The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-19
CULTON'S TALE.
Relates Details of Occurrences
Previous to Killing of GOebel.

Georgetown, KY, July 19.-The case or
Caleb Powers, charged with completely
in the GoebeI assassination opened to-
day with a long legal debate on the
question of the admissability of matters
transpiring between the date OF the
shooting of Senator Soebel and his
death. The point was raised by a ques-
tion put by the prosecution to Witness
Culton regarding a conversation pc
tween him and YoutSey before GoeDel
died. The court rules that this evidence
must be excluded.
In regard to the preparations Tor
bringing the big crowd of mountain
eers to Frankfort the witness said Pow
ers told those in the conference that in
the event of any trouble growing out Of
the importation of the men the leaders
would be indicted for conspiracy, and
were asked If they were willing to take
the risk In the. discussion of the ,ques-
tion of transportation witnessssaids Hen
ry Painter, a MiddleSboro railroad law
yer suggested that trains be. captured
on several roads. Culton said he board
ed the mountalneer excursion at Rich
mond He said Charles Finley had told
him to go there and come doWnWith the
men. He was told to tell the men to an
nounce on their arrival that they had
come only to petition the legislature.
After the assassination Powers came TO
witness and told him to write to the
parties who were in the conference and
tell them they had better be very care
full and do no talking, as they were la
BILE to be connected with the murder.
Witness told him it would be dangerous
to write and Powers said he would do
it himself.
The prosecution produced a box of
cartridges for witness to inspect. He
said the cartridges were like those Yout-
sey showed him when talking about
killing Goebel.
Powers gave witness badges for the
mountain men who remained at Frank
fort. They were issued SO that in case
of trouble they could distinguish their
own men from others. The badges con-
tained a picture of Governor Taylor.
Witness said that while in Jail with
Powers at Frankfort, Powers, begged
him to not go on the witness stand in
the hearing of his (Culton's) smotion for
bail Witness told Powers he wanted to
get bail as his family needed him
Powers told him he would see to 1t
that his family was provided for If wit
ness would agree not to go on the stand.
Witness declined to do so.
rs it not true that you used over ST.
900 belonging to the funds in your
charge while a clerk in the auditors Of
flee and that Auditor Stone was COM
PEELED to make your shortage good?'e
asked the defense. on cross -examina-
ton
ut is not true was not short in any
amount and Auditor Stone did not have
to pay anything. on my account. There
was a question about the legality OF
some Chains allowed III my depart
Culton was asked about visiting Col
Campbell and others of the prosecution.
He denied that he had been promised
immunity. He admitted that he did not
tell Campbell the truth when he said
that he had told all he knew. but as a
matter of fact he told just much as he
was forced to tell.
Witness said in becoming q witness in
the Powers case now on trial and tell
ing all he knew he is following the adj
vice of his father, Judge Culton. The
defense then attempted to show an in
timacy between Culton and the prOsecu-
tion and that a discrimination was be-
ing made between Culton and the other
defendants.
Mr.. Owens asked a number of ques-
tions to show that the testimony given
by Culton on the stand today and yes
terday was at variance on some points
with that given in his application for
bail at Frankfort. Witness said he had
omitted some things in his testimony
but he had not done so Intentionally.
His memory had been refreshed by the
questioning of the lawyers and this re-
called the additional matter he had
told