The age-herald., 1900-02-04
BECKHAM TAXES
 OATH OF OFFICE
He Realized His Responsible Po- sition and Was Deeply
 Impressed.

Frankfort. Ky, February 3.-Exactly one hour after the death of Mr. Goebel Acting Governor J. c. W. Beckham was sworn in as governor of the state, the oath being administered by s. J. Shackleford, clerk of the court of appeals
 It had been determined to keep secret the news of the death of Governor Goe- bel until Lieutenant Governor Beckaam should have been formally inducted into office, and the delay was made greater py the inability of pr. Mccormack to leave the bedroom of Governor Goebel and make the proper certificate of death Until thus had been done the democratic attorneys were unwilling that the oath of office should be admins tered.
 The ceremony took place in small room on the same floor as tnat in which Gov ernor Goebel died but a few doors to the west of it. In the room at the time of the admins tration of the oath were Senator elect Blackburn, Colonel Bennett H. Yourlg, Colonel Philip Thompson Eph Lillard, J. H. His, Lieutenant Lee Mckay, s. J. Shackeford, clerk of the court of ap- peals; pr. P. w. Wells, Colonel Harry Mo- Kal, Colonel Jack Chinn, Kit Chinn, pr. Mccormack, Joseph Blackburn. Jr., and tnTee T6pF6SSDldliNeS ol Picoo.
 Colonel Young, who was one of the lead ing democratic attorneys throughout the Goebel-Taylor contest, and Senator-elect Blackburn, sat at table in the center of the room upon which they had drawn up the papers necessary to the administration of the oath of office to Lieutenant Govern or Backham. After the papers had been completed there was wait Of nearly l0 minutes for Dr. Mccormack. The death certificate had already been prepared and Dr. Mccormack quickly signed his name and swore to the contents of the paper, which reads as follows:
 'tState of Kentucky, County od Erankin, February B.
 "T, Joseph N. Mccormack, attending physician of William Goebel, governor of the state of Kentucky, do certify that was present in the room of said William Goebel, in the state and county aforesaid, on the third day of February, 1900. at the time of his death. And do further certi- fly that said William Goebel departed this life on the Sd day of February, 1900, in the said city of Frankfort, at the hour of 6:45 p. m., and thereafter I communicated the fact of the death of said William Goe- bel to J. c. w. Beckham, lieutenant gov- ernor of the state of Kentucky, who was then sworn in as the governor of the state. "Witness my hand, this the Sd day of February, 1900.
 Osigned) JOSEPH N. MCCORMACK, Q. 
 Medical Doctor"
 Subscribed and sworn to before me this Sd day of February, 1900.
 (Signed) '.S J. SHACKLEFORD
 "Clerk of the Court of Appeals" |" Now, MT. Beckham, it is your turn" said Colonel Young.
 Acting Governor Beckham, who had been standing in the far corner of the room, at once advanced to the table with a flush of excitement on his youthful face
 
 Beckham Signs the Oath
 Sign the oath," said Colonel Young, pushing the paper toward him.
 MT. Beckham affixed his signature. and then stepping back, held up his right hand for the oath, which was read to him by Clerk Shackelford. The light was none of the best and the writing on the paper none of the most legible, and MT. Shackleford made slow work of tt. All the time Beck (Continued on Third Page)