The Unsolved Murder of William Goebel
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Home > History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas > The Unsolved Murder of William Goebel: The Political Assassination That Shook Kentucky's Democracy
The Unsolved Murder of William Goebel: The Political Assassination That Shook Kentucky's Democracy

The Unsolved Murder of William Goebel: The Political Assassination That Shook Kentucky's Democracy


     0     
5
4
3
2
1



International Edition


X
About the Book

What happens when democracy dies not in silence, but with the crack of a rifle outside the state Capitol? On January 30, 1900, William Goebel-Kentucky senator, populist reformer, and thorn in the side of corporate power-was gunned down in broad daylight just steps from the Capitol building. Days later, as he lay dying in a hotel room, he was sworn in as the 34th Governor of Kentucky. Then he was dead. This is the only successful assassination of a sitting U.S. governor. And yet-no one was ever definitively held accountable. The Unsolved Murder of William Goebel pulls back the curtain on one of the most explosive and underexamined political crimes in American history. Set against the backdrop of a state torn apart by corruption, partisan warfare, and class division, this book is a riveting narrative of ambition, betrayal, and bloodshed. Inside, you will uncover: A forensic timeline of the 1899 gubernatorial crisis-a contested election so volatile it nearly tipped Kentucky into civil war. The cinematic recreation of Goebel's final walk to the Capitol, the sniper's bullet, and the whispered legal oaths as he lay dying-refusing to surrender the office he believed he'd won. Conflicting confessions, retracted testimonies, and courtroom chaos as Caleb Powers, Jim Howard, Henry Youtsey, and former governor William S. Taylor are pulled into a legal storm that still raises more questions than answers. The deep-rooted conspiracy theories: Was Goebel's death orchestrated by Republicans desperate to retain power? Or was the bullet fired by a rogue actor in a house of cards already collapsing? Political and cultural insight into Gilded Age Kentucky, where railroads ruled, newspapers manipulated public rage, and violence was too often a language of governance. Modern echoes of a fragile democracy-reminding readers how quickly the legitimacy of an election can unravel when the system is stacked against the people. This book is not just a true crime account. It's a story of democracy at gunpoint, a chilling reminder of how power, unchecked, will always seek its own survival-even at the cost of human life. This Book Is For Readers Who Crave: True crime with political weight-where the mystery is inseparable from the laws it defies. Historical investigations that bring forgotten figures like William Goebel back to life with cinematic detail and archival precision. Legal drama with real consequences: contested trials, partisan judges, and verdicts shaped as much by fear as by fact. A deeper understanding of American populism, reform-era violence, and the machinery of political revenge. Rich, immersive storytelling that honors both fact and emotion, giving readers the tools to investigate what history left unfinished. Perfect for fans of: Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard American Homicide by Randolph Roth The Murder of Helen Jewett by Patricia Cline Cohen The Midnight Assassin by Skip Hollandsworth If you've ever wondered how a bullet can change the course of democracy-and why justice sometimes dies quietly behind closed doors-this book is for you. The Unsolved Murder of William Goebel is not just a window into Kentucky's haunted past-it is a mirror for today.


Best Sellers


Product Details
  • ISBN-13: 9798291975947
  • Publisher: Independently Published
  • Publisher Imprint: Independently Published
  • Height: 229 mm
  • No of Pages: 214
  • Returnable: N
  • Sub Title: The Political Assassination That Shook Kentucky's Democracy
  • Width: 152 mm
  • ISBN-10: 8291975949
  • Publisher Date: 10 Jul 2025
  • Binding: Paperback
  • Language: English
  • Returnable: N
  • Spine Width: 11 mm
  • Weight: 344 gr


Similar Products

Add Photo
Add Photo

Customer Reviews

REVIEWS      0     
Click Here To Be The First to Review this Product
The Unsolved Murder of William Goebel: The Political Assassination That Shook Kentucky's Democracy
Independently Published -
The Unsolved Murder of William Goebel: The Political Assassination That Shook Kentucky's Democracy
Writing guidlines
We want to publish your review, so please:
  • keep your review on the product. Review's that defame author's character will be rejected.
  • Keep your review focused on the product.
  • Avoid writing about customer service. contact us instead if you have issue requiring immediate attention.
  • Refrain from mentioning competitors or the specific price you paid for the product.
  • Do not include any personally identifiable information, such as full names.

