The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-12
Light on the GoebeI Murder.

Light on the GoebeI Murder.
The sensational testimony given by
| Ex-Governor Bradley. of Kentucky, at
| the trial of Ripley, one of the men in
| dicted as accessories to the murder of
the late Governor Goebel, will be rather
| hard matter for our Republican
contemporaries to digest with satisfac-
ton. Last year they were cheerfully
insistent that the victim of vile po-
litical conspiracy was justly killed, be-
cause, as they affected to believe, he Sc
cured his nomination by fraud on the
Louisville Convention which made him
the standard bearer of his party in
Kentucky. Republican organs are al
ways painfully sohcitous concerning
the integrity of Democratic proceedings
in party convention. They also held
| that Mr. Goebel was not honestly elect
ed: hence that he ought to have been
murdered as he was. But the Legisla-
ture of the State and its highest court
declared that he had been duly elected.
Those decisions. however, did not
change the sentiment or policy Of the
Republican press, which continued
to argue that Goebel was righteously
slain, and that the person who must be
expected to reap the advantages of his
assassination had nothing whatever to
do with the conspiracy which led up to
the crime. or with the crime itself.
II must jar their sensitive feelings to
hear the story told by the only Repub-
lIcan Governor Kentucky has had for a
third of century. According to this
prominent and entirely credible and re-
spectacle party man, when the banditti
leader Ripley reported to Taylor, then
usurping the office of Governor, that his
guerriIlas from the mountains had not
yet arrived in Frankfort, Taylor or
dered him to send for them at once. as
Goebel had only another day to live.
This peerless leader of the Hanna
forces in the Blue Grass State was not
represented as being filed with horror
at the idea that a foul murder was to
be committed in his name and for his
benefit, but was only concerned in Sc
curing a strong bodyguard of armed
outlaws to protect him after the deed
should be pefpetrateu.
Ex-Governor Bradley is net the kind
of man for the editors of his own party
journals to whistle down the wind, and
probably they will not try it on. Silence
will be considerable convenience to
them. since comment would only serve
to keep a gi.astly Republican scandal
alive. But independent newspapers are
10
masses of the country will draw their
own conclusions. We do not know what
popular opinion may amount TO in In
diana, because 1t has appeared to be a |
understandable thing for many years in !
that Commonwealth. Still, there is
something left of honesty and love of |
justice among the Hoosiers, even now |
that the exemplar of that element is |
dead and gone. So it may be possible |
that pressure may be brought to bear
upon the Governor. to induce him to
obey the mandate of the Constitution, |
and SO to surrender the fugitive Taylor |
to the State whose peace, dignity, and |
laws that exile is charged with violat-
ing and defying.
of Ex-Governor Bradley is entitled to
the greatest weight. AT the time of the
Goebel murder Mr.. Bradley was Tay
ors counsel. in association with Judge
Yost. who is said to have been present
at the conversation between Taylor and
Ripley. When Judge Yost takes the
stand, there is no ground for doubt that
le will corroborate the statements made
by his distinguished colleague, and that
will make up record which cannot
wen help being black one for the
principal fugitive from justice. Not
that we imagine Taylor to be in much
additional danger of apprehension and
trial on that account The view that,
whether ne instigated the crime or not,
i was in itself brilliant performance
in the service of the party, is probably
still maintained by leading men of the
Doubtless some way will
be devised TO save him from punish
nent. The Indiana Governor possibly
nay be willing to continue defiance of
lis constitutional duty, in which case,
lnless the fugitive providentlally should
De kidnapped, nothing will happen.
That is, nothing of a tangible, material
character But, as the case against
Taylor grows stronger, the object les
son presented to the country by the
to protect him, and thus to
iefeat justice, will become more and
more interesting; and 1t will not add to
he glory of the party which was once
he party of Lincoln and Grant, but
which now regards the escaped Goebel
murderer as peerless leader!''