Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-03-15
CAPTURED
LEXINGTON POLICE NAB SEC.
POWERS AND CAPT. DAVIS.
DARING ATTEMPT TO FLY
Men Wanted Are Put Aboard Train by
Squad OF Soldiers but Are Overcome
by Police-Capitol Had Been
Watched But Men Were Probably
Elsewhere in Hiding.
copyrighted by Associated Press

ny aSSCcl2IeQ RtSSS.
Frankfort, March 11-Secretary of
State Powers and Captain Davis were
slipped aboard the Chesapeake & Ohio
train at S clock and speeded toward
Lexington last night. A squad OF
soldiers coming from the governors
mansion at double quick caught the
train just before it pulled out. With
them were Powers and Davis, dressed
in soldiers uniforms. Before the guard
of the depot became aware OF what
was going on the train left. 1t was a
daring attempt to bring about the es-
cape Of these men for whom warrants
were out charging them with COM
plicity in the Goebel murder but when
the train pulled into the Lexington de-
pot the entire police force of the city
and Sheriff Henry Bosworth with a
large force of deputies boarded it.
When this force entered the car, Lieut..
Peake of the party sprang to his feet
and commanded the soldiers to clear
the car. In an instant twenty revolt
leveled at Peake, who gamely tried to
pull his own but as he did so po-
Iiceman smashed him across the hand
with club. Davis, Powers and
Peake were seized and hurried to Jail.
The latter was released on bond on
the charge of resisting arrest. Powers
said he was simply getting away from
Frankfort to avoid lying in Jail as
Whitaker had done; that he had
nothing to fear from arrest as he was
not guilty of the charge and that he
was going to Barboursvilie in the 18th
congressional district, where Taylor'S
jurisdiction is fully recognized The
Jail was carefully and strongly guard
ed during the night.
The escape of Secretary Powers and
Captain Davis was so neatly laid and
executed that it took the police and the
big force of deputy sheriffs off their
feet when they realized what had oc-
Cured. Since 1890 in the morning a
detail of policemen and deputy sheriffs
had stood at each entrance to the state
capitol grounds, being refused admis-
sion to the capitol by soldiers to seek
for the men wanted. 1t was reported
that even Gov. Taylor, Powers, Davis
and the entire republican outfit at the
state house would attempt to decamp
to London, the alleged proposed seat
! of the republican state government;
all precautions were taken to intercept
| the two men wanted, in event OF the
exodus. The plan, it is generally UNI
derstood, was that Davis and Powers
should get off at Lexington and take
| the train to Somerset and from there
! to Barbourville where they would be
under the protection of a military com
lpany, commanded by John T. Powers,
there to London the sailing would be
easy. While the police were guarding
the state house it is probable Powers
! and Davis were quartered elsewhere
during the entire day. When the
Chesapeake & Ohio train east bound
started off a soldier dashed from the
corner opposite the station and throw
| ing himself upon the platform of the
second car jerked the bell cord The
train came to a stop. Then quick as 4
flash thirty soldiers with Powers and
Davis in the midst, in regulation full
dress uniform rushed upon the cars
The signal was Immediately given to
pull out. It was several minutes be-
fore the truth of the escape was defin-
1tely known when kilograms were sent
to Lexington and all stations along the
road, notifying the officers of their es-
cape and ordering them to be on the
lookout.