"The Last Resource of Cowards"

The assassination of Governor William Goebel

By Lt. Thomas A. Taylor, Missouri State Highway Patrol

In the holy scripture of Islam, the Koran, it states: "If two khalifs live, one should be
murdered, for murder is better than disorder." Disorder is an accurate description of the
political scene in Kentucky on January 30, 1900, when one of two "khalifs," Governor
William Goebel, was fatally struck by a.38-55 rifle cartridge. The sniper had selected this
caliber because Goebel was rumored to wear a "breastplate" for protection.

Over the next eight years, 20 people were accused and arrested for his assassination.
Sixteen were indicted and five were tried. Those arrested included Secretary of State
Caleb Powers, Governor-elect William Taylor, and state police Captain John Davis.
Powers was tried four times, convicted three times, and once sentenced to death. More
than 1,700 men were summoned for jury service during the Goebel murder trials.

The attack

The 1899 November election had been the most bitter one in Kentucky history.
Republican candidate William Taylor was declared winner, but Goebel, his Democratic
opponent, managed to successfully manipulate the political system. By clever and
determined use of the "Goebel Election Law," it was clear by the 30th of January that
Taylor would be unseated.

That fateful day was cold, but bright and clear, as the 44-year-old Goebel, accompanied
by two bodyguards, E.F. Lillard and Jack Chinn, walked up the sidewalk that led to the
state Capitol building in Frankfort. A rifle shot suddenly erupted from an open window in
the secretary of state's office, located in the executive office building next to the Capitol.
This was followed by three or four pistol shots fired from the same location.

Goebel fell next to a fountain and aid quickly arrived. Doctors examined him on the
ground and then carried him to his room in the Capitol Hotel. The bullet had penetrated
his chest, 3 inches from his right nipple, breaking the sixth rib. It then angled downward
through the right lung, grazed his spine, and exited through the ninth and tenth ribs. A.38
caliber steel slug was recovered from a nearby hackberry tree. The bullet had traveled
113 feet from the window to Goebel's chest.

Public outcry swept over the state, and Democratic legislators seized the momentum to
unseat Taylor. The following day they declared that Goebel had won the election. On
February 2, a barely conscious Goebel was sworn in as governor of Kentucky. He died
the next day at sunset. His running mate, Lieutenant Governor Beckham, was sworn in as
his successor at 7 p.m. on February 3, 1900.

For two months Kentucky had a dual government. Taylor and his Republican associates
refused to give up their offices in the Capitol and executive office buildings. Beckham
and the Democrats operated out of the Capitol Hotel.

Both sought a solution in the courts and the Taylor-Beckham case went to the United
States Supreme Court.

On May 21, the court refused to act, which left the Republicans without further recourse
or their offices. Beckham was now governor. The Democratic legislature quickly
appropriated $100,000 to apprehend and punish Goebel's assassins.

The investigation

Secretary of State Powers and Captain Davis were arrested while trying to sneak out of
Kentucky on a passenger train. Dressed in army uniforms and escorted by several state
militiamen, they were taken into custody by a posse when the train stopped in Lexington.
Taylor, after turning over the government to Beckham, fled to Indiana to avoid arrest.

Powers was known to have been on a train at the time of Goebel's death, but on testimony
sweated out of a stenographer and notary public named Henry Youtsey, the Democratic
prosecution focused its case against Caleb Powers, the highest ranking Republican within
their jurisdiction. Youtsey and a man named James Howard were believed to have fired
the shots, but Powers was charged with leading the conspiracy to kill Goebel.

Powers’ first trial began on July 9,1900. The state called 66 witnesses and finally rested
its case on July 28. The defense called more than 60 witnesses to support Powers'
declaration of innocence. On August 10, the defense rested, and the state brought 35
rebuttal witnesses to the stand. The jury deliberated for 20 minutes before returning a
verdict of guilty. They sentenced Powers to life imprisonment.

Following a successful appeal, Powers began a second trial on October 8, 1901. The
testimony given closely resembled the first trial and the new jury was not swayed.
Following a 49-minute deliberation, they returned a verdict of guilty and set his
punishment at life imprisonment.

Powers again won an appeal and his third trial commenced on August 3, 1903. After 38
days of evidence, Powers argued his own summation, speaking for seven hours, but
without success. The jury found him guilty and sentenced him to be hung.

Through several strokes of luck and legal maneuvering, Powers won another appeal. His
fourth and last trial began on December 27, 1907. At nine o'clock on the morning of
January 4, 1908, the case was given to the jury. After 48 hours, they declared that they
were hopelessly deadlocked with no prospect of agreement.
Powers petitioned the newly elected Republican governor, Augustus Willson, for a
pardon. On the morning of June 13, 1908, Willson, after reviewing the case, declared that
Powers had not been an accessory to the murder, and that Youtsey, alone, had planned
the assassination and fired the shot that killed Goebel. He granted both Caleb Powers and
James Howard full and unconditional pardons. Within the hour, Powers walked out of jail
a free man, having served eight years, three months and two days without legal
conviction.

Aftermath

In 1910, Powers delved back into the world of politics. He was elected to the United
States Congress by a 7,000-vote margin over his opponent, and was re-elected in 1912,
1914 and 1916. He died in 1932 at the age of 64.

On his grave site overlooking the Kentucky River, a bronze plate affixed to Goebel's
marker states: "De Mortius Nil Nisi Bonum" -- "Of the Dead Be Nothing Said But What
Is Good." Clearly, little good can be said of the only assassination of a governor in
United States history. The entire sordid affair illustrated the degree by which political
passions can seize the judicial and legislative systems. Edward Gibbon's description of
assassination as "the last resource of cowards" accurately depicts the individuals
responsible for the death of Governor William Goebel.

Lieutenant Tom A. Taylor, Missouri State Highway Patrol, is director of the Governor's Security
Division. He also serves as secretary to the National Governor's Security Association.