Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1906-01-15
BECKHAM IS
MASTER Of
SITUATION
Supreme Courts Action
Leaves Him Victor.
H0WARD'S LIFE SENTENCE FOR
GOEBEL MURDER CONFIRMED
Bluegrass Executive Has Proved
Himself One Of Most Astute
Politicians.
Correspondence Morning Journal.

Washington. Jan. 10.-The action Of
the United States Supreme court in
confirming the life Imprisonment ver-
dict of the lower courts in the case of
James B. Howard, for alleged compli-
city i'm the murder of Governor Will
liam Goebel i'm Kentucky at the time
of the heated contest over the gover-
norship between Taylor and Goebel
together with the victory just won
over his rivals in mis- own party, leaves
Governor Beckham absolutely master
of the situation in Kentucky.
The nominee for lieutenant COVER
nor on the ticket with Goebel, he sue
ceeded to the governorship on the
death of the latter and is now placed
I'm the peculiar position of being the
only instrument by which the man
who is alleged TO have fired the shot
which killed Goebel, and thus placed
him i'm position to reach the pinnacle
of political fame can be saved from
passing his days i'm states prison.
Governor Beckham is yet but a
youth comparatively speaking, as he
has not reached the age of forty
years. but Notwithstanding his lack Of
age. he has proved himself to be one
of the most astute political managers
the state Of Kentucky has ever pro-
duced
In the election to fiji the unexpired
term of Governor Goebel Beckham
was opposed by the strongest and
most resourceful republican in the
ranks of that party Hon. John w.
Yerkes, and succeeded in defeating
him by a few thousand votes, after
one of the most interesting campaigns
ever waged in the Bluegrass state
ROuts the Star-Eyed Goddess.
After filling the three-year term for
which he was elected, he was again
made the standard bearer of his party
after overcoming strong opposition.
among those routed in the party eau
cuses being the star-eyed goddess OF
Kentucky democracy Henry Waiter
son.
Senator Blackburn was given the
alternative of attending strictly to his
affairs at Washington and keeping
hands off the party management in
Kentucky, or suffering opposition and
possible defeat i'm his contest for re-
election. Blackburn chose not to
agree to the ultimatum and is now
suffering for his decision
Governor Beckham's triumph
means that he will personally oppose
Senator McCreary when the latter
comes up for election again
The tragic murder Of William Goe-
bel occurred in the State House yard
at Frankfort on January so, 1900. as
he was proceeding to the capitol In
company with Col. Jack Chinn.
Governor Taylor, Charles Finley
Caleb Powers, Jim and Berry Howard,
Henry Il. Youtsey, Capt Garnet d..
hg ITAplrnp Smith
and many others of high and low de-
gree. were brought under indictment
charged with having formed a con-
splracy to murder Goebel. All OF
these who did not leave the state
were arrested and imprisoned, and all
of whom, except Powers, jim Howard
and Henry Youtsey were cleared
when brought to trial
1t was charged that In all of these
trials of Youtsey Howard and Powers
the iurios were composed solidly or
democrats. and this was one OF the
points made by Howard in his plea
for relief before the supreme court.
Jim Howard Is a man of fine per-
sonal appearance, and followed the
profession Of school teaching Wv his
mountain home. A strong point In
his favor was the fact that he was
and always had been n member of the
same party as Goebel, and had never
been known to have had any personal
acquaintance with the leaders of the
republican party then in Frankfort
He had been indicted for killing a
man i'm Clay county, and claimed that
his presence on the day that Goebel
was killed, was for the purpose OF
petitioning Governor Taylor to grant
him a pardon. 1t was brought out
In the evidence that he arrived but
few minutes before Goebel was shot,
but the prosecution made every effort
to prove that he had fired the fatal
shot I'm consideration Of n pardon In
the pending case against him.
The defense undertook to ridicule
the theory that Howard would take
such long chances TO secure his free
dom. when a jury In his case had
stood eleven to one for clearing him,
but v-ithout avail.
KcntuclSy's "Boy Governor"
The defeat of Blackburn has It's
pathetic features. as wen ms the con-
viction of Howard, and In both in
stances the Boy Governor of Ken
tucky." as his friends affectionatey
refer to him, has played an important
part.
Blackburn has been one of the idols
OF the Kentucky democracy princi-
pally by reason OF his quaint good
humor. but his warmest friends have
never claimed for him that he was
good success as constructive
statesman. He has been the life OF
many good old Kentucky burgoo
feast and is personally known to
nearly every man, woman and child In
| Kentucky.
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III Paso Fears Flood.
FL paso. Tex. Jan. 14.--Snow IL six