Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-19
mousrkIxsea MOVEMENT.
Caleb Powers Alleged 10 Have Been Organizer
Under Approval o. Gov. Taylor.

Georgetown, KY. July 1S.-1n the
trial, today. of Caleb Powers, charged
with completely in the Goebel shooting,
John A. Black of Barboursville, a
banker and Republican Of prOmi-
nence. was the first witness. He said
Powers came to him, in January, to
advise him as to the propriety of the
mountain organization, which he said
he was getting up.
Il asked Powers" said witness.
what sort Of a crowd he was getting
up, and he said he was organizing an
armed mcb to go to Frankfort. l dis
couraged this and told him it would
injure the Republican party, would be
stigma on our end Of the state and
ought to be abandoned. Powers, how
ever, insisted that the mob would be
formed. His idea was that it would
intimidate the Legislature"
Black, continuing, said: II saw
Powers later and again demonstrated
against the formation of the mob
which was going to Frankfort. Powers
told me it was being formed with the
approval of Gov. Taylor, Chas. Fin
ley and other Republican leaders at
Frankfort.
y check from Chas. Finley to the
L. Il l.. Railroad for $1,000 for trans
portation of the men to Frankfort was
produced by Black in response to a
question from the prosecution.
w. II. Culton, who is under indict-
merit as an accessory to the killing of
Gov. GOebel, was next called. Coun-
sci for the defence raised a point
against the compentency of Culton as
a witness. he being under Indictment
along with Powers and others as CO.
conspirator and not having been tried.
The jury was excluded during the ar
gument of the point.
Judge Cantrill, this afternoon. ruled
that while at common law Powers
could not testify, that rule was abro-
gated under the law of this state and
that CultOn is a competent witness,
the right to testify being a personal
privilege. The court instructed cuiton
that he might or might not testify as
he desired. and if he did so he was
not required to tell anything that
would tend to criminate himself Cul-
ton replied that he was testifying of
his own free will
Culton said he knew all the persons in
dioted as accessories to the Goebel muir
der. Witness said in January the matter
of bringing mountain men to the state
capital was discussed. Powers was pres.
ent. The mountain men arrived In Frank.
fort. Jan. %. he said. Culton said Henry
Youtsey came to him and told him tina,
he had found a way Gcebel could be
killed. Youtsey said II could be done
from the secretary of states office.
Witness said Youtsey again and the
latter said the idea had been abandoned
He declared Gov. Taylor furnished hin
tCultom the money to bring the jackson
county crowd. Witness said Coy. Taylo,
did not want the mountain men to GO
home. Powers said they ought to be sent
away, as they had not done what they
We're brought there for. Witness told
Taylor what Powers said Taylor replied
that Powers was a hotheaded fool. but
he would wait and everything would bs
all right.
on the day of the Van Meter Berr,
contest in the Legislature, the witness
said Taylor sent orders by hun to assist
Adjutant General Dixon to have the
arsenal ready to be called out at mo-
ment'S notice.
The court adjourned with Culton on the
stand.