The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-04
Probably to Avenge the killing OF
Banker Sanford I'm Covington.

WELLSTON, o., Feb. 3-On a late train
from Ironton last night came a fne-looking
stranger. evidently in disguise and under
severe mental strain. He said he was I'm
Frankfort the day Senator Goebel was
shot. MY name is Rodman," he said. II
am a relative of Dr. Rodman, formerly of
Kentucky, now OF Philadelphia know all
about the shooting OF Goebel. / can tell
you plainly that our people are away OF
IL they think that Taylor or the Repub-
iican party had anything TO do with the
shooting, trap has been set for a long
time and the opportunity anxiously await
ed 10 kill William Goebel for his killing OF
John Sanford. and the person who fired
the shot was a near friend and intimately
connected with Sanford. Ii was to avenge
Sandford's death that the political situa-
ton was taken advantage of for the shoot
ing. The idea that the shooting came
from the second story OF the Statehouse IL
all rot.
The New York World of Jan. 81 gives
the following account of the killing OF
Sanford and acquittal OF Goebel:
SeiI-defense' was Goebeis excuse but
fractional differences in the party were the
real reasons why Goebei shot and killed
John Sanford, secretary OF the Farmers
and Traders Bank, OF Covington, Ky on
April IL. 1895. The men belonged to rival
factions In the Democratic party. Per-
sonar encounters and convention fights
had been common between them. Bitter
attacks and counter charges were the
order of the day. The newspapers took
sides 1t was an article inspired by Goebel
that led to the shooting.
Goebel was then State senator Accom-
panied by Attorney General Hendricks and
Frank Helm, president of the First Ma
tional Bank of Covington, he was about to
enter the bank. Colonel SANFORD stood
there. He shook hands with Hendricks
using his left hand. Then he turned TO
Goebel.
did you write that article attacking
me?" he demanded.
81 did," retorted Goebel, referring 10 an
attack on Sanford in one OF the Covington
newspapers.
With that Goebel claimed that Sanford
whipped out a pistol and fired the ball
passing through Goebels trousers But IL
was testified that Sanford was not armed.
AT any rate, In the twfnkling OF an eve
Goebel had his revolver out and fired
To do this he had to thrust the pistol be-
meath Mr.. Helms chin. The bullet sped
SS arahg ana CT, crashed through sandford's
wounded. The flame from the pistols
mouth badly burned Mr.. Helms chin
Great confusion followed.
Goebel walked to the station house and
called up his brother Justus by telephone
over the long-distance wire. The brother Is
a member Of the firm Of Lowry d Goebel,
Come to Covington at once" GoebeI
said over the wire. 1--WE killed a man."
Goebel then hurried from the telephone
box to the police lieutenant in charge and
said:
81 wish to surrender myself. have shot
and killed John Sandford."
Goebel was placed under formal arrest.
but was allowed TO sit in Chief Goodson's
Office. For awhile he was perfectly calm
but gradually grew excited. He pointed
TO hole in his trousers where, he claimed
Sandford's bullet had gone.
This is the reason 1 killed him." he
cried. HE was lying in wait for me- AS
soon as 1 saw him reach for his revolver
/ reached for mine"
Helm and Hendricks gave similar YER
sions of the shooting. Goebel declared
that Sanford used his left hand to shake
hands with, while hfs right held a pistol
concealed under the overcoat which he
carried over his right arm. When Justus
Goebel arrived he went right co his BROTH
er's cell. The two men wept so loudly
that their sobs could be heard outside the
Jail. That night Goebel was released on
$4,000 bail. Two days later the coroner
rendered verdict Of self-defense
Friends OF Sanford were not satisfied
and took the case 70 the courts charging
Goebel with granddaughter. and Efforts
were made to bring his present friend. Sem
ator Blackburn, into the prosecution, but
at a preliminary hearing before Judge Ste
vens and a jury the case was dismissed.
Colonel Sanford was a Confederate vet
antagoism of a large majority of the Con-
federate veterans of Kentucky. Colonel
Sanford left a widow. sister OF the ia
nous Tom Marshall, OF Kentucky, and
several children. Last July Mrs. Sanford
was adjudged insane by a jury. Brooding
over her husbands death had unbalanced
her mind.