Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-09-02
FACES
THE SCAFFOLD
Man Accused of Being Responsible for
GoebeI's Assassination Gets Ex.
treme Penalty.
is HIS THIRD TRIAL FOR LIFE
Sentenced to Life Imprisonment on
Previous TriaIs-Plea in His
Own Defense

Georgetown, KY, Aug. 29-The
jury in the case of eX-Secretary of
State Caleb Powers, charged with
completely in conspiracy to murder
Governor william Goebel in January.
1900, today found the defendant guilty
and imposed the death sentence. Pow.
crS was sentenced to Imprisonment
Tor life in his former trials for com
pliciIy in the conspiracy. 1t was on
his motion that he secured the new
trials each time. The verdict today
caused great excitement among the
friends Of other defendants in these
cases.
Court Room is Crowded.
The third trial OF the defendant
CLOSED shortly before noon. Several
hundred people crowded the court
room when the verdict was head and
int"ns" silence prevailed. The Jury
was pOlled and each man declared the
verdict Of guilty 10 be his finding.
Powers sat unmoved while his attor-
neys asked for time To make a mo.
tion for a new trial. The jurors de-
cline to- state what occurred in the
jury room.
Arthur GOebel, the brother of the
victim, broke down from the strain
on hearing Of the verdict of guilty.
He Is a prominent merchant at Gin.
cinnati and he spent his time and
fortune for three years In the prose.
cution of those accused OF being in a
conspiracy TO kill his brother.
Powers has been convicted twice
before. this being the third trial to
which the jury brought In verdict
Of guilty against him. On his previous
trials he escaped with IA sentence of
life Imprisonment. All of the trials
were held at Georgetown and In each
of them he had the assistance OF the
most able lawyers who could be pro-
cured. Subscription lists were circu-
lated in his interest by friends and
sum of money was secured to de-
fray the cost Of his repeated trials
and the investigating OF the circum.
stances which preceded the killing of
Governor Goebel in the interest of
the defense.
In His Own Benalf.
The last trial was distinguished by
The fact that Powers addressed the
jury in his own behalf and in long
review of the case showed himself to
be 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 already has been three
years In prison under the sentence OF
the previous court.
Powers is Silent.
Powers had nothing to say regard
ing the verdict except to express his
surprise that such result could be
reached from the evidence and TO an
nounce that he would take an appeal
and continue the case to the last re-
sort When Powers secured his for
mer new trial a majority Of those on
the appellate court were Republicans.
but II Is now composed OF Democratic
| judges. As Commonwealth Attorney
! Franklin shook hands with each juror
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 sec
reIary of state on the Republican
ticket. headed by w. S. Taylor in
/ 1888. but served only a few months
as all the state officers were contest
ed by the Democratic party, headed
by William Goebel. The former trials
Of Powers were before Judge James
Cantrill. Of this city. but he was barr
ed from sitting this time and Cover.
nor Bcckham appointed Judge Rob.
| bins.