The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-24
PLAN TO KILL GOEBEL
xoUTsEY TOLD RICKETTS, HOW 1T
WAS TO BE DONE.
GATHERING OF ARMED MEN.
nEFENsE TOOK EXCEPTION To RE
MARKS BY THE COURT.


had Ruled Against the Defense.
awe Must Win" Wrote Powers TO
Adiutant General Collier Plans
Wore Also on Foot to Kill Demo-
crntic Members of the Legislature.
GEORGETOWN KY, July 23.-Several new
and essential features were developed to-
aay in the trial of Caleb Powers, charged
,ri,b completely in the assassination of
GOV William Goebel. In addition to the
testimony, which was uniformly interest
ing the session was enlivened by a sharp
massage between the court and ex-Gov.
Young Brown, senior counsel for the de-
tense.
Spectators were scarce when the trial
was resumed. The prosecution gave no.
tice that they would excuse a half-dozen
persons summoned as witnesses for that
side. Among those excused was Chief
Ike Golden, brother of Sergt. Golden.
Lieut. John Ricketts,, an officer in the
Barboursville militia company of which
John Powers was captain, was the first
witness. He went 10 Frankfort jan. %
with trsinload of mountaineers. Before
the train reached Frankfort witness said
the men were told to report to ". H. Cul-
ton for rations. The men were armed
with guns and pistols. Arriving at Frank
fort they took possession of the asricultu-
raj building and stacked their guns there.
Youtsey Told Him All About 1t.
Witness said each morning a crowd of
from 300 TO 600 mounted men occupied the
yard in front of the executive building.
He saw Youtsey frequently and talked
with him the day before the assassina-
ton. Youtsey said Goebel had to be put
out of the way. and he (Youtsey) had SlG0
which he would give for THAI purpose, and
knew ten or twelve others who would
also contribute 10 such a fund. Youtsey
also said Goebel could be killed from the
executive building; that the assassin could
escape through the basement and never
be detected. He said his job depended on
Goebel bing killed. Fifteen minutes be-
fore the assassination. the witness saw
Youtsey and the latter told him he wanted
twenty-five or thirty men to accompany
him to the executive building
Continuing, the witness said:
"Youtsey put us inside the executive
building Near the stairs. He told US some
thing was going to happen and we must
remain there. When he started through
the hall 1 left and went into a private
residence across the street from the execu-
tive building. 1t was but a few minutes
when | heard the shots. l did not know
any of the men whom l had left at the
foot of the stairs in the executive build
ing"
The men whom Youtsey placed were
just outside the office of the secretary of
state Witness said he left because he did
not want 10 be present in case of "a kill
ing
Cross-examined, the witness said that
when Youtsey placed the men in the hall,
he told them that as soon as something
happened" a man would come down the
steps and go away with them.
Witness said that when Youtsey left
the men he went in the direction of the
Governors office.
Excepted to Courts Remarks.
R E. Coombes, private secretary to
Appellate Justice Hobson, next witness,
told of a conversation between two noun
taineers in the house lobby a day or
two before the assassination in which
they spoke of picking them out" mean
ing the Democrats.
During the cross-examination of
Coombes ex-Gov. Brown objected to the
testimony that mountaineers went to
Frankfort armed, as the right to carry
arms was a constitutional privilege. The
court took issue on this point and said
that the law does not permit crowds of
armed men not in the military service
and not called out in the regular way, 20
gather for any purpose.
Brown filed an exception to remarks
of court and repeated a previous state
ment as to what the defense expected 10
prove as to the purpose of the organiza-
tons of the mountaineer excursion.
Yes interrupted Judge Cantrill land
the court objects and excerpts to the con-
tnued reiteration by counsel of things
which the court thinks are meant for spec
tators in the courtroom and not for the
court"
We object to that statement OF the
court" came from several attorneys for
the defense. Both the court and counsel
showed irritation.
I'VE Must VIM" Said Powers.
Assistant Adjutant General Murray
read a letter which he found on file in
his office at Frankfort, having been left
there at the time of the evacuation of
Tayor's troops.
II was from Powers to Adjt. Gen. Col
Her dated Jan. %, in which Powers says:
we have undertaken a serious matter.
and guns"
Another signed by John and Caleb Pow
ers TO Gen. Collier on the same date said:
You are acquainted with the fact that
Capt. Hows is a Democrat. He has the
Keys to the armory and refused to give
them to us. The lieutenants are all
right. Please notify Capt Hows to de-
liver the keys to Lieut.. Gibson"
Geographic code and key, found in
read
Wade II. Watts, colored, one Of the jan
TORS in the adjutant's office said that on
saturday before che shooting, the day of
the Won Meter-Berry contest, Represent
alive Lilly came into the Office and one
OF the men told him that a signal shot
was to be fired in the House; that che
republican members should not rise from
their seats; that the Democrats would rise
up IN the excitement and the men in the
Hobbies would shoot them down.
tX-Gov. Brown of the defense asked
mat this part Of the testimony be expung-
Cd on the ground that the identity of the
party said to have made the statement
was not established.
The court ruled that the evidence was
competent.
Immediately after the shooting witness
said Henry Youtsey ran into the basement
ana out coming from the steps leading up
10 the Secretary of States office.
Steamer sOnga Afoat.