New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-07-21
PLOT TO KILL GOEBEL.
SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE BY NOAKs, A
RAILROAD CONDUCTOR.
POWERS TOLD HIM GoEBEL WOULD BE KILLED
PLAN TO STEAL TRAINS TO CONVEY
MOUNTAIN MEN

Georgetown. KY. July 20-Annie West Of Louis
vile, stenographer Of the Auditor Of State. was
the first witness called in the trial to-day Of Caleb
Powers. charged with completely in the Goebel
shooting. She heard only three shots and the
sound came from the direction of the office of the
Secretary Of State. She continued
Immediately after the shooting several persons
came INTO the AUDITORS room but did not know
Tho was shot and it was about five minutes before
Henry Youtsey came into the office the day OF the
Van Meter-Berry contest, and told me had better
occur Yoasey had rife in his hand Hk a tho 5o
time SHORTLY after the shooting Assistant Score
guns at the door Of the building. with orders to
allow no one either to leave or enter the building.
Miss snuffer. of Williamsburg testified that Pow
ers told her on January IA that before he would be
robbed by the Democrats he would kill the last one
of them, at the time exhibiting a pistol She
also read from letter from Powers saying the
mountaineers produced a good effect
Robert Noaks. railroad conductor. was then
called. Noaks said John and Caleb Powers and
Charles Finley conferred with him In November
after the election relative to bringing armed men
to Frankfort at the time OF the meeting of the
State Election Commission Board They told him
they wanted him to bring many men as he could
and that when they reached Frankfort they should
act in such a to give the Governor a
chance to call out the militia The object was ex-
planned to the witness effort to intlmidate the
Election Commissioners. The witness said in his
was asked by Caleb Powers to get comnan,,
OF militia composed of men who would fight. | was
also asked to get smokeless powder cartridges 7
secured company. and II mustered in by a
man sent by Ex-Governor Bradley. Powers directed
me to capture two trains and bring the companV
TO Frankfort. Charles Finley objected and warned
me not to do that and proposed to hire the trains
had another talk with the prisoners brother
John Powers, who said This is life and death
struggle with US. but we intend to hold our own
even If we have 10 Kill some one"
On January II, received message from Caleb
Powers, who asked to take the company to
Frankfort. Powers said IL had been arranged 10
capture train No. so. OF the Cumberland division
and train No o. OF the Knoxville branch, to taIta
the men to Frankfort. 1t was intended TO send
fifteen hundred in all. On the nights OF January
q and g. Charles Finley awakened Findley
was not satisfied with the arrangement for going
10 Frankfort and opposed capturing the trains
He warned me to take part in IT, and said he
would go 10 Barbourville and try to get Powers
to abandon such plans
Finley went to Louisville. saying rather than
capture trains he would pay for them himself
That day telegram from Louisville asked II
Ftnleys check was good for 81 900. Caleb Powers
then said Finley getting too shaky.'
IBID Powers ever say anything to you about
Goebel?" asked
Yes, he was my train one day and said: Tho