Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-25
HOWARD'S BROAD DENIAL
Says He Had Nothing to Do With
Goebel Murder.
DELICACIES FOR PRISONER
Defense Surprised by the First Con-
tradiction of Powers Statement
by Davidson's Testimony.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

| LEXINGTON Ky, December 2o.-Ca-
leb Powers, the most noted state prisoner
| in America, is celebrating Christmas to-
| day by working hard to procure more evil
dence that he is innocent of the charge
! of completely in the Goebel assassination,
| which for eight years has been pending
against him. He said today that he did
not mind undergoing a trial this Christ
mas, as long before another such day
| comes he expects to be free from the
| charge. Many Gelicacies and bouquets of
! flowers were sent to Powers cell in the
| Georgetown Jail today, and the room re-
sembied a place which the fairy wand Of
Santa Claus had touched.
| Several minor witnesses were intro
| duced during the morning hours, and
others will be introduced during the aft
ernoon. James Howard, jointly accused
| with Powers, whose testimony was eX-
pected to occupy at least two days, was
| only Kept on the stand three hours yes
| terday afternoon This was surprise to
| the defense, as it had expected the prose-
| cutlon to closely question Howard as to
| his alleged connection with the assassina-
| ton and all events leading thereto.
instead or this, however. the prosecu
llon only asked few questions and dis
| missed Howard. Howard denied specifi-
caliy any connection with the Goebel muir
der, swore that he had never seen either
Henry YoutSey, Powers or Gov. Taylor
until he went to Frankfort a few days be-
fore Goebel was shot; that he went there
then to secure a pardon for the murder
| OF George Baker and not to kill Goebel,
and that he never saw Youtsey until they
were both confined in the Frankfort Jail.
w. j. Davidson, former superintendent
OF pubic instruction, created a surprise by
contradicting Powers when he went on
the stand. Davidson was charged, with
Powers. Taylor and Charles Finley, with
the Goebel murder, and just after Pow
ers was arrested he disappeared, and was
never seen in Kentucky again until Mon
day, when he suddenly appeared. David
son denied any connection with any plots
or the murder. He contradicted Powers
in saying that he took part in securing
an army from western Kentucky. where,
as Powers said, Davidson knew of
the western Kentucky. army This Is the
first time that one Of the defense wit
neSses has contradicted Powers in even
I the smallest detail.
The session of court today will be of
the usual length, not even one hour being
taken off because of the holiday.
Howard on the Stand.
! James Howard chief witness for the de-
tense, took the stand yesterday afternoon.
| Howard said that at the time Goebel was
shot he was in the public room of the
Board of Trade Hotel at Frankfort. A
man named Robinson stepped out in front
of the hotel and brought back the infor-
nation that Goebel was shot. Howard
and others in the room jumped I'D and
ran to the door. Mortified at the news.
After the shooting Howard went with the
others to the Capitol Hotel, but he did not
see Goebel then and. in fact, never saw
him before to know him.
Howard denied emphatically that he
ever received a letter from Taylor or
Youtsey asking him to come to Frank
fort. He did not know Taylor and had
never seen him. The witness further
said he did not know Youtsey and never
saw him until both had been tried and
convicted and were in Jail at Frankfort.
He then was introduced to Youtsey in
the presence of Mrs. Howard. his wife;
Mrs. Built and others. Howard said he
did net know he was charged with the
assassination until he saw in the news
papers that he had been indicted.
Howard's Sweeping Denial.
About the same time bench warrant
had been sent to Clay county for his ar
rest. AS soon as notified that he had
been indicted he surrendered to Sheriff
White and accompanied him to Frank
fort to give himself UP and answer the
charge against him. Since then he had
not had a days freedom. Howard most
emphatically denied that he was on State
house Square at any time during the
morning of January 80, when Goebel was
shot.
He said that he was not inside the eX
ecutive building that morning; that he
never saw Gov. Taylor or Youtsey. and
declared that he had absolutely nothing
to do with the assassination. The wit
ness admitted that late in the afternoon
of the day Goebel was shot he. with
others. visited Capitol Square, going as
far as the steps of the executive build
ing.
Howard stated that he and Youtsey
We're in jail together at Frankfort. Be
fore Howard made confession YoutSey
said:
Howard, so far as I know. you are in
nocent of any connection with the Goebel
assassination. but Arthur Goebel is cruel
and willing to see the Kentucky river run
with innocent blood"
Howard added: ''Youtsey gave me an
affidavit that he knew nothing against
me-" Howard was not cross-examined,
the only question asked him being
whether he had not been tried and con-
victed three times and his case appealed
to the supreme court.
sharp's Startling Remarks.
| Capt. Stephen G. Sharp. United States
district marshal and former state treas
urer. was another important witness
| Capt. Sharp said that directly after
the shooting of Goebel he went to Gov
w. S. Taylor and offered his services
| to defend him. Gov Taylor directed
him to take charge of the defense of
| the building, which he did. not allow
| ing anybody to enter. He said he
| thought the protection of the highest
| officer in the state more important than
| anything else.
| Capt. Sharp startled the court and
| spectators by stating that three days
before Goebel was shot he (Sharp)
| was given reliable information by
| prominent democrats that the demo-
| Gratis had ordered 1000 guns ana am
| munition for the same, and that men
would be on hand to man The guns
and that Taylor and other republican
| state officials would be forcibly elected
| from office.
This, he said. was why armed republic
| ans were about the executive building
| and why state troops had been notified
to be in readiness to move, as he had
| communicated these facts to both the
! governor and Adjt. Gen. Collier.