The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-31
ADMITTED HE ORGANIZED BODY or
MoUNTAINEERs.
DID NOT GIVE Y0UTSEY KEYS.
DENIED CHARGES MADE BY CUL-
TON, GOLDEN AND NOAKEs.

ruled.
Georgetown, Ky, July Sex Secretary
of State Caleb Powers took the stand I'm
his own behalf to-day, but did not COM
plete his testimony on direct examina-
ton. He probably will be on the stand
all day tomorrow.
Powers admitted that he organized the
body of mountaineers who went to Frank
fort on several occasions last winter, but
declared this was done for influence with
the state contest board ard the Legis.a-
ture-not for the purpose of intimidation.
The defendant entered denial of the
charges made against him by Culton, Col
den Noakes and other witnesses. He de-
MED that Henry Youtsey had the keys to
his Office on the day OF the assassination,
but said there were two keys to the
office, one OF which was in the possession
OF former Assistant Secretary of State
w. J. DAWSON and another in possession
Of Ben Rowe, Gov. Taylor's co.ored porter.
Powers says 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
Motion for Acq6ittsI.
The defense opened its side of the case
to-day with a motion for peremptory in
structions for verdict OF acquittaI. The
motion was submitted without argument
and was promptly overruled by the court.
Attorney Faulkner stated the case for
the defense. He said the defense will
show that the contests oever the state Of
fees were not tried on judicial lines, but
on a partisan basis and that politics was
responsible for the present prosecutions.
He intimated that the prosecution knows
the identity of the assassin, but has con-
cealed him.
ID will be admitted. he said. that Caleb
Powers and Charles Finley organized and
brought 10 Frankfort the crowd of noun
tain men who arrived there Jan. 25, but
that this was only to petition the Legis-
lature and not 90 lntimidate that branch.
He declared that the men who composed
the mountain army were not bad charac-
ters. as charged by the other side, and
he also charged that the Democrats had
large bodies OF men in Frankfort 10 back
up the contestants.
He said Powers had in pocket at the
time OF the killing the keys 10 his Office,
which the prosecution alleges had been
given to Youtsey; that Powers never svea
conferred with Youtsey, Berry Howard,
Jim Howard. Green Golden or Dick
Combs. and that Jim Howard was not
In the Capitol grounds until after tho
killing.
1t would be proved. he claimed, that
Weaver. one of the main witnesses for
the prosecution. was never in Frankfort
until yesterday; that Finley Anderson
and Robert Noaks testified for money,
and W. II. Culton in the hope of obtain
ing In munity from prosecution, and that
Wharton Golden's evidence will be sue
cessfully contradicted.
Powers the stand.
The defendant, Caleb Powers, took the
witness stand. He declared he never
knew Jim Howard. Harland Whitaker or
Richard Combs. three of the defendants.
prior 10 the assassination. He had only
known Youtsey since Jan. /.
In regard TO the bringing OF the noun
taineers to Frankfort. witness aid:
There were three crowds of men
brought 10 Frankfort and l 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
election board or the Legislature in
structed the men to do no acts of vio-
lence. and so far as / know, none was
committed by them"
Powers continued:
THE last crowd OF men was brought
for double purpose We expected to uss
,hem as witnesses before the contest
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 we're based on newspaper reports
and we intended to resist violence."
Rumor Objected TO.
Mr.. Bradley, of counsel for prosecution.
objected to this statement and asked that
1t be excluded on the ground that news
paper reports cou'd not be given in evil
dence. The court ruled that It was ircom-
petent for the witness TO detail newspa-
per reports or tell OF the apprehension
which he based on common rumor
Witness said he had received informa-
ticn that Mr.. Hill, the contestant for
Secretary OF State, would not wait until
the contests were settled In court but
would try to take fore be possession soon
as the contest board acted.
"If that sort of thing had been at
tempted" he said, I'VE intended to hold
The offices. had conference 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 to prevent drop
rirg US through a bridge or daraiing our
train. tod those in the conference that
ths utmost secrecy must be observed In
getting them here before the news got
out"
Paid hoard of Mountain Men.
Al the afternoon session the defendanf