You have found an item located in the Kentuckiana Digital Library.
Guide to the Goebel Assassination Scrapbooks,
knu2004m04 Guide to the Goebel Assassination Scrapbooks, ca. 1900-1910 Processed by Masten Childers III, encoded by Lynne Hollingsworth; machine-readable finding aid created by Margie Plarr Kentucky History Center 2006 Special Collections Kentucky History Center Kentucky Historical Society 100 W. Broadway Frankfort, Kentucky 40601-1931 USA Phone: (502) 564-1792, ext.4470 Fax: (502) 564-4701 URL: http://history.ky.gov/ Kentucky History Center. All rights reserved. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word. Date of source: 2000 Description is in English. Guide to the Goebel Assassination Scrapbooks, ca. 1900-1910 Contact Information Special Collections Kentucky History Center Kentucky Historical Society University of Kentucky 100 W. Broadway Frankfort, Kentucky 40601-1931 USA Phone: (502) 564-1792, ext.4470 Fax: (502) 564-4701 URL: http://history.ky.gov/ Processed by: Masten Childers III, encoded by Lynne Hollingsworth Date Completed: 2000 Encoded by: Margie Plarr Copyright 2006 Kentucky History Center. All rights reserved. Goebel Assassination Scrapbooks, ca. 1900-1910 2000M04 Mrs. John Mastin 9 volumes The materials are in English. This collection contains nine scrapbook volumes of political newspaper cuttings concerning the assassination of Gov. William Goebel. The volumes cover the Democratic convention and Populist movement, the 1899 election, the election investigation and assassination of Goebel, the assassination's aftermath effect on Frankfort and the State, and the numerous trials and verdicts of those accused of the assassination. Kentucky History Center, Special Collections Access at KHS only. Use microfilm, transcriptions or images when available. Permission for commercial use must be requested from the Kentucky Historical Society. Special Collections. [Identification of item], Goebel Assassination Scrapbooks, ca. 1900-1910, 2000M04, Special Collections, Kentucky History Center, Frankfort. Goebel, William, 1856-1900 -- Assassination. Trials (Assassination) -- Kentucky -- Franklin County -- 20th century. Kentucky -- Politics and government -- 1865-1950. Goebel, William, 1856-1900. Powers, Caleb, 1869-1932. Taylor, W.S. (William Sylvester), 1853-1928 Youtsey, Henry Scrapbooks, aat. 1898 William Goebel introduces Goebel Election Law to General Assembly 1899 Split in Democratic Convention at Music Hall - Goebel takes nomination from P.Wat Hardin, who is supported by the L & N, and William Stone, and ex-Confederate. The L & N railroad is accused of ensuing riots at this Louisville convention in order to stop Goebel's victory. In the end Goebel is left with many new enemies and a nomination for Governor. December 12th - January 31st William Taylor is Governor of KY 1900-January 30th Goebel shot, Governor Taylor declares an emergency, calls out militia January 31st Democrats invalidate election, Goebel is sworn in as Governor February 3rd Goebel dies March Caleb Powers arrested, Governor William Taylor indicted as an accessory to murder; Taylor flees to Indiana where the Governor of Indiana refuses extradition; Caleb Powers, Henry Youtsey, Jim Howard, Berry Howard and Garrett Ripley were all indicted and tried; Berry and Ripley were acquitted. April-1st examining trial of Powers July-1st trial of Powers begins August Powers sentenced to life in prison September Howard's 1st trial - sentenced to life in prison October outsey's 1st trial, after conviction he turns state's evidence 1901-March Court of Appeals orders a 2nd trial October 2nd trial for Powers begins November- 2nd life sentence 1902-January Howard sentence to 2nd life in prison December Court of Appeals reverses 2nd trial decision 1903-April Howard's 3rd trial August-3rd Powers trial begins October Powers sentenced to death 1904-December Court of Appeals reverses decision of 3rd trial 1905 Powers spends year in jail waiting for 4th trial Federal Supreme Court sends case back to state courts saying it is the state's responsibility 1907-July-4th trial called November-4th Powers trial begins 1908-January trial ends with hung jury February Powers and Howard pardoned 1909-April 23rd W.S. Taylor pardoned 1916 Henry Youtsey paroled 1919 Henry Youtsey pardoned This collection contains nine scrapbook volumes of political newspaper cuttings concerning the assassination of Gov. William Goebel. The volumes cover the Democratic convention and Populist movement, the 1899 election, the election investigation and assassination of Goebel, the assassination's aftermath effect on Frankfort and the State, and the numerous trials and verdicts of those accused of the assassination. Some of the volumes are in better condition than others are, and some are more extensive or focused in their coverage of the topics listed above. See the container list below for a description of the individual scrapbooks. Original order maintained. Related Material Microfilm of trial transcripts available in Kentucky Historical Society. Library. Microfilm room. Lester Papers. KHS/Special Collections. Mss#96SC70 Trajectories of bullet routes, and Old Capitol Annex floor plans used in the Powers trials. Use surrogate copies. KHS/Library Biography files. Container List Scrapbook #1 This scrapbook's newspaper accounts are pasted into a ledger that was compliments of the Ballard & Ballard Company of Louisville. The pages of the ledger have separated from the spine, yet the glue has held the articles firmly in place. This is by far the largest scrapbook in the collection, and contains newspaper articles