Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-29
POWERS MUST HANG
Jury at Georgetown, Ky,
Finds Him Guilty.
SENTENCED TO DEATH
END OF ONE OF MOST FAMOUS
TRIALS IN HISTORY.
Defendant Was Charged With Compile
ity in Murder Of Gov. Goebel
Of Kentucky.
SENTENCED TO DEATH

| Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
| GEORGETOWN, KY, August 29.-Caleb
! Powers trial for completely in the assassi-
| nation- of Governor William Goebel closed
| today
| At IL 80 a. m. the jury came In with a
verdict of guilty Of murder In the first de-
| gree. -
The former secretary of state was at once
| sentenced to be hanged by the neck until
| dead.
Powers Crime.
| The crime for which Powers was convict
| ed and sentenced to death was the murder
| of State Senator William Goebel. who had
| been the democratic candidate for governor
| of Kentucky at its preceding election.
While on his way to the state house at
| Lexington. KY. January 30. 1900. Goebel
| was shot by some one located in the rooms
| of the secretary of state. Intense excite
ment existed at the time in Kentucky and
| has continued to a great extent to the pres
ent time.
Taylor, who was the republican incumbent
of the gubernatorial office, at once adjourn
| ed the legislature then in session, declared
| that a state of insurrection existed, and
| placed military guards about the capitol.
Taylor Summoned Legislature.
He also called the legislature to meet at
! London in a remote part of the state.
| The day following the shooting of Sen
| ator Goebel the democratic members of the
| legislature, being unable to enter the capt.
| toll to hold a session, because shut out by
| the state military authorities, issued a
statement, in which they set forth these
facts and declared that William Goebel
had been elected governor and J. c. Beck
ham lieutenant governor.
Goebel, Dying Sworn In.
Although Goebel was in a dying condi-
ton, he was sworn in as governor that
| same evening by the chief justice, who was
| also a democrat. At the same time Beck
| ham took the oath as lieutenant governor.
| After desperate struggle of several days
| with death. Goebel died on the Sd Of Feb
ruary and Beckham was sworn in as gov
ernor one hour afterward.
There was a long and bitter controversy
between the existing state administration
and the democrats who were trying to place
Beckham in position.
Beckham Remained Governor.
This finally resulted in the success of the
| democrats and Beckham obtained undis-
turbed possession of his executive office and
was reelected governor at the ensuing
fall election.
The Kentucky legislature offered a re-
ward of 100000 for the apprehension and
prosecution of the murderer of Goebel, and
warrants were issued for several men sus-
pected of completely in the affair.
Taylor Issued Pardons.
On March 10 Gov Taylor, republican,
who still retained possession of the state
| house, issued pardons to all of the men
| involved. The pardon issued by him to
John l.. Powers was respected at the two
| points where he was arrested, but the
| power of the ex-governor to grant pardons
was not generally recognized, the legis-
| lature had previously decided against his
| claim to the office of governor.
Examinations of the suspected men were
| held at Frankfort and the grand jury re-
| turned indictments against ten Of them.
The principals named were Henry E.
| Youtsey, since turned states evidence.
who was clerk in the Office of the state
| auditor; James and Berry Howard, Holland
| Whitaker, who was alleged to have been
in the room in the executive building from
| which the shot was fired, and Tallow Dick
| Coombs, colored.
Indicted as Accessories
| The following were indicted as accesso-
ries before the fact: Secretary of State Ca
| leb Powers; his brother, John l.. Powers
Charles Finley, formerly secretary of state
| w. II. SultOu, d IN III the Stdlt
office, and F. Wharton Golden a member
| of the state guard
An indictment against Taylor as &C
| cessory was also found by the grand jury
at the same time, but not announced unit
| some tune afterward
Taylor Fugitive.
Taylor left the state and proceeded to In
diana, accompanied by the former secre
tary of state, Finley. He has ever since
| remained in Indiana and has been engaged
in the practice 81 law at Indianapolis
| Governor Beckham made requsition OF
the governor of Indiana for the return o.
Taylor, but he declined to honor it, on The
ground that Taylor could not have a fail
trial in Kentucky.
During his sef-imposed exile in indiana
| Taylor was elected chairman of the Ken
| lucky national delegation the nationa
| convention in Philadelphia in 1909, and IL
| that convention acted as chairman of tn,
| committee on credentials.
Trials of Various Persons
From that time up to he present trial.
of various persons said to lave been ell.
gagged in the conspiracy to Kill Gocbel ant
the actual execution of that ,nur,ierous en-
terprise have been progressing in Ken
| lucky.
In his first trial Caleb Powers admitted
| that he organized Kentucky mount aineer
to come - Lexington. but s1id that the.
| had been brought to Frankfort to petition
! the Legislature and not TO irlin,iti;>te an!
| one.
Powers Was found guilty on mis- urst tria
and sentenced to hard labor for life
! YoUtsey trial was delayed Tor some tim,
| owing 10 til. Illness and arpa:rptly de
mented condition of the defendant. EIe wal
finally found guilty and sen:succI to jni
/ prisonment for life.
( Powers afterward obtained a new tria
| and change of venue. ami at th; tria
Youtsey, who is now in the penitentiary
has appeared the most for.ui liable ant
| dangerous witness against Powers
| In his latest trial Powers surprised tn,
| court by long and earnest speech in his
| own defense. He now receives Il death sen
| tence. although upon his first trial the pen
| atty Va: HE Imprisonment.