The Chipley banner. (Chipley, Washington County, Fla.) 1893-1943, 1900-03-31
"HIRED NEGRO
SHOT GOEBEL"
Such Is the Deduction Drawn
From GOlden's Testimony.
HIS STATEMENT CREATES STIR
According to Golden, Caleb Powers
Was One of the Prime Nov
ers In the Plot,

F. Wharton Golden, of Barbours-'
vile, was put on the witness stand
Saturday at Frankfort, KY, in the
examination OF Secretary Of State
Caleb Powers, charged with con-
spiracy to murder Senator Goebel,
and gave some sensational testimo.
ny. Golden was rather nervous,
but did not hesitate in his replies to
questions, and his testimony made q
deep impression.
According to Golden, Caleb Powers
was one Of the prime movers in the
bringing to Frankfort Of the mount.
aineers just before the assassination
OF Goebel, and that although Secss-
tary Powers simply instructed him to
bring witnesses" who were mountain
feudists, yet Golden understood that
they were to come to Frankfort for u
possible more sinister purpose, that
OF cleaning out" the Democratic ma.
iority in the legislature.
Golden also brought in the name OF
Governor Taylor in an incidental way,
also the names OF Culton, John Pow
ers, Captain Davis, Charles Finley,
Judge Bingham and others, the plan
to bring the mountaineers to Frank
fort having taken on q wider scope
than was expected.
Golden was seized with slight hem
orrhage during the morning and ad.
iournment was taken earlier than the
usual hour.
Golden began his testimony by say
ing that he had known Secretary
Powers for seventeen or eighteen
years, also knew Culton. He was also
acquainted with Governor Taylor and
Captain John Powers. He said he
was good friend TO all Of the defend
ants. He was in Frankfort in January
and February and saw Secretary Pow
srs and John Powers nearly every
day, He was in Frankfort on January
14tb, and went to Harlem county for
two or three days, from there return
ing to Frankfort.
Golden resumed his testimony at the
afternoon session. He taid he saw
John Powers and a red black mus.
tached man talking concerning the
closing OF Secretary Powers's office
during the latter's absence.
81 had my back turned" said Gold
en-, "but when I turned I saw john
Powers give the key to the man.
John Powers said to me:
Goebel is going to be killed this
morning I said: This must not be
DONE
"Do you know a man named Dick
Coombs?" asked Attorney Campbell.
i do. He is colored and lives in
Beatiyville. He came down with the
Lee county contingent"
"Did you have any talk with Caleb
or John Powers about Dick Coombs2"
"No; but they had two niggers there
to kill Gobel. John Powers told me
so. They were Hooker Smith and
Dick Coombs. I saw Coombs at the
drug store near the depot every morn
ing for week or SO previous to the
shooting. Coombs, talking to man
named Wallace in my presence, said :
'D-n him, I know him as far as I
can see him. and can kill him as far
as can see him." He was talking OF
Goebel.
This conversation was in the ad-
jutant generals Office.
Golden told story of the events
leading up to the murder, which, il
substantiated, will in the minds OF
those connected with the prosecution
at least, probably go far toward prov
ing the contentious OF the common.
wealth that the murder was the result
OF plan In which several prominent
men we're involved.
The testimony did not show that the
alleged plot to kill Goebel was part Of
the original plan, nor did il contain
the names OF those who conceived the
idea, except so far Is Golden's remarks
about John Powers gave the impress
sion that the latter was one OF the
movers. The commonwealth sought
to show BY Golden's conversation with
various people that not only John and
Caleb Powers, but others as we'll, h ad
full knowledge Of the alleged plan Of
assassination.
Whether the defense will seek to
impeach Golden's testimony in this
preliminary examination is not known,
o. the attorneys for the defense will
not talk on the subject, but unless
such attempt is made the common
wealth v Ill rest its case. both County
Attorney Polsgrove and Attorney
Campbell being satisfied that enough
evidence has been presented to hold
the defendant on the charges.