The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-16
LOOKS LIKE CIVIL WAR.

The opposing Factions at
Armed and Ready tor Battle -Rumor-
cd That Taylor Has Ordered the Ar
rest by N Military of Governor
Beckham.
Frankfort, Ky, March 1.-THE DEM
ocrats n the republicans in Ken
lucky are today, for the first time
since the present political complica-
tons assumed acute from divided into
two armed and organized factions.
Surrounding the capitol and state ex-
ecuuVe building and camped in the
grounds around Governor Taylor's
home are nearly 200 state militia, well
provided with ammunition, while in the
corridors Of the Capital hotel, in which
the democratic state executive officers
are located, and in the streets adjacent
TO that building are sixty special Off
GERS, and the men and boys of a mi
litia company that was organized in
today, as the nucleus Of
Governor Beckham's state guard, be-
sides scores or more OF heavily armed
citizens. partisans of the democratic
element Within an hour after demo-
cratic leaders today heard a rumor
that an attempt was to be made by
the state militia to take Governor
into custody, a petition had
been circulated and signed by the
requisite number of men necessary to
form a militia The men will
guard the Capital hotel all night,
against n possible attempt to ar
rest Governor Beckham. Only two
days more remain for the Legislature
to remain in session, but the develop
ments OF those two days are looked
Onward 10 with apprehension by lead
ers OF both sides.
The demOcra rio partiSaDS Say that
should the militia attempt to interfere
with the session of the Legislature.
persistent rumors of which have been
in circulation all day, it will be next
to impossible to avert bloodshed. The
republican officials, however, deny that
such action has Been even contemplate
ed, n that the legislature will not
be moleSted in any way. That the re-
port is believed in democratic circles,
however, is shown by the fact that the
a~dvlSablllty of holding the session in
some other place than the state house
has been under advisement, and ever
at a late hour tonight the question had
not been fully settled.
Several republican members of the
legislature left the city today, preSum
ably for their homes.
The first move on the part of Gov
ernor Beckham'S followers toward the
formation of a state guard under his
vas ldhcH IclS lOudy
City Clerk Ben Marshall circulated a
ape and enlisted the requisite num-
Der of men who are to compoS a new
company. The guns for his company
have been provided by citizens here,
most of them being either needle gun
or WinchesterS.
This afternoon a report gained cur
rency that Governor Taylor had given
his soldiers orders to arrest Governor
and other officers of the dem
ocratic state government. On account
of this report the men enlisted by Cap
tain Marshall were assembled at the
city hall, armed and sworn in as Spe-
cial police for the purpose of protect
ing the democratic officers who are
still quartered at the Capital hotel. A
large number of citizens also Volun-
teered, and are assigned to various
posts in HI vicinity of the hotel to of.
fer resistance in case the talked OF
arrests were attempted. Governor
TaylOr'S soldiers, who are on guard al
the state house, were reinforced today
by the arrival of the Barbourville com
PAM of Seventy-One men, all of whom
are fully armed n equipped. More
troops are looked for tonight. The
Pineville n London companies are
expected some time during the night
or tomorrow. Governor Beckham this
afternoon appointed Colonel David r
Murray, of Glover Point, assistant ad.
jutant general, with the rank of col
onel, and he was sworn in.
The official announcement was made
that his appointment is only tempo.
rary. This vas regarded as significant
it being understood hat Colonel Muir
ray accepted the appointment on ac-
count of the gravity of the present
situation and with the understanding
that he could resign when. the condi-
lions in the state became more quiet.
Harlan Whitaker and w. H. Culton
who were confined in Jail here charged
with completely in the assassination OF
Goebel, were removed from the Jail a
an early hour this morning n taker
in a hack to Shelbyville, where they
were placed on a train and sent tc
Louisville under a heavy guard. 1t Is
| understood they will be kept in the
Louisville Jail till h April term OF
the circuit court, when they will be
returned here for trial.
In connection with the pardons is,
sued by Governor Taylor to state Off
GERS and others before their arrest a:
suspects, a statement is made that i
has been the custom for years and j:
legal for governors to pardon men IL
| advance of trials. In ONE cases par
dons have been issued to save wha'
were accepted as cases of useless ex'
penSe.