Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1900-08-02

spOnsibIe For the invasion of
Frankfort by Armed Men, lie De-
mics other Charges Against !.im.
! Georgetown, KY, July 31.--EX-SeC'
retary of State Caleb Powers took the
stand in his own behalf yesterday, but
did not complete his testimony on di-
rect examination. Powers admitted
that he organized the body Of noun
taineers who went to Frankfort on
several occasions last winter, but de-
clared this was done for influence with
the state contest board and the legis-
lature-not for the purpose of intimi-
dation. The defendant entered de-
NAL of the charges made against him
by Culton, Golden, NoakeS and other
witnesses. He denied that Henry
YoutSey had the keys to his office on
the day of the assassination, but said
there were two other keys to the Office,
one of which was in the possession of
| former Assistant Secretary of State
w. j. Davidson, and another in pos
session of Ben Rowe, Governor Tay-
lor's colored porter. Powers said
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. Davidson is sup
posed to be in the state of Washing
ton and Rowe, the colored porter, is
said to be at Anderson, Ind.
The defendant read to the jury re-
ceipts from various parties, which he
said were for money paid by him for
board for some of the mountain men
brought by him to the state capital
He then told of the Barbourville con-
ference at which Finley, Powers and
others discussed the arrangements
with John A. Black, who strongly op-
posed the movement. The witness
said he assured Black that he and
Finley would use their best endeav-
ors to keep the crowd from degener-
ating into a mob, but denied that he
told Black he was going to organize
a mob He said he had no recollec-
tion of having said in the presence of
w. l.. Culton that the legislature
would be given 80 minutes 70 act, and
if it did not do it in that time they
would kill the Democratic legislators.
Afterwards he said positively that no
such remark was m.de, and added:
THE men came, and nothing of the
sort was done. We could nave clean
ed them up as Culton put it, if we
had desired"
In regard to sending the men home
from Frankfort the evening of jan
25, about which witness Noakes tes-
titled last week and told of a breach
between the witness and Governor
Taylor, Powers said:
Il heard that they were going to
send the men home and | opposed it,
as the men had been up all the night
before. | went to see Governor Tay-
lor. He told me ii had been decided
to send them home, as their presence
was having a bad effect. Some of the
anti-Goebel Democrats in the legisla-
ture had strongly disapproved of
bringing the men armed, and had
threatened to desert Governor Taylor
in the contest unless he sent the men
home"
The witness told of a conference at
the home of Postmaster r. Clay Ell
kin, at Lexington, in which the wit
ness and others participated. This
was the day after Representative Ber-
ry was unseated. Those in the confer
ence decided that the vote had not
been properly taken and that Berry
should refuse to give up his seat. Gov
ernor Taylor was told of the plan, but
disapproved Of it, and Berry made no
attempt to hold the seat On the fol-
lowing day the witness said he intend
ed to go to Louisville to make arrange
ments for transportation of some of
the mountain men, but did not get off
that day. He did not give Youtsey a
key or keys, nor did he have a con-
versation with John Powers and Col
den in reference to Goebel being killed
by "Tallow Dick" Combs He did meet
YOutsey in the hall of the legislative
building and Youtsey asked him to let
him into the office Witness did not
know why Youtsey wanted to get in
there, but witness did not want him
in there.
The witness explained that the slip
OF paper found in his pocket when he
was arrested and which read: Powers
is our friend. (Signed) w. S. Taylor"
was given to him on the morning of
the assassination to be taken to Pen
sion Agent Leslie Combs, at Louis
vile, who had charge of the funds
with which the expenses of the contest
were being paid.