The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-16
RIPLEY ON THE STAND
hE TELLS WHAT HE SAID TO EN-
GOVERNOR BRADLEY.
The Latter Misnpprehended His
Words, as Did Judge YOst-Sum-
mary of the Proceedings.

FRANKFORT, KY, April 15.-The Ripley
trial was resumed this afternoon. and
the defendant went on the witness stand.
Ripley did not deny that he made the
statements attributed 10 him by ex-Gover-
nor Bradley and Judge w. H. Yost, con-
cerning Ex-Governor Taylor's remarks TO
him, but said while he thought they were
substantially correct in their evidence, they
had misunderstood him he had failed
to convey the proper impression on them at
the time. The cross examination was not
completed, and Ripley will be on the stand
again tomorrow. Ex-Governor Bradley
and Judge Yost will not be recalled az
witnesses. and the jury will have to de-
eide as TO whether they or the defendant is
correct as TO Ripley's statement of the
Taylor incident.
On direct examination Ripley stated that
he was forty years of age last month and
is a farmer. He had been talking with
the boys in his neighborhood for several
years about getting up a company of cav
airy. He came TO Frankfort first on Jan.
iG the day Of the Colson-Scott tragedy, Sc
lecting this day in order TO see Bryan,
who was to be banqueted here that night
He had never known Governor Taylor till
that day. and never saw him but once
after that on Jan. 25. till after his COM
pany was called out He said he never
knew Powers or Youtsey till .some days
after the shooting; never saw Berry How
ard at all; had seen Jim Howard only
since they had been in Jail together here,
and never knew either Culton Whar-
ton Golden Taylor gave him the order on
Jan 16 for the organization of the company
and on Jan. 25 Ripley came here and Sc
cured equipments for it. This was the
Gay on which he had the conversati ton with
TAYLOR and his version of it, which varies
materially from that stated by Messrs.
Bradley and Yost, was as follows:
81 went into the Governors office and
found the Governor looking very badly. l
told him l was sorry to see him looking
badly, TO which he replied: In these hor-
hible times anybody would look bad. Some
irresponsible fool or crank is likely TO
kill me or kill Goebel and cause a riot
around here in which there will be many
lives sacrificed, or substance like that
Then / told him did not think this would
occur and went on talking to him about
my company which L was getting equip
ments for. My Cod said he. haven't you
got that company ready yet?' That was
what | was trying TO tell Governor Brad
ley and Judge Yost, but / may not have
stated it to them as clearly as l intended
to-"
lie denied that he ever said to Fergu-
son and Crawford that Goebe would be
killed, and admitted that he warned w.
T. Thorne on Jan. y TO keep his son away
from Frankfort. but said he did so be-
cause Of the disturbed conditions here
and not from any knowledge of what was
going to occur the next day. He main
tanned there was no secrecy about the
organization and equipment of his CON-
many, and said that Governor Taylor told
him that IL was not necessary to apply
to the county judge for authority TO or
ganzo it, The company, he said, was
organized for the pleasure of military
ercses.
Cross-examined the witness said r. A
CorIey and five or six others accompanied
him TO Frankfort on Jan. 16; the Scott
Colson tragedy occurred soon after their
arrival, and they did not see Taylor till
after dinner He did not hear anything about
a conference of leading Republicans and
anti-Goebel Democrats as To means of end
ing the contest and was not invited TO the
Louisville Gait House conference that
night. He saw Colonel Bullitt and others
here who participated in the Gait House
conference that night, but none OF them
spoke to witness about it. On Jan 49,
witness said. he procured from a Cincin-
natl firm shoulder straps and received them
the day Goebe was shot.
commemorative Attorney Franklin pro-
duced an order signed by ex-Adjutant Gen
Collier for the straps. and marked rush"
Witness said he did not know whether IL
VAS Golfers signature or not. and could
not recall whether he or Collier sent the
telegram. lie went 70 the state arsenal
on Jan % and looked over the equipments
with the view of selecting such as his
company needed. He received a special
delivery letter from Governor Taylor late
IN the afternoon OF Jan. 30 ordering the
company out. The letter did not state that
Goebel had been shot and did not give the
reason for calling IL out. He received tne
shoulder straps ordered by General Collier
the same day -----