The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-21
GoEBEL MURDER TRIAL.
Two Witnesses Were Examined Yesterday for
Prosecution.
(By the Associated Press. }

(By the Associated Press)
Georgetown, KY, July 2O.-Annie Weist,
of Louisville, Auditor of State Sweenys
stenographer, was the first witness called
in the trial today 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.
Witness said Henry Youtsey came into
her office the day of the Van Meter Berry
contest and told her she would better
leave the State House as trouble was
likely to occur. Youtsey had rifle in
his hand at the time. Shortly after the
shooting, Assistant Secretary of State
Matthews stationed two men with guns
at the door Of the building with orders
to allow no one to either enter or leave
the building.
Robert Noaks, q railroad conductor,
was called Noaks said John and Caleb
Powers and Charles Finley conferred with
him in November after the election, rela-
tive 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 and as
many men as he could and that when they
reached frankfort they should act in such
a manner as to give the Governor
chance to call out the militia. The object
was explained to the witness as an effort
to intimidate the election commissioners.
Noaks told of being asked by Caleb Pow
ers to get a company of militia composed
of men who would fight. He also asked
Noaks to get smokeless powder cartridges.
He secured a company and it was mus
tered in. Then Powers directed him to
capture two trains and bring his company
to Frankfort. Charles Finley objected
and warned Noaks not to do that and
proposed to hire the trains. Noaks next
statement created sensation.
He was asked: Ibid Powers ever say
anything to you about Goebel?"
Eyes. he was on my train one day and
said: The contests wont amount to any
thin, and when Goebel is dead and in hell
there is not another man in the State
who can hold his party together. Finley
sent up the train from Louisville, which
carried the men on January 25th t
Richmond, Culton got on the train and
told us when we arrived at Frankfort
we should say We were going to petition
the Legislature. l told the boys to carry
their guns as naturally as if hunting and
not in a military position. After we got
to the State House John Powers told me
to stand closer to the executive building
as l might get hurt He said: Some of
our men are up stairs and when Goebel
and those other fellows come in they
are going to do the waive for them
II told him this must not be done. He
told me to keep COOL l went back into
the Secretary CT States office. Caleb
Powers said: Bob, understand you have
two men in your company who would
kill man if you wanted to do it.
told him / did not believe l had such a
man and he mentioned Caldwell and
Jones. l told him l did not believe they
were men of that kind. That afternoon
when the men were being sent home,
Caleb Powers again told me to keep ten
or twelve of our best men and to keep
Caldwell and Jones, My military COM
pany was taken with me. They wore
citizens clothes with their uniforms un-
der them. We were told by Powers to
do this so we would be ready for military
service. w. H. Culton told me l must
keep six of my men under arms all the
time. went to Assistant Adjutant Gen.
eral Dixon and told him wanted to turn
over my company as l had become salts
fed they were going to seat Goebel as
Governor and l did rot want to serve
under him.
Dixon told me not to be discouraged
as Goebel would not be Governor. / was
tired and asked Powers how long this
was going on He said not much longer.
as Goebel would be killed and that would
settle it. That morning / checked two
large pistols and a rifle for Berry How
ard. l saw Governor Taylor that morn
ing. l went into his office and took nv
pistols off and put them into a bookcase.
| passed some words with him at that
time"
Noaks will be cross examined tomor-
row.