The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-08-09
'THE GOEBEL CONSPIRACY
Ex-State Secretary Powers Testi-
fes in His Own Defense.
ORGANIZED THE MOUNTAINEERs.
While Admitting That He Was Re-.
sponsible For the Invasion of
Frankfort by Armed Men, He De-
nies Other Charges Against Him.


Georgetown, KY, July 31.-Ex-Sec-
retary of State Caleb Powers took the
stand in his own behalf yesterday, but
did not complete his testimony on di-
rect examination. Powers admitted
that he organized the body Of noun
taineers who went to Frankfort on
several occasions last winter, but de-
clared this was done for influence with
the state contest board and the legis-
dation. The defendant entered de-
nial of the charges made against him
by Culton, Golden, Noakes and other
witnesses. He denied that Henry
Youtsey had the keys to his office on
the day Of the assassination, but said
there were two other keys to the office.
one Of which was in the possession OF
former Assistant Secretary OF State
w. J. Davidson, and another in pos
session of Ben Rowe, Governor Tay-
lor's colored porter. Powers said
neither of these keys were ever in his
possession, and that he had his own
key in his pocket in Louisville the day
Of the assassination. Davidson is sup
posed to be in the state of Washing
ton and Rowe, the colored porter, is
said to be at Anderson, Ind.
The defendant read to the jury re-
ceipts from various parties, which he
said were for money paid by him for
board for some OF the mountain men
brought by him to the state capital.
He then told of the Barbourville con-
ference at which Finley, Powers and
others discussed the arrangements
with John A. Black, who strongly op-
posed the movement The witness
said he assured Black that he and
Finley would use their best endeav-
ors to keep the crowd from degener-
ating into a mob, but denied that he
told Black he was going to organize
a mob. He said he had no recollec-
ton Of having said in the presence Of
w. l.. Culton that the legislature
would be given 80 minutes to act. and
II 1t did not do 1t in that time they
would kill the Democratic legislators.
Afterwards he said positively that no
such remark was made, and added:
THE men came, and nothing Of the
sort was done. We could have clean
ed them up as Culton put it. II we
had desired"
In regard to sending the men home
from Frankfort the evening Of Jan.
rs, about which witness Noakes tes-
titled last week and told of a breach
between the witness and Governor
Taylor, Powers said:
IL heard that they were going to
send the men home and l opposed 1t.
as the men had been up all the night
before. l went to see Governor Tay-
lor. He told me 1t had been decided
to send them home, as their presence
was having a bad effect Some of the
anti-Goebel Democrats In the legisla-
ture had strongly disapproved of
bringing the men armed, and had
threatened to desert Governor Taylor
in the contest unless he sent the men
home"
Witness said he did not have a con-
versation with John Powers and Col
den in reference to Goebel being killed
by "Tallow Dick" Combs. He did meet
Youtsey In the hall of the legislative
building and YOutsey asked him to let
him into the Office. Witness did not
know why Youtsey wanted to get in
there, but witness did not want him
in there.