 Taylor v. Beckham , 178 U.S. 548 ( 1900 ) , was a case heard before the Supreme Court of the United States on April 30 and May 1 , 1900 , to decide the outcome of the disputed Kentucky gubernatorial election of 1899 . The litigants were Republican gubernatorial candidate William S. Taylor and Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial candidate J. C. W. Beckham . In the November 7 , 1899 , election , Taylor received 193 @,@ 714 votes to Democrat William Goebel 's 191 @,@ 331 . This result was certified by a 2 – 1 decision of the state 's Board of Elections . Goebel challenged the election results on the basis of alleged voting irregularities , and the Democrat @-@ controlled Kentucky General Assembly formed a committee to investigate Goebel 's claims . Goebel was shot on January 30 , 1900 , one day before the General Assembly approved the committee 's report declaring enough Taylor votes invalid to swing the election to Goebel . As he lay dying of his wounds , Goebel was sworn into office on January 31 , 1900 . He died on February 3 , 1900 , and Beckham ascended to the governorship . 
