Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-17
POWERS ON THE STAND.
Tells Straight Narrative in
GoebeI Murder Case.
FOURTH TRIAL FOR LIFE
Explains His Trip to Louisville on
the Fatal Day.
COURT ROOM INCIDENTS
Defendant Slowly But Surely Fast
ening Crime on Henry Youtsey.
Strong Denial of Stories.
ROOM INCIDENTS
COURT


LEXINGTON Ky. December Him
der the skillful questioning of Judge Sims,
Caleb Powers is breaking one by one the
chains of guilt built around him by the
testimony of Noakes. Golden and Youtsey,
and is slowly but surely fastening the
guilt of Senator Goebers murder on
Henry ioutsey. The first direct connec-
ton that Powers had with the killing was
when he swore mat few days before
Goebel was killed he left his office door
unlocked. when he returned Youtsey was
sitting at the window with rife across
his knees, and the window blind was
partly drawn.
. What are you doing here?" Powers
said he demanded
foutsey answered, '.Oh, nothing much"
Powers said he had Youtsey leave his Of
nee at once. Powers today strongly de-
MED stories told by several witnesses that
he had talked to Henry Broughton. Rev.
L. w: Hampton and others about fighting
for his rights until he died. One of Pow
ers chief witnesses was 'Tal.ow Dick
Comos, negro barber. who was killed at
Georgetown in August by a train. Pow
ers told The Star correspondent that
combs would have sworn that while he
tComos) was under arrest for the Goebel
murder he was for a time in Jail with
Ioutsey and held frequent conversations
with him, and that on one occasion Combs
said. Youtsey, you fired the shot that
Killed Goebel." and that Youtsey dropped
his eyes and did not answer
Telling His Best Story.
Powers is making the best witness in
telling his story that he ever has in all
MS trials 1t Is necessary for very few
questions to be asked by Judge Sims. as
Powers gives straight connected narra-
tive that is profoundly impressive He
has explained all the damaging state
ments made against him by Noakes
Golden and Youtsev where he has not pro,
nounced them wholly false. Youtsey swore
Powers frequently consulted with him
about the murder of Goebel
Powers swears he only talked to Yout-
sey twice. once when Youtsey swore him
in as secretary of state. when he found
Youtsey sitting in his Office with a gun
on his lap. and again when Youtsey ask
ed him for key to his office. from which
request. Powers says. he then considered
Youtsey a crazy fanatic. He denied all
statements made concerning his alleged
instructions that men killers be brought
from mountain counties to Frankfort. He
explained that he requested the captains
of various companies of militia to bring
their men without uniform because in
that case they could come as citizens and
not as soldiers.
He swears that he did not give a key
of his office to Youtsy on the day of the
killing and that when he returned from
Louisville the night after the murder he
found the lock of his office door smashed
and the transom broken open.
Powers explains his trip to Louisville on
the fatal day by saying that he went
there to meet certain influential men,
among them Leslie Coombs. now United
States minister to Peru, concerning the
organization of a np3cpfIl in oSt-
ern Kentucky to come to Frankfort to
join the men from eastern Kentucky.
Powers has not made single damaging
admission He will be on the stand all of
today and part of Wednesday,.
Courtroom Crowded.
Maj. c. Owens of Louisville, one of the
best-versed attorneys in Kentucky, is ex-
aiming Powers. He is leading him over
the days of his boyhood in tie Knox
county mountain. through his school days
in Lexington, Danville and at West Point
and on down to the day that Goebel was
killed. The courtroom is crowded and
men and women press forward to listen to
the earnest denials of the terrible charge
as they come from the lips of this tall
spare young man. who appears SO weak
and Ill under his prison pallor.
On the defense side sit all Powers at
torneys and several of his friends, bent
On the other hand. with eyes fixed I'M
waveringly on Powers, sits with the
prosecuting attorney, Arthur Goebe,
brother of the murdered senator. His
face is pale and his eyes glare with hate.
For eight years he has prosecuted Caleb
Powers for a crime with which Powers
claims he had nothing to do.
Commemorative Attorney Franklin,
who has been i'll for several days, is on
hand and taking copious notes. He will
conduct the Characterization Of Powers,
who will have to undergo the most grill
ing of all his examinations, as both sides
recognize that this trial marks the crisis
in this noted case.
Yesterday marked the beginning Of the
sixth week of the trial and Powers was
the first witness in his own behalf the
commonwealth having closed it's case
Thursday. He will be followed by How
ard. who will also enter a general denial
of the murder charge and exonerate Pow
ers of any connection with the killing. so
far as he knows.
The affidavits of Mrs. Youtsey that her
husband told her he confessed, implicat-
ing Powers. because of his abuse by peni-
Tertiary officials will be introduced early.
John Rogerson and a convict named Stew
enson will be brought from the peniten-
tiary to swear that Youtsey admitted to
them that he killed Goebel. The defense
has between four and five hundred wit
nesseS summoned, but most of these are
character witnesses and are not likely to
be used About one hundred will testify.
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