Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-03-06
THE POWERS MURDER.
PREWETT ADMITS THE KILLING
OF THE OLD DOCTOR.
SelfDefense Claimed Details OF
the Horrible Affair De-
cided Sensation.
IsrEaAL BY rELEerArH TO THE RrooRD-usIos.

ohiisiEh, mdrCu otn.-1 eStefuay
number of witnesses testified 10 the bad rep.
utation of Powers. and the good character
OF Prewett. The defendant was placed on
the stand, and testified to numerous acts
which had been committed, and which had
by him been attributed to Powers Nc
evidence of any importance was elected.
WHAT LED TO THE MURDER.
To-day the defendant (Prewett) was again
put on the stand, and testified. The even
ing was dry and warm before the fire. A
fog came up during the night, and the fire
was easily put out. The fire had been set.
Don't know who set it. The next day |
looked for tracks, and found five distinct
places where it had been set Found tracks.
and at one place found a burnt match in
bunch of oats. The distinct track of a
mans foot was there. At another place
found the print of toe and knees. as
though OF some one kneeling. Other
tracks there corresponded exactly with the
tracks made by Powers. Measured them
carefully. They were very large. There
was only slight difference between the
tracks at the fire and those | knew to be
Powers. After the fire kept guard over
my premises, as ! thought the fire had not
done as much damage as expected, and
thought there would be more of it. Kept
the horses turned out, so they would not
be burned up or killed in the barn.
Watched my water tanks for fear that
poison might be put in to kill the stock.
Tne water bucket in use by the family
stood near window which could
be slipped back. Emptied the water
out every morning, for fear of poison.
Heard threats of poison. Never stayed
away from home nights unless absolutely
compelled to. for fear my property " oul1 be
burned up. The family seemed afraid they
would be poisoned or the house blown up
Ny wife knew who had set the fire, and
knew of the threats by Powers. Remember
the l7th of September following the fire.
Between the fire and that date, Irwin told
me he had met the doctor somewhere and
he seemed to be very angry Powers said
| had caused my own trouble in Bear Val
ley by suing him, and when he got through
with me would not need any land there
Irwin said Powers had pistol. About 3
O'Clock | thought | would go I'D to
lrwin's and brand a steer which | had
purchased from him. Got my horse and
took my shotgun with me. That was my
usual custom. l then went on up William
son canyon3about mile, to where the road
comes in across the ridge from Bear valley.
Just this side of Melindy's | struck the
main road in Bear valley. Went down to
Irwin's, and found him chopping wood
half mile this side of his house. Asked
him where the cattle were. He said he
hadn't seen tnem since morning. | wen:
back to the house TO prepare the fire for
branding, and he went across the canyon
to drive the cattle up. He came back and
said he couldn't find them. He got his
horse, and be and | went down the canyon
towards Willow creek to look for the cat
tie. about one mile down heard Irwin's
COW bell, and went in that direction After
going short distance saw two or three cat,
tie OFT to one side, and the rest Of them
some ways down the road. Irwin turned
OIL to so after the two or three cattle, and !
went on down the road after the others.
THE KILLING CONFESSED
About $50 yards further down / ME.
DR.. Powers. He looked at me, and | said
= Good day. Doctor He said, putting his
hand back in his pocket, I'll fight you a
duel | had my gun across my saddle
picked 1t up, and told him / did not
want to fight. He kept on try
ing to draw his pistol and l
gun with his left hand, as if TO push it
aside or grab it. then fred the left barrel
at him. l was riding young and spirited
horse. The horse whirled around and
swung us face to face. He seemed to be
pulling something from his pocket. ! fired
another barrel as soon as I could. In firing
the first barrel, intended only to disable
him, and the second shot intended to kill
him, in defense of my own life. believed,
in good faith, that my own life was in dam
| ger, based on reports that had heard and
from my own knowledge of the man s
character. At the first shot Powers was on
horseback. After the second shot he fell
| forward from his horse, right where the
road crosses the gulch. then rode away
| and went home. l came up with Irwin sc
or 100 yards away, and went on with him
| as far as his house.
CRoss-EXAMINATIoN.
| Did not see Powers pass my house on the
way to Sevenman's S on the 18th of Septem-
ber Did not want to watch, or have Irwin
watch. to see him come back. Did not lie
| in wait for him. When first saw him be
was riding along. He had passed the five
cattle and some more were back of him. ]
| fired from nay hips. Did not take aim, OF
raise the gun to my shoulder There were
| two loads of buckshot in the gun. He did
not tumble from his saddle at the first shot
His horse stepped back, and my horse
whirled short around. He reached round
as if to grab the gun with his left hand.
was towards his right hand at the first shot
As faced him he was on the left edge oi
the road. We were right
CLOSE UP TOGETHER
When l spoke to him. At the first shot
the muzzle of the gun was three or four
| feet from him-close enough so that he
could almost reach it with his hand. The
second shot was fred second after the
first My horse wbirled quickly, and faced
him again. We were about ten feet apart
at the second shot. | remained on my
| did not get off after he had fallen. Never
stopped. My horse whirled around and
| started Oft / looked back and saw that he
had fallen off. went right on. did not
see what became of Powers horse. Did
not take it with me. The gun was in the
same position at the second shot.
The Court here made an order that the
gun be produced, and a messenger was
sent to Bear valley.
| Witness continued-Fired the second shot
! without taking aim, holding thegun in one
hand. 1t is not a fact that Powers was
dead when the second shot was fired did
not stand over him and fire the second shot
into his body while he was lying motion
less. The doctor said. 4" will fight you q
duel" That was all he said. Told him to
take his hand away from there or would
shoot him. Did not see anything in his
hand. When he tumbled from his horse /
did not take any pains to see if there was
anything in his pocket
I DID NOT TOUCH THE BODY
After he fell. Did not see bundle o
papers on his person. Never looked back
after Powers fell. Do not know that Irwin
was in sight. Irwin intercepted me some
seventy-ive yards from where the doctor
fell off. The point where l met Irwin is
visible from the scene of the encounter
The killing took place about 4:30 or P. NJ
/ then went home, past Melindy's house
Irwin took no part in this matter He did
not have gun. Do not know whether
had pistol or not. l had flask of quail
shot with me. My own and rwin's family
were away that day. When / first met