Evening journal., 1918-04-10
WON I RUN
FOR CONGRESSMAN
Central Figure in Famous
Kentucky Murder Suffers
Physical AiilictiOn
JUDGE ROBSON
TO MAKE The RUN

BARBOURNILLE, Ky, April i0-Caleb
Powers, for three terms Congressman
from the Eleventh Kentucky District
the largest Republican district In the
United States has withdrawn from the
race for denomination, leaving a clear
fleld for his opponent. Judge J. B. Rob
sion Congressman Powers, In an open
letter from a Baltimore hospital. gives
IN health as the reason for his with
drawal. Judge Robson, who also makes
his home here, has based his campaign
on patriotic grounds. He opened his
campaign Immediately after Powers re-
turned to the district during the sum
mer vacation and rode ON mule-back
through his bailiwlck, delivering
speeches Of an anti-War flavor, defend
ing the McLemore resolution and oppos-
ing the draft
After the draft went into effect and
when hundreds Of mountaineers volun-
teered, however, the anii-war speeches
did not set well with the Kentucky folk
and there was a quickenlng Of senti-
ment In favor OF Judge Robson, 70 ls
claimed, by the latteT's supporters.
Up TO this time Powers had held un-
disputed sway In this district since his
release, after eight years In jail. fol-
lowing the Goebel assassination.
Caleb Powers, thrice convicted for
completely In the murder Of Governor
William Goebel on the streets Of Frank
ford, Ky, on January 90, 1900, and who
spent eight years In various prisons
during his trials. being finally pardoned
by Governor Wilson, a Republican ex-
ecutive was elected to the House Of
Representatives 10 1903
Powers regarded his election % Con-
gress as a vindication. His friends
have held him up as a martyr, and the
mountaineers, upon whom he depended
chiefly for support rallied TO his aid
at all times.
The record OF the Powers case con-
stltutes a page Of American history as
unique as It Is amazing. Caleb Powers,
a young mountaineer, lawyer, and Ken
! tucky's Secretary Of State under Gov
ernor w. s. Taylor.
GOebel and Taylor were rival candl-
dates. Taylor was given the certificate
Of election; Goebel made a contest The
Legislature Of Kentucky had just de-
clded In Goebers favor. On the morn
! ing Of January 30, 1900, William Goebel,
accompanied by Colonel Jack Chinn, the
well-known gun-nghter, entered the
Capitol grounds at Frankfort to take
| the oath Of office. Just as Governor
Goebel reached the steps leading into
the building two shots rang out, and
Goebel fell, mortally wounded. The
shots were fred from the Office Of the
Secretary Of State.
Caleb Powers was arrested at Lexing-
ton on his way to his home In the
mountains. He had 10 his pocket al
the time Of his arrest pardon slgneC
lby Governor w S. Taylor. Taylor
1ed the state Immediately. Powers wa
held, and 100000 was offered by tn
Kentucky Legislature for the apprehen
sion and conviction Of the murder oil
Imurderers OF William Goebel
James Howard. a mountalneer. know
to be a dead shot, was IN Powers OF
fce at the time. Henry Z. Youtsey
Taylor's stenographeT, was also IN thl
Ofilce at the time. Powers declared hl
was In Louisville at the time Of thl
killing, having left Frankfort on az
early morning train. Powers, Howard
and Youtsey were arrested and tried
On his FIRST trial Powers secured
change Of venue TO GEORGETOWN. Ky.
and on August i9 the jury brought In
verdict Of guilty Of murder in the FRS
degree and Powers was thereupon sen
fenced 10 life Imprisonment, as wer,
Howard and Youtsey. Youtsey decide,
not to appeal his case and accepted thr
verdict Powers friends put up a de
termined opposition. and the Court o.
Appeals reversed the finding. A secon,
trial was held IN 1901 and Powers wa
again convicted Of murder in the frs
degree. Again the case was appeale,
and reversed as before. Judge james
E. Cantren had refused 10 vacate thl
bench for the second trial. and upol
this a new trial was granted.
The third trial was before JudgI
James 2. Robbins. It lasted forty-onl
days, ended In a verdict Of murder Il