The Washington times., 1906-01-03
BECKHAN' PRESTIGE
DEFEATS BLACKBURN
Kentucky Governor Too
Strong for Senator.
WARM POLITICAL CONTEST
The Younger Man Now Becomes
Master of the
Situation.

The action Of the United States Su-
pgeme Court in confirming the life inn
prisonment verdict of the lower courts
III the case of James b. Howard, for al
legged completely in the murder of Gov
ernor William Goebel in KeLtucky at
the time of the heated contest over the
governorship < between Taylor and
GOebel together with the victory just
won over his rivals in his own party.
leaves Governor Beckham absolutely
master of the situation in Kentucky.
The nominee for lieutenant governor
on the ticket with GOebel, he succeeded
10 the governorship on the death of the
latter. and is now placed in the peculiar
position of being the only instrument
by which the man who is alleged to
have hred the shot that killed Goebel,
and thus placed him in position 10 reach
the pinnacle of political fame. can be
saved from passing his days in States
prison
Governor Beckham is yet but a youth,
comparatively speaking, a. ne has not
reached the age of forty years, but not
withstanding his lack of age, he has
proven himself TO be one of the most
astute political managers the state OF
kentucky has Yet produced.
Beckham Has Strength.
In the election to fiji the uneXpired
term OF Governor Goebel, Beckham was
opposed by the strongest and most re-
Sourceful Republican in the ranks or
tqat party. Hon. John W. Yerkes, and
succeeded in defeating him by few
thousand votes, after one of the most
interesting campaigns ever waged in the
Bluegrass State.
After hning the three-yeaT 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 al
ttrnatiVe of attending strictly 10 his at-
fairs in Washington and keeping hands
cn the party management In Kentucky,
or suffering opposition and possibly de
feat in his contest for reelection
Blackburn chose not to agree 10 the
ultimatum. and Is now suffering for his
decision.
Governor Beckham's triumph means
that he viii personally oppose Senator
McCreary when the latter comes up
Tor election again.
Murder Of Goebel.
The tragic murder of William Goebel
occurred In the Stote house yard at
Frankfort on January 80 1900, as he
was proceeding 10 the Capitol in com
puuy with Col Jack Chuu.
Governor Taylor. Charles Finley. Ca
leb Powers, Jim and Berry Howard,
Henry L Youtsey, Capt. Garnet d.
R9pley. Harlan Whitaker, Dick Combs
Hooker Smith, and many others of both
high and low degree, We're brought un-
der indictment charged with having
formed a great conspiracy 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
II was charged that in all Of the trials
of Youtsey, Howard, and Powers, the
juries were composed solidly ot Demo-
Gratis. and this was one OF the points
made by Howard IL MS plea for relief
before the Supreme Cour,.
Jim Howard is man Of fine personal
appearance. and followed the profes-
sion OF school teaching in his mountain
home A strong point in his favor was
been member Of the same party as
GoeueL and had never been known -
have any personal acquaintance with the
leaders Of the Repubiic;m uarty then in
Frankfort
The Howard Case.
He had been Indicted for killing a
man In Clay county. and claimed that
his presence IN Frankfort on the morn
ing OF the day that Goebcl was killed,
was Tor the purpose of petitiOning GOV
euov Taylor TO grant him d pardon.
II was brought out in the evidence that
he arrived but "a few minutes before
Goebel was shot. but the prosecution
made every effort to- prove that he had
fired the fatal shot IN consideration OF
a pardon iu the pending case against
him.
The defense undertook 20 rldicuIe the
theory that Howard would take such
long chances 10 secure his freedom
when jury in his crse had stood eleven
10 one for clearing him, but without
avail.
BlaCkburn'S Defeat
The defeat of Blackburn has its path
etic features. as we'll as the conviction
of Howard. and in both instances the
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