from the beginning of the courts' indictments in 1900 and concludes after the end of the first trial of Caleb Powers. Along with newspaper articles from the Louisville Courier and the Louisville Evening Post are many photographs of the army of mountain men in front of the old capitol with their threatening gatling guns. The earlier activities of the courts are chronicled in this scrapbook. Included is the grand jury indictment list of 16; 3 turned states evidence, 2 acquitted, and 3 were actually brought to trial in the course of eight years. The "man hunt" for the indicted was recounted. The newspaper's diligent coverage of the search for them is present in this collection along with detailed accounts of the first trials of Caleb Powers and Jim Howard. Scrapbook #2 This scrapbook, compiled in a scrapbook album, is missing 1/3 of its' original material. While there are a few loose pages the overall condition is good. The material contained within is from the year prior to the fateful election of 1900. The articles from the Louisville Evening Post concern the Democrats fight for control in the next election. It is also noted that the race for procuring a nomination for the senate is heated due to the conflicting free silver views of the candidates. This political battle was watched throughout the country and this scrapbook includes articles from 12 individual newspapers from around the country in 8 different states. Scrapbook #3 Mrs. John Mastin of Frankfort compiled this scrapbook in a ledger. The ledger is in good condition and the binding is still intact. This scrapbook contains articles on the Jett-White trial as well as the beginnings of Caleb Powers' third trial in August of 1903. Testimony by Robert Noakes states that the Mountain Men were brought to Frankfort in order to block the Democrats in the legislature and to cause a riot that would ensure a Republican majority. Taylor continued to deny involvement and defended Caleb Powers. Scrapbook #4 This scrapbook takes a closer look at the public reaction to the assassination of Governor Goebel. Compiled by Annie Crutcher of Louisville, it is in a scrapbook album with a decorative cover, which is still in good condition. Five pages of "morality" pictures from magazines are placed before the newspaper articles concerning Goebel. A flier displaying Goebel's supposed last words and a numerous articles concerning the death of Goebel on February 3, 1900 give an account of Goebel's final hours. A group of letters printed in the newspaper entitled "Personal Recollections of William Goebel" gives the reader insight to how others saw Goebel on a personal and political level. Scrapbook #5 This scrapbook is a perfect example of a "morality" scrapbook. The materials are glued onto the pages of a Christian text entitled Sunshine at Home. It is filled with Christian art and symbols. Along with various miscellaneous articles of seemingly personal interest items are articles on the nomination of William Jennings Bryan by the Populists for President of the United States, and an editorial cartoon attacking the current violent Kentucky political system. Scrapbook #6 The contents of scrapbook #6 are pasted into a 'scrapbook'. The newspaper articles included concern the problems involved in selecting a jury in such a political trial. Articles from the 3rd and 4th trials of Caleb Powers detail the politics behind the trial. The most unique article is from September 17th, 1910, when Powers won the Republican nomination for congress by over 10,000 votes. A congratulatory telegram from W.S. Taylor in Indianapolis is included within this article. Scrapbook #7 Materials within this scrapbook are in a scrapbook album, presumably meant for this purpose. The cover is the same as the cover of scrapbook #8, so it could have come from Mrs. John Mastin as well. There are a few loose pages and individual folded pages of newspapers. The Louisville Evening Post article, announcing Powers and Howard freedom in 1908 as well as the recounting of the conspiracy theory by Wharton Golden dominate this scrapbook. The testimony of many individuals was read from transcripts of the previous trials during the fourth and final trial because they had died in the 4 years that passed between the third and fourth trials. Henry Youtsey's testimony is also included in print form and the murder weapon was finally "found" and presented as evidence against Henry Youtsey. There is also an article claiming that Judge Morris gave the jury a warning against drinking alcohol while on the jury. The fourth trial, which lasted 7 weeks, held court on Christmas day in hopes of ending sooner. Scrapbook #8 Compiled by Mrs. John Mastin in the same type of scrapbook album as #7 in good condition. A headline from the Louisville Evening Post reads, "I did not kill William Goebel" "I did not harm hair of his head" denies that Jim Howard was the assassin. The same paper announced that it was Henry Youtsey that fired the fatal shot. The controversy over where to place the proposed statue of Goebel is discussed in a newspaper article. A detailed chronology of the eight years of proceedings is also included within this scrapbook. Numerous articles calling for the pardoning of Powers and Howard are also within this book. Scrapbook #9 This scrapbook is in a scrapbook album similar to the Mastin scrapbooks and is 90% blank. There are a few articles concerning the 500,000-signature petition to procure a pardon for Powers and Howard. This was achieved on June 13, 1908 (Taylor was not pardoned until April 23, 1909 and Youtsey was pardoned three years after his parole in 1919).