Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-02-03
SHOT BY AN ASSASSIN.
Kentucky's Election Contest Develop
Troublous Times In Frankfort.

| Inc long-SuStalneQ pOlltlcal tension
in Kentucky, occasioned by the con-
test over the recent gubernatorial elec-
ton between Taylor, Republican, and
Goebel, Democrat, eliminated last
Tuesday morning in desperate and
probably successful attempt to assas-
sinate Mr.. Goebel.
The political situation in Kentucky
has been developing in accuteness for
the past two years. William E. Goe-
bel, now only A years of age, is gen.
orally considered as the disturbing
factor. He is the most prominent
Democratic leader in the state, and
has been called a dictator. His espe-
cial prominence is due to his connec
lion with what is known as the Goebel
election law, passed about two years
ago, over the veto of Governor Brad
ley; but put into practical operation
for the first time in the elections of last
fall.
The Goebel law provides for the ap-
pointment of state board of election
commissioners, to consist of three men
to hold Office for four years. The COM
missiouers are appointed by the legis:
lature, and are of the same political
complexion as that body. 1t has
power to remove all election officers
and appoint their successors, thus
keeping the control of the election
machinery under the dominant faction
in the legislature.
In the last election, Mr.. Goebel posed
as the regular Democratic candidate
for governor. He was opposed by
John Young Brown, Independent
Democrat, and w. S. Taylor, Republi-
can. The election was quite close.
There was lots of fraud and intimida-
tion on both sides, and at the windup
hot contest before the state board of
canvassers. The state board of can
vassers decided in favor of Taylor,
who was duly inaugurated, whereupon
the Democrats carried the contest to
the legislature.
The matter has been under consid
Grafton during the past ten days. The
legislature, being Democratic, was
naturally expected to declare in favor
of Goebel. The situation occasioned
great excitement throughout the state,
and the city of Frankfort was filled
with armed men, Democrats and Re
pubicans, boiling from every section.
Both sides were bitterly hostile, and
from the day the opposing armed fac
tions began to gather, there was rea-
son to expect an outbreak at any mo-
ment.
All necessary preliminaries having
been arranged, it was understood that,
on Tuesday, the legislature would de-
clare Goebel to be governor. This
was looked forward to as the signal
for the final outbreak but the at
tempted assassination made change
in the programme.
Accompanied by Colonel Jack Chiun,
wellknown Kentucky fire. eater, and
Warden Eph Lillard, of the Frankfort
penitentiary, Mr.. Goebel was proceed
ing through the snow Tuesday morn
ing to the capitol. When the party
arrived within a few hundred feet of
the capitol, two rifle shots rang out,
evidently coming from third story
window of the building, and Mr..
Goebel was hit in the chest. He at
once began to reach for his revolver {;
but was too weak, and fell to the
ground. Colonel Jack Chinn held Oh
to Mr.. Goebel and went to the ground
with him. Four more shots struck
the sidewalk near the men but they
did no further damage. The assassin
used smokeless powder and his where
abouts could not be definitely located,
except by the half-raised window in
the room from which the shots were
fired.
As soon as he recovered himself,
Colonel Jack Chin remarked:
"Goebel, have they killed you ?"
eyes, 1 think they have got me this
time," Mr.. Goebel replied.
Mr.. Goebel was at once removed to
the Office of physician, and upon ex'
animation it was found that the bullet,
which was of 32.calibre, had passed
through lung. The wound was pro-
nounced to be of all exceedingly dan
gerous character, and as to whether
Mr.. Goebel could recover was consid-
| cred very doubtful. Mr.. Goebel was