The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-08-23
PENALTY IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE.
All Agreement Was Reached in a Lit.
Tie Over an Hour and it Was
Unanimous.
me 'ondcncd Man VIII TaL.
appear to the Higher Courts
lie Makes n Statement
to the Public.

'"V IHc murder OF WilliaT
T "oeDeL SO said ~ men Saturday !
'erdict that was arrived at withon
argument or wrangling in the lar
room. 49,
l. 'ommonwealth's Attorney Frank
n IN concluded his marvclously clio
: qucnt and convincing speech at 11:3,
saturday morning, and court ad
Joui'cd till l o'clock, but it was l. 2;
"hch Judge Cantrill said TO the Jury.
Gentlemen, retire and make a .er.
diet" ' 'ei'
The jury filed into the east iurv
room, Just behind where powers
ShiIIng, sat talking with fbc NIsses
D"Igerhcld' two young ladies who had
maze ms acquaintance since the trial
began lie seemed the same cold opd
uhconcerncd man he had been all dur
ing The trial. After the Youfsev
case had been called and passed Judge
'"h'rlIl adjourned court and walked
ont' Instructing the sheriff that i n
verdict was reached to send for him
At 2:@S o'clock there was knock
ing on the jury room door from tbe
inside. The sheriff answered the call
ana Immediately hurried ont for
Judge Cantrill. IL was INSTANTLY fash
cd all over the courtroom that n vor-
"'c' had been reached. The knowing
ones thought they knew that such n
quick agreement meant conyiction |
Powers never stopped talking and
smiling.
Judge Cantrill returned. "Bring in
the jury" he said.
Gentlemen. are you ready to re-
portT said the Judge, and Foreman
/. y. stone nodded assent. The vcr-
olct was passed up TO the clerk
fcad the verdict Mr.. Clerk" said
Judge CantrilI. and the clerk read nc
follows, while all the room held their
breath:
I'VE the jury, find the defendant
guilty, and fix his punishment; at CON ,
llncment III the state pcnitcntiary for ,
hic. ]. &. STONE, Foreman"
"Gcntlcmen, is that your verdict?" }
asked Judge CantrilI.
1T rs. answered the iury.
IoWcrs was watched closely. He ;
seemed shocked for an instant and n .
'aIncd look crept into his cold. pale >
ace great beads of sweat broke out .
N his forehead, and he for the first :,
ime betrayed nervousness, but it was 6,
MY 1or moment. Regarding his
omposurc, he turned to the Misses -,
'angerteld and said: 81 was not ex- :,
ecting that. The verdict is unjust" -
Attorney kinkead leaned over and =,
'emed to be speaking some words of CO
Encouragement to Powers, who nod =,
nd his head and smiled. =,
Judge Cantrill thanked the Jury for 49,
leir patience under such n long ~
ram and the court adjourned and NJ
] was over. ~
Powers will take an appeal. =.
Georgetown, Ky, Aug. 2O-Calcb No
'wers, who on Saturday was con- -,
rtcd of being an accessory before 49,
{ fact of the assassination of VIII ,,o
IN GOebel, has issued the following w.
ltemcnt: 80"
10 the Public am asked nv ao,
inlon concerning my trial and the CT
'dict of the jury. Could | have but ;na
opinion? Can any fair minded Ia,
mn, ' 'i'" state nave out viii
?, That one OF the greatest Judi ,
farces known to history has been cor
n,s of Iau NY ,ii"i, ui'uer the Ing
1t, ''i i''" man at
doubt. Innocence is no shield sao
n 100000 and the methods of e.
npbellism against you. The recti- tnr,
e Of ones past life counts for
ght. They say Taylor is guilty
ause he was at his Office, and that
n guilty because l was away from The
C. This has been n political trial ,
oughout for political purposes,
no greater mistake has been
lie by the democratic party since n,
io'peu us vi 'he oIices TO which fune
were fairly elected by the people. who
There are good men and noble ouet
len in the democratic party, and dov
y of them. They are not all bad, demo
from it. a great many of them with
lot endorse the theft of the srate ocrd
es. A great many more will not Halls
'rse this mockery of trial, this miss
titution of the courts of Justice b.or,
certain ends. From the beginning n
he campaign until now, / have II =
l with what little of merit have Soh,,
for the rights and liberties of Az,
people. That is my crime. That tho ,
e only offense 1 have committed. and
is the only thing proven against ILr,
l swore TO that myself in my o.n,o
nony. / have never had, and /
now no apology to make for be-
rue to the trust imposed upon Kai
y majority of the voters of this TO be
History will draw its dark lines weste
I'd those who have outraged me, presel
isgraced the judiciary and black siren,
the history of the state. l am. roads
respectfully, vance
CALEB POWERS"
xyure EactOries Rexuu,. VVo.l< Cop