Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1900-07-22
NOAKES ON THU STAND
Gives Testimony in the Powers
Trial for Murder.
SOME ADDED DETAIL.
Ills Testimony Substantiates SoH- A..
seriions Made by Culton-Tef,,
Of the Plan 10 Capture
Train by Caleb Powers.

Interesting testimony yet given in the
trial Of Caleb Powers. was given by
Robert Nuakes, Louisville and Nash.
vile railroad conductor. of Curbin. Whit.
tley county. The manner oi tho wit.
ness and the ease aud accuracy with
which he detailed events was such A. o.
make "A deep impression ON the audience
which was much larger than at any
time since the first and second
days Of the trial Daring the testimony
against him, the first that has been ~
far brought directly connecting Powers
with the assassination. the defendant
did not change color. AZ mo- time since
the trial began, whether the evidence
was favorable or otherwise. has Powers
changed expression more than to smile
occasionally when things were going his
way. or 10 flush barely percepubly ON
other occasions. Yesterday. as usual. he
sat with his counsel aud prompted thom
~ 70 the questioning on cross examin.
alton
Noake- said John and Caleb Powers
aud Charles Finley conferred with him
in November after the election relative
10 bringing armed men 90 Frankfort no
the time of the meeting Of the state
election commission bard They told
him they wanted him 10 bring as many
men n he could aud that when they
reached Frankfort they shonld act IN
such a manner rs 90 give the governor
an excuse 90 call out the militia The
object Us explained 10 witness was AN
effort 10 intimidate the election com.
missoners.
Nonkcs told of being asked by Caleb
Powers 10 get a company Of militia COM
posed u men who would fight. lie also
asked Nonkcs to get smokcless powder
cartridges Noakcs continued:
II formed a company and Governor
Bradley sent man who mustered the
company in"
On Jan. II witness received n message
from Caleb Powers, who asked him to
take his company 10 Frankfort. Pow
ers said had been arranged 10 capture
train No. 80 Of the Cumberland division
and train No. 90 of the Knoxville branch
20 take the men 10 Frankfort.
IL was intended 10 send 800 ia all.
On the nights Of Jan. q aud % Charles
Finley awakened Noakes. Finley was
not satisfied with the arrangement for
going TO Frankfort and Of capturing the
trains. lie warned Noakes not Ia take
part In il. and said he would 20 ~ Bar.
louisville aud try to get Powers u aban.
don the plan
Witness said Finley went 20 Louis.
Vile saying rather than capture trains
he would pay for them himself That
day telegram from Louisville asked II
Hnloy's check was good for 5000.
Caleb Powers then said. Finley was
getting too d--d shnky."
did Powers ever say anything 10 you
about Goebely"
Yes. he was On my train one day aud
said. The contests won't amount a. a
d. aud when Gocbcl Is dead and In
HI there Is not another man in the
state who can hold his party togc Their.
Finley sent us the train from Louis
Vile which carried the men Jan %. At
Richmond Culton got ON the train and
told Us when we arrived nt Frankfort
we should sly we were going 70 petition
the Legislature. told the boys 10 carry
arms naturally M IL hunting aud not in
military position. After we got 70 the
statehousc John Powers told MS 10 stand
closer 20 the executive building, might
get hurt. He said: Some of our men
are up stairs and when Goobel aud those
other fellows come In they are going to
do the work for them
II told him this must not be- done. lie
told me 10 keep cool went back into
the secretary Of states office. Caleb
Powers said Bob, / understand You
have two men IN your company who
would kill a man II you wanted them to
do it,
II told him did not believe had any
such men and be- mentioned Caldwell
and Jones. told him did not believe
they were men of that kind That after.
noon when the men were being sent
home. Caleb Powers again told me 10
| keep DO Of our best mun aud % keep
Chadwell and Jones My military COM
pauy wUs taken with me. They wore
citilrns clothes with their uniforms un-
der them. We were told by Powers 70
do this So we would be- ready for militia
~ service. W. II Culton told mo
must keep six Of my men under arms
all the time
IL went 10 Assistant Adjutant Con
eral Dixon aud told him | wanted "a
turn over my company, ~ had become
satisfied they were going 10 seat GccJel
a. governor and did not want TO serve
under him. Dixon told me not 10 b.
discouraged a. Goebcl would not be- gov.
ernor. was tired and asked Powers
how long this was going 70 last He
said not much longer, ~ Goobol would
b. killed and that would settle il. That
morning | checked two large pistols and
n rifle for Berry Howard. Yes, | saw
Goyorner Taylor that morning went
into his office and took my pistols OF
and put them In u bookcase. passed
some words with him at that time.