The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-21
Said to Have Planned and Taken
steps Which the Ex-Secretary of
state Did Not Approve.
HELD FOR TRIAL FOR MURDER
JESSIE MORRISON MUST ANSWER
FOR KILLING MRS. CASTLE.
Progress Of the Gaynor Hearing at
New York-Jester Trial Contin-
ues to Excite Interest.

GEORGETOWN, Ky, July 20.-The most
sensational testimony yet given in the trial
of ex-Secretary of State Caleb Powers was
given by Robert Noaks. an j.. & n. Rail-
road conductor, of Corbin, Whitley county.
The manner of the witness and the ease
and accuracy with which he detailed events
was such as to make deep impression on
the spectators, who were more numerous
to-day than at any time since the first and
second days of the trial. During the tes-
timony against him. the first which has so
far been brought out directly connecting
Powers with the assassination, the defend
ant did not change color. At no time
since the trial, whether the evidence was
favorable otherwise. has Powers
changed expression, more than to smile
occasionally when things We're going his
way. or to flush. barely perceptibly, on
other occasions. To-day, as usual. he sat
with his counsel and prompted them as to
the questioning on cross-examination.
Miss Anna Weist. of Louisville. who was
stenographer to Auditor Sweenie. and was
in the executive building when the Goebel
assassination occurred, was the first wit
ness called to-day. She heard only three
shots, and the sound came from the direc-
ton of the Office of the secretary of state
She was in the auditors Office at the time
She said: Immediately after the shooting
several persons came into the room, but /
did not know any of them. | never heard
anybody ask who was shot, and ii was
about five minutes before heard what had
occurred
Asked as to the conversations she had
heard prior to the shooting witness said
Henry Youtsey came into her Office the
day of the Van Meter-Berry contest. and
told her she had better leave the State
house as trouble was likely to occur
Youtsey had rife in his hand at the time
Miss Weist said that few minutes 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.
Miss Snuffer, of Williamsburg, testified
that Powers told her in January that be-
fore he would be robbed he would kill the
last of them, at the same time exhibit
ing pistol. She also read from letter
from Powers. saying the mountaineers pro-
duced good effect. In another letter Pow
ers said he did not want to see Charles
Finley. There was no need of under
standing for them to tell the truth Fin
ley was as innocent as he CPowers) was
This was written four days before Powers's
arrest.
Robert Noaks was called as witness
Noaks said John and Caleb Powers and
Charles Finley conferred with him i'm No
vember 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 as many men as he
could. and that when they reached Frank
fort they should act in such a manner as
to give the Governor an excuse to call out
the militia. The object was explained to
ton commissioners.
Witness had another talk with John
Powers, who said: This is a life and death
struggle with us, but we intend to hold
our own, even If we have TO kill some
one. 1 formed company and Governor
Bradley sent a man who mustered the
company in
On Jan. II witness received message
from Caleb Powers who asked him to take
his company TO Frankfort. Powers said ii
had been arranged TO capture train No
50. of the Cumberland division. and train
No. Do of the Knoxville branch, 10 take
the men TO Frankfort. 1t was intended to
send 1.5O0 in all. ION the nights of JAM
% and % Charles Finley wakened me up
said Noaks. Finley was not satisfied with
the arrangement for going TO Frankfort
and opposed capturing trains He warned
me 70 take no part IL i'm and said he would
go TO Barboursville and try to get Powers
TO abandon such plans"
Witness said Finley went to Louisville
saying rather than capture trains he
would Fay for them himself That day a
telegram from Louisville asked IL Finley's
check was good for $1,000. Caleb Powers
then said: Finley was getting too id
shaky''
did Powers ever say anything to you
about Goebel?"
''Yes, he was on my train one day and
said. The contests won't amount TO a
d--n and when Goebel is dead and in
hell there is not another man in the State
who can hold his party together
Finley sent us the train from Louis
Vile which carried the men Jan. % AT
Richmond Culton got on the train and told
us when arrival at Frankfort we
should say We were going TO petition the
Legislature. told the boys TO carry their
guns as naturally as II hunting and not
in military position. After we got there
John Powers told me 10 stand closer to
the executive building. as might get hurt.
He said; Some of our men are upstairs
and when Goebei and those other fellows
come IN they are going to do the act for
them
Il told him this must not be done He