Long ago, when I was asking family members about family history, I was told the story of our cousin, William Goebel. I had never heard about him so I did a little research. It isn’t clear who assassinated him and may never be known with certainty. When I tell the story to professional colleagues, they react with surprise—it isn’t a well-known tale, but it is an interesting mystery.
“...The story of the only sitting governor in United States’ history to be assassinated...”
And there are so many now that deserve it.
Interesting video about a little known assassination. That is what the History Channel used to be about. Now it’s mostly crap.
Uh, NO! Huey Long, governor of Louisiana, was assassinated outside of the capitol building in Baton Rouge.
So what did William Goebel do that upset Hillary?
Somewhat related:
My dad was in the crowd in Miami in 33 when someone took a shot at FDR and hit Cermak, the mayor of Chicago, and a few others, instead. Cermak and a woman died.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Goebel#Duel_with_John_Sanford
Duel with John Sanford[edit]
In 1895, Goebel engaged in what many observers considered to be a duel with John Lawrence Sanford. Sanford, a former Confederate general staff officer turned banker, had clashed with Goebel before. Goebel’s successful campaign to remove tolls from some of Kentucky’s turnpikes cost Sanford a large amount of money. Many believed that Sanford had blocked Goebel’s appointment to the Kentucky Court of Appeals, then the state’s highest, in retaliation.[8] Incensed, Goebel had written an article in a local newspaper referring to Sanford as “Gonorrhea John.”[9]
The climax came when Goebel and two acquaintances went to Covington to cash a check. Goebel suggested they avoid Sanford’s bank, but Sanford, standing outside the bank, spoke to the men before they could cross the street to a different bank. Sanford greeted Goebel’s friends, offering them his left hand. However, Goebel noticed that Sanford’s right hand was on a pistol concealed in his pocket. Having come armed himself, Goebel clutched the revolver in his own pocket. Sanford confronted Goebel and said, “I understand that you assume authorship of that article.” “I do,” replied Goebel. According to witnesses, both men then drew their pistols, but no one was sure which had fired first. Sanford’s bullet passed through Goebel’s coat and ripped his trousers, but left him uninjured. Goebel’s own shot fatally struck Sanford in the head, he dying five hours later.[8] Goebel pleaded self-defense and was acquitted, but the shooting haunted the rest of his political career.[3] The acquittal was significant because the Kentucky constitution prohibited duelling. If Goebel had been convicted of duelling, he would have been ineligible to hold any public office.[10]
Interesting.
Curious so did some Googling. Looks like in addition to your family member, two territorial governors were assassinated. (Realize territory is not the same as a state. Governors appointed, not elected, among other things.)
Charles Bent (Civilian Governor of New Mexico Territory, 1847)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bent
Edwin Stanton McCook (Acting Governor of Dakota Territory, 1873)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Stanton_McCook
Hmmmm.... Somewhere along the family tree on my father’s side is the family name of Goebel in central and western Kentucky. I wonder if William Goebel is a past relative? Time to do some research.
Learned of this in KY grade school. Lots of mystery surrounding it.
The History Guy is great. I’ll have to check this out.