Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-02-02
Senator GOebel Is Shot by an
Unknown Assassin.
WOUND MAY BE FATAL:
Was ON His Way to Kentucky's
State House when Shot.
MILITIA ARE CALLED OUT.
Gov. Taylor Orders the National Guard
of the State TO Come TO Frankfort
and N Prompt Response Is Given
The Capitol Is Guarded by Troops.

hho ~ IscbPohbc -.
The Capitol Is Guarded by Troops.
Frankfort, KY, Jan. 31.--While
walking through the Capitol grounds
on his way to the Capitol Tuesday
morning, William Goebel, the demo-
cratic contestant for governor of Ken
lucky, was shot down and very dan
gerously wounded.
Harland Whitaker, a farmer from
Butler county, the home of Gov. ray
lor, is now in Jail at Louisville, charg-
ed with the crime. There is no direct
evidence against Whitaker and he was
placed under arrest more because he
was caught around the Capitol when
the shots were fired than for any 9TH
er apparent reason. He denies in the
most positive manner that he had any
connection with the shooting.
Senator Goebel was wounded by a
rifle ball of small caliber, not over 3S,
which struck him in the right side
just below the arm pit. The ball
passed through the back part of the
right lung, across the body on dag
onal line, passing out below the left
shoulder blade.
Mr.. Goebel was on his way to the
senate chamber. in company with Col.
Jack Chinn and Warden Lillard, of
the Frankfort penitentiary. Mr.. Lii
lard was a few feet in advance of Goe-
bel and Chinn, who were walking side
by side, Goebel being on the right and
Chinn upon the left.
| From the outer edge of the Capitol
grounds 10 the step of the Capitol the
distance is about 300 feet. Two-thirds
of this had been passed and the men
were walking slowly, when suddenly
shot rang out from n large three-story
building which stands so feet east of
the Capitol. This building is used for
offices by nearly all the leading otfi-
cials of the state, Gov. Taylor and the
secretary of state having rooms on the
first floor.
AS the shot was heard Goebel gave a
quick exclamation of pain and made
an effort 20 draw his own revolver.
His strength was unequal to the task,
however, and he sank upon the pave
ment. With great rapidity several
more shots were fired, the bullets all
striking the sidewalk close to where
Goebel lay. None of them touched
him, however.
In less than minute a crowd of
men was around Goebel. He was los
ing much blood and was becoming
very weak. He was carried to the Of
flee of DIR. Hume, in the basement OF
the Capital hotel, about 1000 feet from
where the shooting occurred. He was
carried to his room on the second floor
of the hotel.
The bullet that struck Mr.. Goebel
was fired from window in the center
of the third story of the Office building
lust east of the Capitol. That window
was raised about eight inches from
he sill to permit an unobstructed pas
sage for the bullet when Mr.. Goebel
should come Within range.
/, The man who fred the shots took
, the precaution to conceal his location
by using smolSeless powder cartridges.
A score of people were where they had
a full view of the side of the building
from which the firing was done and
all of them declare that not a sign of
powder smoke was visible.
The republican state officials and
members of the legislature denounced
the shooting in the most unmeasur-
able terms. Gov. Taylor Immediately
t caused small address to be publish
/ ed. in which he declared the affair TO
be a disgrace and an outrage. He
sent orders to Adjt Gen. Collier di-
t recting him to take steps for the pres
e ervation of order. Gen. Collier is a
republican and telephoned to the ar
i mory, half-mile distant, directing the
r local infantry company which was
q stationed there to proceed to the Cap
= itol grounds, take possession of them
l. and its approaches, allowing nobody
e to enter the gates.
i Orders were issued to outside COM
;, panies throughout the state to come
IS to Frankfort, the entire state guard
1t being called into service. 1t was fear
n ed that the news of the shooting
II would so inflame the democrats that
!, they would come to Frankfort in
n swarms, while the mountaineers would
s. lose no time in coming to the capital
for the purpose of upholding their
party principles.
DIR. Hume announced late last night
II that the chances had turned very
d much against Goebel and the proba'
& bility was that he would die soon
J. "He has internal hemorrhages," said
n DIR. Hume, "and we are unable to stoI
j, them"
e Bryan In Boston.