Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-11-14
TIE POWERS MURDER.
CONFESSION OF ONE OF THE
CONSPIRATORS.
Causes Leading to the Crime-Plot
of the Prime Mover-A Vii
famous Scheme.
ESPECIAL BY TELEGRAPH TO THE REcoRD-uN1os.

the murder or Dr. Powers, made q con-
fession and statement to Detectives Lawson
and Deasy, of Morse's Agency, in the pres
ence of his father, who was instrumental
in bringing it about a Notary Public and
two witnesses. The confession has been
kept strictly secret pending the preliminary
examination of some of the alleged muir
derers next Monday, when Alexander will
be placed on the stand. 1t has been I'M
derstood that the confession gave full in.
formation regarding the causes leading to
the crime and the parties concerned. Re-
porters of the local papers and the San
Francisco press have been here, and fol-
lowed Alexander to San Jose. in hopes of
getting his statement. The detectives kept
him under close surveillance, allowed no
interviews, and up to to-day no genuine
information regarding the confession has
been received. Your reporter has been
working on the case constantly since the
confession was made, and tonight sue
ceeded in securing the full contents of
ALExANDER's STATEMENT.
Levi Alexander, father of Richard, was
present when the confession was taken.
His statement regarding its contents was
presented TO Detective Lawson, who neither
denied nor affirmed it, but remarked that
if old man Alexander wanted to make a
fool of himself by making it public, he
(Lawson) couldn't help it, and he
had nothing to say. There is no
question, however, about the old gentle
mans story being a correct statement ofhis
sons confession. In giving it he DISPLAYED
great agitation, and in the recital broke
down several times, finally being COM
pletely overcome. The confession places
John T. Prewett in the light of as dastardly
and damnable villain as could exist. From
1t 1t appears that no one, outside of Prewett
himself, had any shadow of a grievance
against DR.. Powers. Piewett had long been
at enmity with Powers on account of land
matters, and recently Powers had compelled
him to give up the possession of land he
was illegally holding. A suit was instituted,
and is now pending in the United States
Courts, regarding land which Prewett held
and Powers was a prominent witness for
the Government and against Prewett. He
had recently returned from San Francisco
with certain documents concerning the
case, which he freely stated would convict
Prewett and his brother-in-law, Andrew
irwin, of perjury, in making false land en-
tries.
ALLEGED INCESDIARISM.
A few weeks before the murder of Powers
a fire was started on Prewett's range, which
destroyed about 5000 worth of feed. Prev
EFT alleged that Powers set the fire, but wit
nesses at the preliminary examination last
week testified that the footprints around
the scene of the fire, exhibited by
Prewett as proof Of Powers guilt,
did not correspond with the doctors boot,
which was of an unusual size and shape,
and in the opinion of Alexander, who makes
the confession, the fire was started BY
Prewett himself for the purpose of throw
ing suspicion on Powers and enlisting the
support of his neighbOrs in his plans
against the doctor Prewett succeeded in
having meetings ofthe Bear valley residents
held, to consider the alleged incendiary fire
on his place. The meetings were not salts
factory, as several who attended did not
countenance violent measures, in view of
the fact that the evidence was not strong
against Powers.
PREwETT's CONSPIRACY.
Seemingly Prewett was determined on
putting Powers out of the way, and
obtaining possession of the papers which
Powers claimed were damaging 10 him.
He influenced Dick Alexander, who makes
the confession; S. p Ashcraft, a relative
and business partner, Andrew Irwin, a
brother-in- law; Fred Fowles, an unsavory
character, who has gained unenviable no.
toriety by his inhuman action concerning
the death and burial of his mother; Isaac
Slaven, young man highly connected and
OF previous good character, but evidently
easily led, and Marion Thompson, middle
aged farmer of formerly fair reputation, to
join him in conspiracy to murder Powers,
and implicate other citizens of Bear valley
and the neighborhood, in order that their
silence might be secured, and immunity
from arrest guaranteed. Accordingly
FINAL MEETING
Was called To- the night on which Powers
was murdered, Every effort was made to
secure large attendance, it being under
stood among the conspirators that whatever
was the result of the meeting Powers was
to be hung that night, and those who at
tended the meeting were to be made CO.
criminals in the killing. That morning
Powers left his house ON visit to the fam
lily of A. r. Severman, where he passed the
day up to nearly 5 o'clock. From the time
of his leaving his house until his death, his
every action was watched by the conspira-
tors, the road from his place to Severman's
being down one side of range of hills and
up Oh the other, similar to the letter v the
apex indicating where the road coming from
Bear valley meets the San Benito road,
which runs back in the same direction, the
l IL, IoA Sria 10
hills could observe his every movement,
and it had been arranged that on Powers
return he was to be detained at the house
of Mrs Jane Monroe, who was TO invite
him to supper, and keep him there until
after dark, so that the conspirators coming
from the meeting, could waylay and hang
him. Every effort was to be made to have
those present at the meeting adopt the pro-
posed violent measuree, but in any event
Powers was to die that night.
THE MURDER.
About half-past o'clock Prewett, Irwin
and Alexander, on horseback, were going
down the Bear Valley road to deserted
cabin on Willow creek, where the meeting
was to be held. Prewett had with him q
double barreled shotgun, to be used in case
much trouble was experienced in accom-
plishing the lynching. The spies ON the
hill informed them that Powers was on the
road home They had no intention of
killing him then, and determined to turn
out of the road and allow him to pass with
out their being discovered. By accident,
however, they met him at a turn in the
road Prewett remarked, Now is as good
a time as any" and ordered Powers TO
throw up his hands, Immediately following
the command by discharging one barrel of
the gun, the charge taking effect in the
old mans left side, just below the nipple.
The old mare which Powers was riding
did not become frightened, but continued
her even gait for about fifteen feet, when
Powers fell to the ground, striking on his
face and breaking his nose; the body then
rolling over on its back. Prewett, without
dismounting, rode up to where the body
lay. and while it was yet in the final con-
WILSON'S of death, fired the other load into
Powers right side. He then dismounted,
l. I, l. 4.