Fired From Window Near
Capitol Building.
Man Arrested For Crime Is Not Believed
To he Guilty.

of an opiats sank into . slumber
which lasted for several hours.
The bullet which struck Mr.. g oebel
was fired from o window In the centre Of
the third story of the Office building
Just east Of the Capitol. That window
was RAISED about eight inches from the
sill to permit an unobstructed passage
for the bullet when Mr.. Goebsl should
come within range. Both Chinn and
Liilnrd assert that, while the first shot
came from the direction Of the window
In 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 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 rushed to the window as soon as
the shots were heard and all Of them de-
clare that there was no shot at ell from
that part Of the building. The window
In the third story was left open. no effort
having been made to oloss IL ty the
would-be assassin. Not another window
In the building was opened nor were
there any places where bullets had been
tired through them.
Whitaker was arrested as he came
down the stsps on the east side Of ths
state ofIioe building, directly below the
window 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 e. Miles,
who is 70 years of age. without hesita-
tion Miles threw himself upon Whitta-
ker. winding his arms around him and
calling loudly for help. In an instant
Whitaker wss surrounded by q group OF
men, many Of them with drawn revol-
vers. He made no attempt to escape and
submitted quietly to q search which was
quickly made, the proceeds being
quick sxamiuat ion of the revolvers
showed that none of the cartridges had
been used and there was no powder smut
on any part Of his weapons. proving oon
elusively that he could not have 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 rife
and from a smaller weapon. Whitaker
was led away and placed In jail while u
guard was placed at the outer entrance to
keep out all the people who had not d.
rect connection with the institution. The
prisoner Ia q man slightly over the medi-
m size. with sandy hair and mustaohs.
He Was disposed to try to take things
calmly. although he repeated again and
again that he knew nothing whstever
sbout the shooting.
az was on the first floor Of the build
ing." he said, "when heard Gov. Tay-
lor tell that man Davis, the Capitol po-
lioeman, to 90 over at once to see Gen.
Collier. said would 60 with him and
that was where was going. 1 wanted
to know, too, what the shooting was
about. When stepped outside that man
gra bbed me. and that's all know and
that's fact"
Few people bslieve that Whitaker is
guilty Of the crime, but the fact that he
was hastily leaving the building from
which the shooting was done. was enough
to make trouble for him
"That man Davis" to whom Whittak-
er referred, Is Col. John Davis, the ousto-
dian Of ths Capitol doors. His story
agrees with that Of Whitaker
vi was just outside of Gov. Taylor's
office" said Davis, "when 1 heard the
shots and heard Gov. Taylor say: MY
Coz, what have they donei'
"Hs called to me at once TO go over to
the office Of Adjutant General Collier. and
Whitaker went along. am positive that
he could not have done the shooting. We
were at the door OF ths building In too
short time for thas"
AS soon "a IL was known that the bullet
which struck down Mr.. 4oebel had come
from the building to the east. group
Of men gathered In front Of the door on
the east side. Others ran around 10 the
door /, n ths west side to prevent the es-
cape OF any body from there. Several men
attempted TO enter the doors from the
outside, but were prevented by mountain