The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-01
REFUTNG TIE CHARGES
Powers Denies All knowledge of
a Conspiracy.
Direct Testimony Concluded, Al
though Court Adiourns Before
Time Hns Been Given for Cross
Exnmination-The Prisoner Says
Violence Was Mentioned But Once.

GEORGETOWN. Ky, July 31.-The di-
rect examination of Caleb Powers in his
own behalf continued today until a few
minutes before adjournment when the
cross examination began, but did not get
under good headway. His testimony vas
principally devoted to denying the mater
ial parts of the conversations attributed
to him by Culton, Noakes. and Wharton
Golden, though he admitted that he did have
certain conversations with these men. No
sensational points were brought out. His
testimony was in substance as follows:
Golden came to my office just few
minutes before train time on the morn
ing of January 80, and told me to rush
up or We would miss the train. l locked
the Office as Golden has testified. leaving
no one in there. On the train to Louis
vile my brother, Golden and myself. dis
cussed our plans for bringing the men from
western Kentucky.
when we had proceeded as far as La
Grange. Golden intimated that Senator
Goebel had been assassinated in State
House square. l said in answer that 1t
was q shame and an outrage and had de-
stroyed all of our chances in the contest.
and that we had just as well quit and go
home | said it in earnest and not sarcas-
ticaliy.
'Messrs. Long, Butler, Lay, and my
self had a conference and decided to aban-
don the idea of bringing men from west
ern Kentucky. We returned on the first
train 10 Frankfort.
THE conference held in my office on
January IS was attended by about twen-
ty-five men. 1 called the meeting to or
der and W. H. Culton was selected as
chairman, and stated that The object Of
tie meeting was to gather up the witness
es from the various counties then IN
Frankfort and provide that they wear
badges so they could be recognized il any
attempt was made TO eject us bodily from
our Offices.
"Others made speeches. and Sheriff Bur
ten. of Breckenridge County, pulled
cartridge from his pocket and said: A Few
of these exploded in the proper place about
the Capitol will do more toward win
ming this contest than anything else l
walked over to Burton and demonstrated
with him in a whisper. but he continued
in the same strain. When he concluded 1
said rather than have anything OF that
kind said OF done l would quit the fight,
resign, and go home"
by Golden as occurring at the time the
m measurements were being made by En-
gineer Woodson from Powers office win
dow, witness said:
'fNo such conversation with Golden ever
occurred. and l did not tell him l thought
they could prove the shot was fired from
my Office On March S, The day before my
arrest. was on the streets Of Frankfort.
Judge Yost advised me to leave Frankfort
and go TO the mountains to await the
abatement OF the excitement. l did start
to the mountains At Lexington | was ar
rested. l was kicked and abused and in
fab was struck on the head while resist
ing search"
When questioned az to conversations
with Representative Lewis Hampton, Pow
ers said:
II remember having said to Mr. Hampton
that IL Goebel should be seated and the
minor Republican officers kept their places
/ would not be surprised to be hit In the
head by somebody. and IL that somebody
was caught l was satisfied that Goebel
would pardon him. l remember having
another conversation in which something
was said about Taylors wanting me to
that Taylor wanted me to violate any law.
l don't remember that l could have been
talking to Hampton about"
Finally he concluded his direct testi-
mony by saying:
AZ never conspired. met with, or con
ferred with anyone on the subject Of doing
violence to Senator Goebel or any other
member Of The Legislature. l never heard
the subject mentioned but once, and that
by Burton in my office as heretofore
stated"