Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-08-24
POWERS CONVICTED.
Jury Holds Him Guilty OF Conspirina
to XIII Goebe1-Life Imprison-
ment His Sentence.

Georgetown, Ky, Aug. 20.-"We, the |
jury, find the defendant guilty and
fix his punishment at conhnement in
the penitentiary for the rest of his
natural life" This was the wording
of the verdict in the case of ex-Secre,
tary of State Caleb Powers, charged
with being an accessory before the
fact to the murder of William Goebel.
| The jury retired at 1882 p. m. Satur-
| day and returned it's verdict at 1925
| o'clock, having been out only SO min
utes. Juror Craig statec afterward
that the verdict could have been re-
| turned even sooner, but considerable
time was taken up in reading the i'm
| structions. The vote in favor of n life
sentence was unanimous. When the
| jury retired the belief was general
that the jury would fail to agree, and
in this opinion the defendant himself
was firmly convinced.
When the verdict of guilty was re-
turned Powers for the first time dur
ing the weary six weeks of the trial
betrayed his feelings. Under all of
the trying incidents of the long ordeal
he had maintained a changeless eX-
preston, the same whether things
were going favorable or against him.
The verdict of guilty, however, appar-
ntly staggered him. Powers, always
pale, grew CHASTITY as the verdict was
read, and his face betokened great
mental anguish. This was only for a
few seconds. however, and then. some
what regaining his composure, he
turned to the Misses Dangerfield, who
had been in conversation with him,
and said: 81 was not expecting that.
The verdict is unjust"
There was no sort of demonstration
following the verdict, and the vast
crowd filed out of the courthouse al
most in silence. Powers remained in
the courtroom for some time after the
verdict was rendered. in conference
with his attorneys, who will at once
move for a new trial, and, failing in
that, will take an appeal.
One of the jurors said the jurymer
were Influenced in making up their
verdict by many things in the evi
dence. but some of the chief points
were Powers own admission on the
stand that he organized the crowd o.
, | l.GDO "hiNi N'hA'>
to Frankfort on January 15, his cor
roboration of parts of the testimony
, of Noakes. Golden and Culton, thu
. proof that he gave Youtsey the key
, and that the shot was fired from hi
, | Office.
E Georgetown. KY, Aug. 20. - Calel
Powers issued a statement Sunda.
evening. as follows:
''To the Public: I am asked myopiniol
e concerning my trial and the verdict of tn
p jury. Could l have but one opinion? Ca
| any fair minded man or woman OF thi
state have but one? That one of the great
2 | est judicial farces known to history ha
i been enacted here in my trial, under tn
forms of law, no we'll informed man ca
d doubt. Innocence is no shield with $1,000
a and the methods of Campbellism agains
= you. The rectitude of ones past life count
I for naught. They say Taylor is guilty be
. cause he was at his office, and that al
u guilty because / was away from mint
e This has been political trial Throughout
Il for political purposes, and no greater mis-
+, take has been made by the democrati
IL party since they robbed us of the office
J. to which we were fairly elected by the pee
pie. There are good men and noble wome
in the democratic party, and many of then
They are not all bad. far from 1t. A grea
e many of them do not indorse the theft {
= the state offices. A great many more wi
not indorse this mockery of a trial, tn
e prostitution of the courts of justice fC
v certain ends. From the beginning of ii
"a campaign until now have stood with whi
!. little merit have had for the rights an
IL liberties of the people, That is my Grim
'e That is the only offense have committe
e. That is the only thing proven against m
l swore to that myself in my testimon
I have never had, and l now have no apo
ii ogy to make for being true to the trust In
1t posed upon me by a ajority of the vote
III of this state. History will draw its dai
lines around those who have outraged n
u and disgraced the judiciary and blacken'
tie the history of the state. l am, yours vel
m respectfully. CALEB POWERS
" pIo DrA AMT pTIpNDD