The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1903-08-29
Cal - Powers Convicted This
Morning at Georgetown.
Tried BY His Political Enemies lie
Is A ain Found Guilty Of
Murder.
ARGUMEEg CLOSED LAST NIGHT

Georgetown, KY, August 29--Cnleb
Powers, former secretary of state, was
today found guilty by the jury OF
completely In the assassination OF Sen
ator Goe bel and his punishment was
fixed at death The verdict created
considers bic surprise. as il was gener.
ally believed that n hung jury would
result.
This is the third time he has been
convicted, having been given life sen.
fences before. Owing to the manner
of getting the jury, the politics of the
jurors. and the perjury OF some OF the
commemorative witnesses, which in
many cases was fully but futilel- ex.
posed, many did not expect anything
but conviction A new trial will be
asked at once and IL not granted an
appeal will be taken as IN the other
cases.
The argument closed last night.
Powers declared to the jury that the
star witness Of the commonwealth,
Wharton Golden, was swearing to
keep out Of the penitentisry, and that
Henry Youtsey was swearing to get
out of that institution. He denied
that he ever had any connection with
Youtscy, and pointed out that the
testimony shows that he did not know
Youtsey thirty days before the shoot.
ing.
At one point in his argument Pow
ers declared that he was willing 20
rest the question of his guilt or limo
oence on the good or bad faith OF his
trip TO Louisville on the morning OF
the day Of the killing, when, as the
defense testimon- shows, he was en-
route 20 Western Kentucky TO get up .
crowd Of petitioners TO go to Frank.
fort TO call on the general assembly
He declared that he weuld never fol.
low the course Of Youtsey by feigning
fit in the court room TO avoid just
punishment liked by the law, but
would fight 10 the last in the courts
TO prove his innocence.
The defendant explained his having
signed the written agreement produced
by the state witness, Youtsey, relative
to the affidavit signed by Yoursey In
the Louisville jail. declaring Powers
innocent, by saying that he signed il
to- get an affidavit OF innocence, fear
ing that Youtsey might some day turn
mp as a commonwealth witness and he,
would then be able to confront him
with the affidavit.
The closing hour was devoted to an
explanation Of the pardon by Taylor
to him, and to his having gathered
together and taken the mountain
army on January 90, 1900, TO Frank
fort. He declared that it was
peaoeablo body, and went there only
on a peaceful mission. Powers closed
with word picture of his aged moth
er sitting in her mountain home
waiting the verdict in this case, and
,de n strong plea for acquittal.
Commonwealth Attorney Franklin |
then began the closing argument in |
theca Sc on behalf of the state. He
declared that Powers had made the
best speech on his side Of the case, but
that il was full of Misrepresentation
OF the facts aud the testimony, and
that Powers had repeatedly gone out
side the record in his argument. He
said that the reason he did not attempt
to correct Powers on the errors was
because he wanted the defendant to
say everything to the jury that ne
pleased, so that he might have no
cause to complain of the treatment of
him by the common wealth In this
matter.
If did raise an objection and this
man should be hanged, as believe he
will be by this jury, should despise
myself for that obiec tion." exclaimed
the states attorney.
Mr.. Franklin closed at $3.50 o 'clook,
and Judge Robbins gave the case to
the jury with directions to retire and
it for sn hour.
The jury at l0:35 O'Clock reported