The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-03
m-ountaine~rs TO Frankfort witnss

mountainesrs TO Frankfort witnsss
said:
There were three crowds Of men
brought to and 1 had
something to do with the organization
Of each The purpose was TO show the
interest OF these people In the matters
at issue at that time. and not to In
timidate either the state election
board or the legislature I instructed
the mer. TO do no acts OF violence. and.
50 far as / know. nore Was committed
by them
The last crowd OF men were brought
for a doubie purpose We expeccd 20
use them "a witnesses before the n
test board n Also TO show by their
presence the interest they felt In the
contests. We also heard rumcrs that
we were to be forcibly elected from the
Offices. These rumors were based on
n~ewspape reports. ard we Intended to
resist violence"
Mr.. Bradley. OF counsel fos proSecu-
ton, objected tn this statement. n
asked that IL be excluded On the ground
that newspaper reports could not De
given in evidence The court ruled
ness to detail newspaper reports or tell
OF the apprehensions which he based
on common rumor.
Witness said he had received infor-
nation that Mr.. Hill. the contestant
for secretary OF state. would not wait
until the contests were settled in
court but would Try To AXE forcible
possession Is the contest board
acted.
IF that sort Of thing had been at
tempted" he said. we intended 10
hold the offices. / had a conferences
with Governor Taylor and he advised
the bringing Of a large body Of men 10
show their interest In political affairs.
He also advised that they be brought
armed, and promised to pay the ex-
penses. / acted on this. The plans were
kept a secret IN prevent dropping Us
through a bridge ~ derailing our
train / told those in the conference
that the utmost secrecy must he OBJ
served in getting them there before
the news got out
AT the afternoon session the defend
ant resumed the stand. He read TO the
jury receipts from the various parties
which he said were for money paid by
him for board for some mountain
men brought by him to the state capi-
| tai. He said he had no recollection OF
having said in the presence OF W. H.
Culton that the legislature would b.
given thirty minutes to act and II IL
did MOI do IL in that time they would
kill the democratic legislators.
In regard to sending the men home
from Frankfort the evening Of January
25th, about which witness Noakes tes-
titled last week. and old OF n breach
between the witness and Governor
Taylor. Powers said:
Il heard that they We're going TO
send the men home and / opposed IL.
as the men had been UP all the night
before. / went to see Governor Taylor.
He told me Ii had been decided to send
them home, as their presence was hav-
ing a bad effect. Some of the anti
Goebel democrats in the Legislature
had strongly disapproved of bringing
the men armed and had threatened TO
desert Governor Taylor in the contest
unless he sent the men home. Witness
did not give Youtsey a key or keys nor
did he ave a conversation with John
Powers and Goebel in reference to
Goebel being killed by '"Tallow" Dick
Combs. He did meet Youtsey in the
hall Of the executive building and
YoutSey asked him to let him into the
office. Witness did not now why
Youtsey wanted to get In there. but
witness did not want him in there.
Day, Golden and the witness went
} to Louisville on the morning OF the
killing for the purpose of securing
transportation for another crowd of
mountain men that were to be gotten
Up.
H III VApidiIIcd Tia lIt Sill
Of paper found in his pockets when he
was arrested and which read: Pow
ers is our friend" signed by w. s.
Taylor, was given to him by Governor
Taylor on that morning, to be taken to
Pension Agent Leslie Combs at Louis
willie who had charge OF the funds with
which the expenses of the contest were
being paid.
Powers testimony was interrupted
at this point by adjournment.