The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-03-31
MURDER GOEBEL
PLOT IN WHICH PROMINENT MEN
ARE IMPLICATED.
Examination at Frankfort Brings
Out the Testimony From F. Whar-
ton Golden That Powers Told Him
Thai He Had Two Negroes at
Frankfort to Kill GOebel - Evil
dence Which the Prosecution
Claims Goes Far Toward Prov
ing That Prominent Men We're
Implicated In the Plot.

Frankfort, Ky, March p. John
Powers told me they had W negroes
here to kill Goebel. They were HOOK
er Smith and Dick COMBS"
This statement was made Saturday
by +. Wharton Golden, Il frail, con-
sumptive-looking Kentucky noun
taineer, while on the witness stand IN
the preliminary examination of Secre-
tary of State Powers, charged with
conspiracy to kill Goebel.
Golden told a story of events leading
up to the murder, that, II substantl-
ated, will, in the minds of those con-
lected with the prosecution at least,
probably go far toward proving the
contentious of the commonwealth
that the murder was the result of a
plan in which several prominent men
were involved.
Whether the defense will seek to
mpeach Gollen's testimony in this
preliminary examination is not known,
rs the attorneys for the defense will
not talk ON the subject, but unless
such attempt is made the common
wealth will rest its case, as both
County Attorney Potsgrove and Al
torney Campbell are satisfied that
enough evidence has been presented to
hold the defendant on the charges.
Golden, who claims to have been a
friend to Secretary Powers and MS
brother, John Powers, for hours gave
testimony that was
Particularly Damaging
10 John Powers, but he also brought in
the names of several others. including
Charles Finley, w. III. Culton M
roxx NJ 1,lo,, sp hts cfnpy of tho hiring.
ing Of the mOuntaineers to Frankfort
previous to the assassination. Gov.
Taylor, however, was not directly i'm
plicated, and the attorneys for the
commonwealth intimated that they do
not expect to have his name brought
prominently forth in the story of the
llleged conspiracy. Golden was no,
cross-eXamined, and adjournment was
taken early in the afternoon on ac.
count Of his physical condition, the
witness having a slight hemorrhage
during the morning session, and be-
came so weak under the strain Of the
examination in the afternoon that he
begged to be allowed a respite. He
was quite nervous at times. Golden's
testimony tended to show that a plan
was made to bring several hundred
Irregular mountain feudists" to Frank
tort who would, il necessary, as Gold
en- expressed it. Ego into the Legislative
hall and kill off enough Democrats to
make it go our way" The testimony
did not show that the alleged plot ia
kill Goebel was part of the original
plan, no. did it contain the III OF
those who conceived that idea.
Denied by Collier.
frankfort, Ky, March 27.-The Re,
publican adjutant general, Collier, yes
terday denied that mines were being
laid around the arsenal and capitol
grounds. and in an explanatory COM
munication to the Democratic assistant
adiutant general. Murray, Gen. Collier
aid that some indiscreet man at the
arsenal had dug trenches and made
pretense of laying mines to create a
sensation, but the work was entirely
without the sanction o knowledge OF
Gen. Collier. and the men engaged
have been sharply reprimanded.