Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-29
YOUTSEY'SCONFESS|ON
Kentuckian Declares Jim
Howard Killed GoebeL
HOW PLOT WAS MADE
GATED IN THE MURDER.
Motive Of Assassin Was to Obtain
Pardon for Former
Murder.

A special to the New York World from
Louisville. KY, yesterday says: Henry E.
Youtsey, who Is now serving q life sentence
in the Frankfort penitentiary for compile
fty in the murder Of Gov. William Goebel.
said in his confession to the Franklin coun-
ty grand jury:
"James B. Howard Of Clay county fired
the shot which killed William Goebel."
+ The shot was fired, he says, from q win
dow in the private Office Of Secretary of
State Caleb Powers. Youtsey and Jim
Howard were the only persons inside Of the
room.
William s. Taylor, Charles Finley, Caleb
Powers John L. Powers, William H. Gull
ton, Wharton Golden and William ]. Da
wilson are named as conspirators with him.
The following are the material points in
Youtsey's story:
On January 81. after "TalIow Dick"
Combs and Mason Hockersmith, negroes,
told Youtsey they were not willing to do
the killing, Taylor dictated letter to Jim
Howard.
The letter was written by Youtsey on the
typewriter and contained instructions from
Taylor for Howard to come to Frankfort
at once to receive his pardon for the muir
der of George Baker. The letter instructed
Howard to report to Youtsey in the state
auditors office and to present Taylor's let
ter to Youtsey.
Letter Sent to Howard.
Taylor either intended to send or did
send the letter by Walter R. Day, the state
treasurer, to John G. White, at Winchester,
who was to see that Howard got the letter.
Youtsey said he was certain that Taylor
did not confide to Day or to White why
Howard was wanted, except that he was to
get pardon.
Taylor had said to Youtsey, by -,
Howard is the man. He has been in
Frankfort after a pardon and could settle
the contest by killing Goebel."
Howard arrived in Frankfort on the
Chesapeake and Ohio train on the morn
Ing Of January 80, the day Goebel was
killed. He reported at once to Youtsey in
the executive building and presented the
letter signed by Taylor.
Youtsey told Howard that it had been
decided that the only way to win the con-
test for the governorship was to kill Goebel,
and that if he would do the killing Taylor
would not only pardon him for the murder
OF Baker, but also for the murder Of Goe-
bel, and would give $1,000 besides. Howard
asked how and when it could be done, and
Youtsey told him Of his plan to do the
killing. He said 1t was to pull down the
window blind in the office Of the secretary
Of state, raise the window and to shoot
Goebel as he approached the state house
with a smokeless powder cartridge that had
a steel bullet.
Promise Of Immunity.
Youtsey told Howard no one would ever
know. Taylor was governor and the head
I Of the state guard. Howard agreed, and
Youtsey then left him in the hallway,
while he made a report to Taylor.
Tell Howard to go ahead" said Taylor.
Youtsey got the key from Powers office,
from w. ]. Davidson, before Howard ar
rived, and. according to an agreement made
at meeting on the night before the office
had been left nnOcclrfed nd ho,,f
11:15 O. clock outsey unlocked the door and
let Howard in.
According to Youtsey's confession, How
ard got on his knees took the Marlin rife
which Youtsey had borrowed from Grant
Roberts, looked out Of the window, took
steady aim and fred. Goebel fell MORALLY
wounded. Howard then dropped the rife
and fired four shots from the pistols.
The arrangements for killing GoebeI, the
confession says. were perfected at meet
ing on Monday night. January 20, in the
land office, which Is on the north side Of
the executive building and directly on the
way to the state auditors office. Those
present at the meeting were w. 8. Taylor
Caleb Powers, John L. Powers, w. H. Gull
ton, Wharton Golden. w. J. Davidson and
one other, whose name Youtsey gave, and
Youtsey himself. Howard was expected on
the following morning, and the plan to
shoot Goebel from Powers office, which
had been discussed frequently, was agreed
upon as the best method Of procedure.
All agreed that Howard was the right
man, and it was agreed that Powers office
should be unoccupied on the following
morning. Taylor and Powers left the
minor details to Youtsey.
Says Deboe Had Guilty knowledge.
Youtsey said that he told Senator Deboe Of
the plan and that Deboe said: THAT is I'M
necessary. The legislature will seat Tay-
Ior." Youtsey told DR.. w. r. johnson what
Deboe had said and Johnson said, with an
oath: Don't pay any attention to Deboe.
Talk to Taylor. he's the man.
In all of Youtsey's confession he told lit
tie to exculpate himself. He told what he
had done on all occasions, but did tell that
when the killing Of Goebel was first sug-
gested by Taylor and the others he said
that 1t was not the right thing to do. He
said that he was drawn to the plot by the
fact that he was close to Taylor and was
to be his private secretary. Taylor also
dictated all his private and secret CORE
spondence to him, and in this way they be-
came intimate.
Youtsey in dictated statement says that
he was baseiy sacrificed by his friends.
Taylor Denounces the Story.
A dispatch from Indianapolis last night
says: When the attention Of former Gov.
w. 8. Taylor was called to reports Of Yout-
seys confession tonight he entered gen.
eral and specific denial.
1.-THE allegations are false" said Taylor.
Gin so far as they affect me-infamously
false-and believe they are equally false
as regards to others. Beyond that I do
not care to speak at this time, except to
say that never owed Youtsey any money.
He was paid by the state Of Kentucky for
his services, and the only demand he ever
made on me was made since his incarcera-
ton.
IT believed at the time. and am confirmed
In that view now, that the demand was de-
signed by the prosecution for the purpose
of indaming his mind against me II re-
fused; whereas. If acceded to the demand.
1t would put me In position where the act
could be made to appear as a brtbe."
SUIT FOR $4,000
District One of the Defendants In Casa