Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-07


Was In the Adjutant Generals Of
flee When the Fatal Shots Were
Fired, That He Looked Out and
Saw a Man Whose Color He Could
Not Distinguish STOPPING Behind
the Public Fountain-He Also Said
He Saw Jack Chinn Walk Rapidly
Away From GOebeI-NOt Much In
terest in Such Testimony.
GEORGETOWN, KY, August GA
piece of new testimony was brought out
to-day at the beginning of the fifth
week in the trial of former Secretary of
State Caleb Powers, charged with COM
plicity in the Goebel shooting. E. R.
Bullock, of Lexington, swore that he
was in the adjutant Generals Office
when the fatal shots were fired. He
stepped out and saw man in stop
ping position behind the public foun-
tain nearby. Bullock could not tell
whether the man was white or black,
and did not know what became of him.
Bullock declared that ne saw Col. Jack
Chiun walk rapidly into the State
house as he stepped from the adjutant
generals Office. Apparently Bullock's
statement did not excite much interest.
Captain D. w. Walcott, who had
charge of the Frankfort militia, was
sworn to-day. He said the company
was on duty at the State capitol the day
the Legislature met and throughout
the session, but denied that the sol
diers were lined up ready for march
ing orders when the assassination oc-
Cured. He said they were equipped
with guns and side arms, but this mere
ly happened so.
R. G. o. Benjamin, a negro attorney
representing ''Tallow Dick" Combs,
anu whose client, it has been repeatedly
asserted recently, has made an alleged
confession, asked Judge Cantrill this
afternoon to be allowed to make mo-
ton at the regular hour tomorrow to
have an investigation of his conduct of
Combs, in which he was charged with
betraying secrets of the prosecution.
Judge Cuntrin Ir.ormed Him
that an investigation would not be ne
cessary. Benjamin then gave out an
interview in which he says that the
Combs reported confession was made
in the presence of himself, common
wealth attorney, Franklin, and Victor
H. Bradley, of the prosecution, and
that Combs made all the statement
attributed to him except as to the
amount alleged to have been offered
Hockersmith to kill Goebel. Combs
nephew stated that he had made a
vain search for Hockersmith and he
thinks Hockersmith is in either New
Orleans or San Francisco. Benjamin
said he had concluded it was due to his
client to tell all he knows as he can
not find Hockersmith who told Combs
all that the latter knows about the as
sassination.
Captain B. B. Golden and other re-
representatives. of the prosecution, con-
ferred with Green Golden, one of the
alleged accessories, in the Frankfort
Jail yesterday, and there is a POSSIBLE
ity that Golden may be introduced as
a witness in rebuttal to contradict the
testimony.
Captain D. B. Walcutt, who had
charge of the soldiers that were quar-
tered in the arsenal at Frankfort, prior
to the assassination, and who were call
ed out Immediately after the tragedy,
was the first witness called to-day. The
troops, he said, were placed in the ar
senal January 4, the day the Legislature
met.
Captain Walcutt stated that it was
About Fifteen Minutes
after the assassination when the COM
pany was called out. On cross examin-
alton he said he had never before seen
the State arsenal under guard for the
same length of time. He got his or
ders, he said, from Adjutant Gen. Col
lier, and did not know, for what purpose
the guard was placed there He said
it was merely incidental that the sol
diers were equipped with side arms and
equipments and ready for active service
when Goebel was shot, although it was
not customary for the men to be equip
ped inside of the arsenal. He denied
that the men were already in line, but
said he formed them after they heard
the first of the shooting.
At the close of the examination of
Captain Walcutt, the defense withdrew
the witness with leave to recall him
with the view of contradicting w. H.
Culton. Culton will also be called
again.
John L. Dozfer, of Knox county, was
called He assisted Powers in organ
izing the mountain army On direct
examination. he said he got only good
citizens, as Powers directed. On cross
examination he admitted that several
who were selected and sent to Frank
fort
Were Bad Characters.