The Unsolved Murder of William Goebel: The Political Assassination That Shook Kentucky's Democracy

Required fields are marked with *

Review Title*
Review
    Add Photo Add up to 6 photos
    Would you recommend this product to a friend?
    Tag this Book Read more
    Does your review contain spoilers?
    What type of reader best describes you?
    I agree to the terms & conditions
    You may receive emails regarding this submission. Any emails will include the ability to opt-out of future communications.

    CUSTOMER RATINGS AND REVIEWS AND QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TERMS OF USE

    These Terms of Use govern your conduct associated with the Customer Ratings and Reviews and/or Questions and Answers service offered by Bookswagon (the "CRR Service").


    By submitting any content to Bookswagon, you guarantee that:
    • You are the sole author and owner of the intellectual property rights in the content;
    • All "moral rights" that you may have in such content have been voluntarily waived by you;
    • All content that you post is accurate;
    • You are at least 13 years old;
    • Use of the content you supply does not violate these Terms of Use and will not cause injury to any person or entity.
    You further agree that you may not submit any content:
    • That is known by you to be false, inaccurate or misleading;
    • That infringes any third party's copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret or other proprietary rights or rights of publicity or privacy;
    • That violates any law, statute, ordinance or regulation (including, but not limited to, those governing, consumer protection, unfair competition, anti-discrimination or false advertising);
    • That is, or may reasonably be considered to be, defamatory, libelous, hateful, racially or religiously biased or offensive, unlawfully threatening or unlawfully harassing to any individual, partnership or corporation;
    • For which you were compensated or granted any consideration by any unapproved third party;
    • That includes any information that references other websites, addresses, email addresses, contact information or phone numbers;
    • That contains any computer viruses, worms or other potentially damaging computer programs or files.
    You agree to indemnify and hold Bookswagon (and its officers, directors, agents, subsidiaries, joint ventures, employees and third-party service providers, including but not limited to Bazaarvoice, Inc.), harmless from all claims, demands, and damages (actual and consequential) of every kind and nature, known and unknown including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising out of a breach of your representations and warranties set forth above, or your violation of any law or the rights of a third party.


    For any content that you submit, you grant Bookswagon a perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, transferable right and license to use, copy, modify, delete in its entirety, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from and/or sell, transfer, and/or distribute such content and/or incorporate such content into any form, medium or technology throughout the world without compensation to you. Additionally,  Bookswagon may transfer or share any personal information that you submit with its third-party service providers, including but not limited to Bazaarvoice, Inc. in accordance with  Privacy Policy


    All content that you submit may be used at Bookswagon's sole discretion. Bookswagon reserves the right to change, condense, withhold publication, remove or delete any content on Bookswagon's website that Bookswagon deems, in its sole discretion, to violate the content guidelines or any other provision of these Terms of Use.  Bookswagon does not guarantee that you will have any recourse through Bookswagon to edit or delete any content you have submitted. Ratings and written comments are generally posted within two to four business days. However, Bookswagon reserves the right to remove or to refuse to post any submission to the extent authorized by law. You acknowledge that you, not Bookswagon, are responsible for the contents of your submission. None of the content that you submit shall be subject to any obligation of confidence on the part of Bookswagon, its agents, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners or third party service providers (including but not limited to Bazaarvoice, Inc.)and their respective directors, officers and employees.

    Accept

    Fresh on the Shelf


    Inspired by your browsing history


    Your review has been submitted!

    You've already reviewed this product!