Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-23
.EHLER SAYS HE
CAN SAVE POWERS
CLAIMS HE KNOWS SLAYER OF
G0EBEL
Man Who Is Now In Bakersfield, Suf-
fering From Severe Wound,
Talks of Famous MUIR
der Case
BY Associated Press.

! By Associated Press.
BAKERSFIELD, Dec. 22.--Charles Il
Ehler on cot in the county hospital
suffering from wound presumably
self-inflicted. admitted to the superin
| tendent, Frans Buckreus that he has
| information as to the killing of Gov
| Goebel of Kentucky, which, if it were
adduced on the witness stand, would
/ clear Caleb Powers, former secretary
! of state and now under sentence ot
| death for completely in the muG der OF
the late governor.
A few days since Powers wrote from
the Bluegrass state to Ehler in Ba-
kersfield, saying in substance
Il see by a press dispatch that YOU
may be an important witness in tht
Goebel murder case For six years
have lain in prison and three times
have been sentenced to death for a
crime of which | am as innocent as the
angels around the throne. If you have
any Information that will throw light
on the death of Goebel, then for God (,
sake declare yourself and aid in prov
ing my innocence"
Eher on receiving this letter, permit
ted Superintendent Buckreus to read
It ana the latter. recognizing its inn
portance, questioned Ehler closely,
whereupon the latter admitted that he
could give testimony that would save
the life of Powers and he intimated
that If the former secretary's execution
were imminent he would give such tes-
timony.
When Mr.. Buckreus had read the
pleading letter of the condemned Off
cal lie said:
do you know anything that would
clear this man of the charge of mur-
der?" And Ehler, who is weakened
with pain, after a moments study,
bowed his head.
Then" said the superintendent, "in
Gods name why don't you declare
yourself?'
Because it would implicate others
Ehler replied.
but you would not see an innocent
man executed" said the official indig-
nantly.
Ehler reflected for moment ano
said:
We'll Caleb Powers is not executed
yet" And thereupon he closed his
eyes. He refused to say more.
Powers has been notified of the adj
missions of the man now in the hospi-
tai and whether any steps will be taken
by the Kentucky authorities is not
known.
1t was shortly after midnight in the
morning of the 9TH of December last
front of the Southern hotel. He passed
out of the corridor of the hotel and a
few minutes later shot was fired the
bullet striking Ehler in the breast
No assailant was in sight when help
came nor was any weapon to be seen
on the sidewalk and none was found
on Enlers person The shooting re-
manned a mystery, though ii is suspect
ed now that IIhler shot himself. Ger
tain it is that he was shot with his
own pistol, though the whereabouts of
the weapon is not known. He claimed
that his assailant seized the weapon
and turned it upon him.
Former Senator Z. ]. Emmons was
present on the ground almost imme-
diately after the shooting and cared
for the wounded man during the night.
He professed to have known Ehler
for twenty years, but it is learned that
his acquaintanceship was of but short
duration. Emmons is now in the Sac
ramento Jail. where he surrendered
serve five years in the state prison for
bribery.
Ehler is "A tall and fine appearing
man of powerful build. Before the
shooting he was employed by Redlick's
department store as advertisement
writer and was very clever in his work.
He was well liked and bore a good
reputation. A rumor of his connection
with the Goebel case gained circula-
ton over week ago, but until the
present disclosures no factes were as
certained to substantiate the rumor