Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-08-03
DENIES THE CHARGE.
haIf--On ny1or's Advice He Brought
MOuntaineers to Frankfort.

Georgetown, KY, July 31.-The de-
fendant, Caleb Powers, charged with
being an accessory before the fact to
the murder of William Goebel. took
the witness stand Monday. Witness
never knew Jim Howard, Harland
Whitaker, or Richard Combs, three
of the defendants, prior to the assas-
sination. Had only known Youtsey
since January 1.
In regard to the bringing of the
mountaineers to Frankfort, the wit
ness sad
There were three crowds of men
brought to Frankfort, and / had some-
thing 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 intimidate either
the state election board or the legisla-
ture. l instructed the men to do no
acts of violence. and so far as know,
none was committed by them.
THE last crowd of men were brought
for double purpose. We expected to
use them witnesses before the con-
test board and also to show by their
presence the interest they felt in the
contests. We also had heard rumors that
we were to be forcibly elected from the
offices. These rumors I based on news
| violence"
Continuing. the witness said he had
received Information that Mr.. Hill, the
contestant for secretary of state, would
not wait till the contests were settled in
| court, but would undertake to take fore
| ible possession as soon as the contest
board acted. ''If that sort of thing"
| said he, had been attempted, we intend
| ed to hold the offices. I had a confer
ence with Gov. Taylor and he advised the
| bringing of a large body of men to show
their interest in political affairs. He also
| advised that they be brought armed, and
| promised to pay the expenses. / acted on
| this. The plans were kept a secret" he
said, ito prevent dropping us through a
bridge or derailing our train. 1 told
those in conference" he said, 1.-The utmost
| secrecy must be observed in getting them
there before the news got out
AT the afternoon session the de.
fendant told of the Barbourville con-
ference at which Finley Powers and
Others discussed the arrangements
with John a. Black. who strongly
opposed the movement. The witness
said he assured Black that he and
Finley would use their best endeavors
to keep the crowd from degeneratine
into n mob, but denied that he tolo
| i'ldch Hc was SOlHS W OTRdllLt
mob. He said he had no recollection
of having said in the presence of w
H. Culton that the Legislature woulC
be given 30 minutes to act. and if il
did not do it in that time they would
kill the democratic Legislators. Aft
erwards he said positively that nj
such remark was made.
He did not hear conversation will
John Powers and Golden in referenc,
to Goebel going to be killed by Tai
low Dick Combs.
He denied that Henry Youtsey hat
the keys to his office on the day o
the assassination. but said that ther
were two keys to the office, one o
which was in the possession of forme
Assistant Secretary of State w.
Davidson. and another in possession
of Ben Rowe, Gov. Taylor's colore,
porter. Powers says neither of thes
keys We're ever in his possession, an
that he had his own key in his pocke
in Louisville the day of the assassina
ton. Davidson is in the far west
supposed to be in the state of Wash
ington, and Rowe, the colored porter
is somewhere in Indiana.