Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1900-09-22
NUMBER 46.
ASSASSIN OF GoEBEL.
james Howard Alleged to Have Made the
Confession - james Stubbisheld
Makes a Good Witness.

FRANKFORT, KY, Sept. 1.-THE first
really sensational testimony in the trial
of James Howard, charged with having
fred the shot that killed VIM. Goebel,
was given today by Bowman Gaines,
local iiveryman, and James Stubble.
field, former deputy sheriff OF Clay
county. The former identified Howard
as the man who ran out of the State
house grounds and jumped over the
fence Immediately after the shooting.
Gaines was positive in his Identification
Of the prisoner, as the man said the lat
ter then wore mustache and was fol-
lowed by man who was tall and slen-
der. A boy who. was near by at the
time will also be introduced as wit
ness to corroborate Gaines. The most
sensational witness, however, and at
the same time the most important, from
the prosecution standpoint, was James
Stubblefeld. one-legged and one.
armed ex.deputy sheriff Of Clay county.
Stubblefeld testified that Howard ex.
ultingly told him that he fred the shot
that took Goebels life.
Stubblefeld lost his limbs as a result
of the Clay county feuds last year. His
testimony in detail was that Howard
stopped at his house in February short
ly after the shooting. Shortly after he
came in Stubblefeld says he remarked
to him:
4'Ain't you all been having trouble
down at Frankfort"
'1"Yes," responded Howard, according
to the witness; 1--WE have raised hi
and cleaned the platter" and added, II
never sight down my gunbarrel but
what | get meat or money. and this
time got both.'
The witness says Howard was again
at his house several days later and he
asked him what he meant by his remark
on the former occasion. Howard re.
sponded: "By God, meant just what
| said"
Witness said he then pressed him,
putting the direct question: Jim, do
you mean to say that you killed Goe-
bel?"
Howard he says, responded in the
affirmative and said he believed his
mountain friends would stand by him
and that 500 men could not take him to
Frankfort for trial. Stubblefied said
he did not tell the story of Towards
confession until he heard that Howard
and his friends were planning to kill
him.
The defense subjected the witness to
a severe cross-examination, but failed
to tangle him to any extent.
j. L. Jones of Knox county was in
troduced by the prosecution and told Of
alleged remarks by Howard indicating
connection with the murder, but his
testimony was entirely broken down by
, the defense, who not only showed him
to have served two terms in the peni-
tentiary, but that he had also been
promised compensation for his labor in
d looking up testimony. He said Col. r.
: c. Campbell had promised him a rea-
sonable sum of money for his services,
but that Campbell said he "only wanted
the truth and did not want to see any
thing but the truth brought out"
Jones is the uncle of Howard's wife.
: During all of the testimony Howard
did not display any change of feeling.
During the damaging testimony of
Stubbledeld, which, from the manner
it was given. must have made strong
/ impression on the jury, Howard smiled
y and prompted his attorneys.
Z The prosecution will probably con-
: clude its testimony tomorrow.