The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-30
Third Time the Former Secretary OF
State of Kentucky Has Been
Convicted.
W. S. TAYLOR MUCH SURPRISED
VERDICT OF THE JURY DENOUNCED
By THE EX-GOVERNOR.
Called Monstrous and the Most Dia.
boIicaI Political Crime of
the Age.

GEORGETOWN, Ky, Aug. 29-The third
trial of ex-secretary Of State. Caleb Powers,
for completely in the murder of Governor
William Goebel in January, 1900, closed
shortly before noon to-day with the ex-
treme penalty of hanging for the dis
tinguished prisoner, who has been In the
penitentiary for three years on a life SEN
tence. The verdict OF the jury, guilty and
the punishment OF DEATH" was reported
into court at 1l:20 o'clock to-day.
Several hundred people crowded the court
room when the verdict read and the
most intense silence prevailed. The jury
polled and each man declared the
verdict of guilty to be his finding
Powers sat unmoved while his attorneys
asked for time to make motion for new
trial. Arthur Goebel broke down from the
strain on hearing the verdict OF guilty.
The jurors declined to state what oc-
CURED in the juryroom. George Wyatt
was foreman. Arthur Goebel, the brother
Of the victim, is a prominent merchant at
Cincinnati and has spent his time and for
tune for over three years i'm the prosecu-
tion OF those accused of being i'm a con-
spiracy to kill his brother.
HIS THIRD TRIAL.
Powers has been convicted twice before.
this being the third trial i'm which the Jury
brought in verdict OF guilty against him.
On his previous trials he escaped with a
sentence of life Imprisonment, as the evil
dence not sufficiently strong against
him to lead the jury to infiict the extreme
penalty. All three of the trials were held
at Georgetown and in each OF them ne had
the assistance of the most able lawyers
who could be procured. Subscription lists
were circulated in. his interest by friends
and a sum of money was procured TO de-
fray the cost of his repeated trials and the
investigation of the circumstances which
preceded the killing OF Governor GoebeI
In the interest of the defense. The last
trial was distinguished by the fact that
Powers addressed the jury i'm his own be-
half, and in long review OF the case
showed himsen TO be a very competent
attorney, while his eloquence in pleading
for his life astounded those who had
watched him carefully in the past trials OF
the case.
Powers has nothing to say to-day regard
ing the verdict, except 10 express his sur
prise that such result could be reached
from the evidence presented and TO an
nounce that he would take an aDpeal and
continue the case to the last resort When
Powers secured his former new trials a
majority OF those on the Appellate Court
were Republicans, but IL is now composed
of Democratic judges. Common wealth At
torney Franklin shook hands with the fur
ors after they were dismissed Powers
watched the greetings closely but at no
time did he show any sign of breaking
down.
Powers is regarded as a strong man
He was elected secretary OF State on the
Republican ticket headed by w. s. Tavlor
for Governor in 1899, but served only a few
months, all the State offices were con-
tested by the candidates on the Demo-
cratic ticket, headed by William Coebel
The former trials OF Powers were before
Judge Jas. E. Cantrill, of this city, but
he was barred from sitting this time and
Governor Beckham appointed Judge Rob
bins.
SENTENCE PASSED.
Special Judge Robbins this afternoon
formally overruled a motion for the grant,
ing of new trial to Caleb Powers. con-
victed for the third time OF completely in
the Goebei conspiracy and sentenced TO be
hanged. lie then passed the sentence of
death upon him
After declaration OF the prisoner. II
am not guilty. Judge" the court fixed Nov.
%, next. the day for the execution The
attorneys for the defendant secured the
granting of appeal for the case TO the
Kentucky Court OF Appeals and IL unsuc-
cessful. they may try to get the United
States Supreme Court TO take IL under con-
sideration.
Powers was the coolest man i'm the court
sentence pronounced against him. He was
immediately removed ~ the Scott county
Jail, to be held there pending the appeal OF
his case TO the higher courts. Powers re-
fused to say anything after the rendition OF
sentence. except that he had said all thao
he cared To- say I'm his speech To the Jury.
\ telegram from indianapolis states that
Ex-Governor w. :. Taylor said: This ycr-
dict affects me very much. 1 cannot say
word"
The prosecution claimed the shot which
killed Goebel just after he entered the
Statehouse grounds at Frankfort was fired
from the window OF Powers's office. Powers
himself was ON a train en- route TO Louis
Vile at the time and claimed he was going
to help arrange for excursion of west
ern Kentucky citizens TO the State capital
to protest against the Legislature settling
the contest then pending by seating Goebcl
as Governor. Powers never denied that ne
aided in organizing the mountain armies
which came TO Frankfort at the time the
election returns were first canvassed and
again just before the assassination lie
claimed, however that the men. though
armed. merely exercising the right of
petitioning the Legislature, guaranteed 10
them I'm the bill of rights.