Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-11-18
Monday, November 10, 1907.
the Present Trial of Caleb Powers.

ft4tdTely III IUt history OI our country
rs any man undergone more per-
fftent or more vindictive persecution
Gan has fallen 10 the lot of Caleb
ijbWers Of kentucky who is now under
Ding his fourth trial on the charge of
t}mpiicity in the murder Of Governor
ERilliain GcebeI in 1900. AT the three
kirrner trials which have been given Mr.
Afbwers the proceedings We're 30 farcial
hid so utterly hacking in all tine ele-
EIcnt of justice that the State Court Of
sbpeals has promptly set them aside.
I1 these trials a. partisan judge, a for
HOcbel, sat upon the bench, full of
ss.nOlu for The man whose life was at
iake. This prejudice extended to the
l7liry. Under such circumstances il was
Impossible for Powers Ia obtain any
Hing approaching n fair or impartial
Ijiai.
Iii II is 10 the credit Of many leading.
Democrats OF his state. including thu.
t1hie judges of the Court of Appeals
Ehat they set themselves strongly and
det-rinIhat"ly against permitting any
Bhan Ia be- sent to an ignUlniniOuS death
Efn1er conditions that would have been
III deep and lasting stain upon the
plOnor and good name Of Kentucky
afhe belief has been grow ing, not oniy
M Kentucky but al over the country
hIhat Powers is an absolutely .nnoc. mt
Etian Who has been mad the victim
EPf a marrow and vindictive political
L fontrol of much of the machinery OF
|. Justice in his state. For seven long
Years he has been confined in jails, as
p f0ciat"l with the most desperate Grim
|. mails both black and white. living on
Etn"agtr prison fare and Frequently
rpbliScG 10y ms vindictive jaiierS t.
haV" a rs gro criminal for his cell mate
Pa fact there has been apparently no
/ form OF irnominy that human hatred
Ernuld suggest that has not been prac-
ffisrd upon him.
81 And yet through all this long and foul
|perSecntlon Powers has maintained a
Eh"pcfui spirit and cheerful bearing He
4 has been at al times Il gent leman, and
shaG shown IL conspicuous advantage
i'm conn arison with the mean and petty
tyrant: VIII" HAY" subjected him to 50
many brutal ana uncallcL-for indig-
mites In doing this he has been sls-
tanned by Christian faith which has
8rIirra't'rizrl him all his life. Every
morning h" knccls bv his jail co, in
on" lass ever heard him utter an unkind
ar rrv 'ngrful word against his malig-
nant Prosecutors. He has three differ
ent times undergone death watches.
and heard lii,' w"rktncn engaged il. err
Getting scafl"lds. but during oil these
narrowing periods he has never lost his
1aitii III TIL hnal establishment of his
Innocence To amy unbiased man.
locking into the open. frank countcnarc..
ri this man whose whole life save this
one unpr"ven and we believe. unwar-
rantcd accusation has been without
bhnish and without rcrroarh. the con-
victi"n that Powers is an innocent man
is inevitable.
Since tn" rerSst election il has been
suggested I" Powers that the governor
elect might pardon him but ne prompt
~ rejected the suggestion. saving Il
don't want a pardon; want fair
trial" 1t is I" be hoped that the pres
enf trial will BE- characterized by q
spirit "f fairness that has been con-
splc,i"nsly lacking i'm the previous ones.
Much r'w ana Important evidence is to
u" offered by the defense. evidence
which IL is bell, we'd will fully cxonrrate
POWERS "i tn" gray" crime With which
ne Is charged. The prisoner is ut the
present tine but Sc years of
az" AMI his spccc;i in his own de-
Tense ut his last trial is declared
by competent judges to have
hocn Ole Of the stronges; argumenta-
tive presentations OF facts ever made
in any court room. So strong an i'm
preston did it make that many leading
citizens of the state We're convinced OF
his entire innocence. and have since in
terestea themselves to see that he
secured fair trial. We believe that
with the evidence now in his possession
he will be fully vindicated at the pres
eEt trial. but even this cannot repay
him for the long years Of Imprisonment:
he has suffered and the indigni,ies that
have he"n heaped upon hin, by the vim
dictive political ring that has so lonc
thirS!o1 for his blood.