The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-01
FAVORED OPEN WAR
THAT is WHAT POWERS WANTED
IN KENTUCKY.
HE so STATED IN A LETTER.
COURT REFUSED TO LET HIM Ex-
PLAIN his MEANING.

Thought II His Duty to Return 10
Frankfort When He Heard GOebeI
Had Been Assnssinated-He Denied
the Incriminating Conversations
Attributed TO Him-EIis Attention
Called to Some of the GOOD Citi-
zens" thought to Frankfort.
Georgetown. KY, July S1.-In the trial
of Former Secretary of State Caleb Pow
ers charged with completely in the Goe-
bel shooting, the de. endant this afternoon
completed his tes mony and cross-exam-
nation was begun. This probably will
occupy all of tomorrow $ session.
When Powers resume d the witness stand
In his own behalf to-day he said
that on the morning of the as
sassiueuon he was preparing to go to
Louisville to make arrangements for brng-
ing more people to Frankfort. He locked
his Office door, as described by Witness
Golden but denied that anything suspi-
cous was said.
At La Grange the party heard that Goe-
bel had Been assassinated and that the
shot had been fired from the second or
third story of the executive building.
Il said 1t was a shame aud an out
rage" continued the witness, "and that
II would blight the chance Of all of us
whose Offices were in contest. / expressed
similar sentiments to other people that
day.
why He Returned to Frankfort.
II thought it my duty" Powers con-
tinued, ito return to Frankfort as soon
as possible, and did so that afternoon.
went to the executive building with my
key. the only one | ever had to the Office
unlocked the door found that the lock
had been battered, and had difficulty in
getting the key out of it. / did not take
the lock off and supplant 1t with new
one. as has been stated by the prosecu-
tion'
The day after the assassination, witness
said, he began an investigation to learn
from where the shot was fired. He de-
MED making statement to Golden that
he was satisfied the shots came from his
office. Powers said his attorney advised
him to make his way to the mountains
and remain there until public excitement
died out before giving himself up for
trial.
Denied the Conversations.
The witness denied that he ever had
any one of a half dozen or more con-
versations with Wharton Golden about
which the latter told on the stand last
week, and denied that he had ever talked
with him or any other person about the
killing of Goebei or any other member
of the Legislature.
In regard to the testimony. of Robert
Noakes. witness said he never had a
conversation with Noakes in regard TO
the emokeless powder cartridges and new
er saw Noakes at Frankfort on Jan 25,
when Noakes alleged that the witness
made so many damaging statements 10
him.
In regard to guns in his office which
Gov Taylor's private secretary, Mckenzie
Todd referred to in his testimony, the
witness said he did not know how they
came there, but understood that one or
two we're left there at the end of Gov.
Bradley's administration. The others
we're put in later. he supposed, by some
of the mountaineers.
Was in Favor of War.
Powers said he wrote the letter to Prof i,
Stevens of Barbourville Feb 10, saying in
substance:
THE present demoralized condition OF
the Democratic party is due to me more
than 10 any other man in the state They
know | am In favor of an open declara-
ton of war"
Former Gov. Brown, who was conduct
ing the direct examination, asked Pow
ers what he meant by this expression.
The prosecution objected to any explana-
tion OF the letter on the ground that
there was no ambiguity about the words
used. and that il should go 10 the jury,
to be construed by IL. The court sustain
ed this contention, holding that as long
as the defendant and other witnesses had
given the same testimony I'm regard to
the contents Of the letter, that the jury
should judge as to the meaning of 1t. The
defense made an exception
The witness told of letter which he re-
ceived from Robert Noakes In March. In
the letter he says Noakes offered his SER
vices a witness, saying that he would
disprove the charges made against viii
ness by Wharton Golden. whose confess
sion was being given great attention by
the newspapers at that time.
Some of ftheGoOdCitizens.
The direct examination was concluded
az 2:5O, at the close OF which the lawyers
for the defense held a short consultation.
When this was finished the cross-exam-
ination was commenced, Col Campbell
conducting u. Col. Campbell said to the
witness:
"You have s. s'ated that the men you
brought to Frankfort January 25 were So
ber. good citizens and not mountain feud-
alists. Did you know Joseph Atkins, who
Is reputed to have killed a half dozen
men?"
The witness said he had no recollection
OF seeing Atkins in Frankfort until af-
ter the assassination. A dozen others OF
alleged bad regulations were mentioned
as being on the train but Powers only
recollected a few of them. This line of
Interrogation was still under way when
court adjourned until tomorrow.