The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-26
INDIANAPOLIS, MONDAY MORNING. MARCH 2e

other officials or citizens whom Tom Camp
hell and Justus Goebel may need to carry
out their political conspiracy.
Golden was the only witness on the
stand during the day. He came in at 10
O'Clock. hoIlow-eyed and shaky. 1t was re-
Ported that he was out all night drink
ing with his bodyguard. and he certainly
looked it. His first important testimony
was of talk he had with John Powers.
brother of Caleb. who. with Charles Finley
and William Culton. arranged the excur-
sion from the mountains. He said John
Powers stated he was getting witnesses in
the contest case. Led on by Campbell.
Golden said: My understanding was that
he wanted men who would go into the
legislative hall and kill out enough men
to make the Legislature Republican,
Golden admitted that Powers did not say
this. but he (Golden) supposed it. Camp
bell continued TO lead him on. as IL asking
questions out of a book. and he again re-
peated this wild story about killing off
Democrats, so as TO leave a Republican
majority. After this Golden collapsed and
had to be taken from the courtroom.
I'm the afternoon Golden sprung his Wild
est tale and threw light on the hatchet
story. He said he saw John Powers give
a black -whiskered man a key. presumably
the key to the secretary of states Office.
This was on JAN %, the day before Goebel
was killed. Then Powers said to him:
'Goebel is going to be killed tomorrow
The witness expostulated but Powers said:
Don't be alarmed. / gave him the wrong
key
''The hatchet story came in here The key
not fitting. the door was broken open with
a hatchet. The fact that Jones said the
hatchet was used after the shots We're fired
seems to have been overlooked. Then
Golden played his Tallow Dick Coombs
card. Again he quoted what John Powers
said. to the effect that two negroes, Combs
and Hockersmith, had been hired to kill
Goebel. Confederation was found in the
fact that Dick Combs had been seen stand
ing on corner block from Goebels hotel,
and what Combs Is said TO have said: Il
have watched Goebel for a week and
would know him as far as I can see him,
and. d-n him, 1 could hit him. too Then
Combs displayed a pistol.
"Then Governor Taylor was brought into
the play. Tuesday, Jan. 80 Caleb and John
Powers and Governor Taylor, with Treas
urer Day were in Powerss Office. Z. ].
Howard, of Harlan county,, came in and
urged the Governor to call out the militia
Taylor is said to have said: My God, you
fellows must act first. ! have the soldiers
ready and can get them out quick enough
Golden, supposing some more. said he sup
posed Taylor meant that riot must be
started in the Legislature first. 1t will be
remembered that this was a day of intense
excitement, the city being full of Demo-
Gratis and the report having gone out that
Goebel would be declared Governor.
Golden began to roll his eyes and shiver
again and rest was taken. After reviv-
ing he told of trip on train with Caleb
Powers, when mountaineers were en- route
to Frankfort. Caleb then said Now, G.
d-n them, we've got EN- Again suppos-
ing, he presumed this referred to the Demo-
Gratis at Frankfort. The witness then told
of Caleb and John Powers and himself TAX
ing train to Louisville to be out of the way
when the deed was done. They heard of
the shoting when they reached Lagrange
twenty miles from Frankfort. Golden had
another spell and the court adjourned.
tom Campbell, master Of ceremonies, at
once said Golden would be too sick Monday
to stand a cross-examination. He did not
explain by what system of mind-reading he
figured this OUT