The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-08-23
He IS FOUND GUILTY.
Jury in the Famous Powers Case
Returns a Verdict.

Georgetown, KY, Aug. 2O.-"We, the
jury, find the defendant guilty and
fix his punishment at conhnement in
the penitentiary for the rest of his
natural life" This was the wording
of the verdict in the case Of ex-Secre-
tary of State Caleb Powers, charged
with being an accessory before the
fact to the murder of William GoebeL.
| The y retired p Ei. SataT-
day and returned its verdict at 2:25
o'clock, having been out only SO min
utes. Juror Craig stated afterward
that the verdict could have been re-
turned even sooner, but considerable
time was taken up in reading the i'm
structions. The vote in favor of a life
sentence was unanimous. When the
jury retired the belief was general
that the jury would fail to agree, and
in this opinion the defendant himself
was firmly convinced.
Powers startled.
When the verdict of guilty was re-
turned Powers for the first time dur
ing the weary six weeks of the trial
betrayed his feelings. Under all of
the trying incidents of the long ordeal
he had maintained a changeless ex-
preston, the same whether things
were going favorable or against him.
The verdict of guilty, however, appar-
emily staggered him. Powers, always
pale, grew CHASTITY as the verdict was
read, and his face betokened great
mental anguish. This was only for a
few seconds, however, and then, one
what regaining his composure, he
turned to the Misses Dangerfield, who
had been in conversation with him,
and said: 81 was not expecting that.
The verdict is unjust"
There was no sort of demonstration
following the verdict, and the vast
most in silence. Powers remained in
the courtroom for some time after the
verdict was rendered, in conference
with his attorneys, who will at once
move for a new trial, and, failing in
that, will take an appeal.
Convicted Himself.
One of the jurors said the jurymen
were Influenced in making up their
verdict by many things in the evil
dence, but some of the chief points
were Powers own admission on the
stand that he organized the crowd of
1900 armed mo%untaineers which came
to Frankfort on January Is, his cor
roboration of parts of the testimony
of Noakes, Golden and Culton, the
proof that he gave Youtsey the key,
and that the shot was fired from his
Office.
1t is doubtful whether the Youtsey
Ease will be tried, although it will be
called to-day. Mr.. Crawford, for the
defense, made a statement in court
Saturday afternoon that Youtsey, &C.
cording to the advice Of his physician,
is still threatened with typhoid fever.
Powers Issues a Statement.
Georgetown, KY, Aug. 90. - Caleb
Powers issued a statement Sunday
evening, as follows:
ITO the Public: 1 am asked %myopinion
concerning my trial and the verdict of the
jury. Could l ! lave but one opinion? Can
any fair minded man or woman of this
state nav but one? one of the great
est judicial farces known to history has
been enacted here in my trial, under the
forms of law, no well informed man can
doubt. Innocence is no shield with 800, 900
and the methods of Campbe1lism against
you. The rectitude of ones past life counts
for naught. They say Taylor is guilty be-
cause he was at his office, and hat / am
guilty because I was away from mine.
This has been a political trial throughout
for political purposes, and no greater mis-
take has been made by the democratic
party since they robbed US of the offices
to which we were fairly elected by the pco-
pie. There are good men and noble women
in the democratic party, and many of them.
They are not all bad, far from it. A great
many of them do not indorse the theft Of
the state offices. A great many more will
not indorse this mockery of a trial, this
prostitution of the courts of justice for
certain ends. From the beginning of the
campaign until now l have stood with what
little merit l lave had for the rights and
liberties of the people. That is my crime.
That is the only offense l have committed.
That is the only thing proven against me.
l swOre to that myself in my testimony.
1 have never had, and l now have no apol-
ogy to make for being true to the trust i'm
posed upon me by a majority of the voters
of this state. History will draw its dark
lines around those who have outraged me
ana olSSraced the judiciary ana exc
the history of the state. I am. yours very
respectfully, CALEB POWERS"
History of Case.
The assassination of William Goebel was
the climax of the contest growing out of the
state election in Kentucky last fall. The
crime was committed while the contest COM
mittee of the legislature was considering
the evidence presented by Goebel, who
claimed the office of governor, then held by
Taylor, republican. According to the evil
dence the murder was the result of a plot
among the friends of the incumbent.
Senate Goebel was walking through the
capital grounds to the statehouse on Janu-
airy 30 when a rifle bullet fired from a win
dow of the building penetrated his side.
When the serious nature of the wound was
discovered the contest committee resolved
to take no more evidence, but render a de-
cision at once. The ruling was in favor of
Goebel, every democrat voting for him, the
two republican members standing by Tay-
lor. On his deathbed Goebel was sworn In
as governor and J. C. w. Beckham as lieu
tenant governor.
With the death of Gov. Goebel the at
tempt to hun down his assassin became the
one object of his friends and followers. 1t
was claimed the plot to put him out of the
way had been arranged by or with the APP
prevail of several of the state officials whose
positions were threatened by the contests