William Goebel

In the politically charged atmosphere of Frankfort, Kentucky, William Goebel, a 44-year-old white male, met a violent end that would secure his unique and tragic place in American history. The roots of his demise were deeply embedded in the bitter 1899 gubernatorial election. Goebel, a Democrat, challenged the Republican incumbent William S. Taylor. The election was rife with accusations of fraud, and though Taylor was initially declared the winner, the legislature was in the process of contesti ...