My Own Story; an Account of the Conditions in Kentucky Leading To
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
MY OWN STORY By CALEB POWERS THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES MY OWN STORY MY OWN STORY An account of the conditions in Kentucky leading to the assassination of William Goebel, who was declared governor of the State, and my indictment and conviction on the charge of complicity in his murder By CALEB POWERS Illustrated from Photographs INDIANAPOLIS THE BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY PUBLISHERS Copyright 1905 THE BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY April PRESS OF BRAUNWORTH &. CO. BOOKBINDERS AND PRINTERS BROOKLYN, N. Y. College Library P ' CONTENTS CHAPTER I BOYHOOD IN THE MOUNTAINS FAGS My reasons for writing this story My ancestors My life as a boy in the Kentucky mountains Our re- moval to Brush Creek I CHAPTER II MY FIRST SPEECH I matriculate at Union College The college debate My first oratorical effort I teach my first school . 9 CHAPTER III THE GREAT DEBATE " I argue about the burning question, Resolved : That the earth is round" The judgment of my peers . 20 CHAPTER IV COLLEGE DAYS My life at the state college I learn to drill I teach school again Illness My appointment to West Point 26 CHAPTER V A NEW OUTLOOK I journey to West Point A glimpse of the national capital I prepare for examinations The ordeal I enter West Point "..'.-. 35 CHAPTER VI SUMMER CAMP I spend the summer in camp Hazing I arrest my superior officer 43 CHAPTER VII AT LAW SCHOOL I become a third-classman My eyesight fails and I am forced to leave the Academy I enter the law school at Valparaiso, Indiana 48 CHAPTER VIII MY FIRST POLITICAL CAMPAIGN I am a candidate for the office of superintendent of schools of Knox County, Kentucky I make a can- vass of the mountain districts I take part in joint debates I am graduated from law school and elected to office 52 CHAPTER IX MARRIAGE Responsibility of office I begin to practise law My marriage The sudden death of my wife .... 6l CHAPTER X AGAINST ODDS I am again a successful candidate I take a post- graduate course in law at Center College, Danville Stump-speaking 66 CHAPTER XI THE KENTUCKY PROBLEM PAGE Affairs in Kentucky in 1899 The Goebel Election Law Opinion of Henry Watterson The effort of the Democrats to have the law declared constitutional The outlook for Democratic success in the campaign of 1899 71 CHAPTER XII THE DEMOCRATIC MACHINE The Democratic state convention at Music Hall, Louis- ville Many contesting delegations Excitement over the temporary chairman's decision Bailiffs fail to preserve order Election of Redwine as perma- nent chairman Machine work Stone proposes terms 77 CHAPTER XIII THE CONVENTION DECIDES Continuance of Democratic Convention at Music Hall Despair of delegates Judge Redwine refuses to entertain a motion to adjourn Goebel is nominated Democratic ticket Independent Democrats re- pudiate the ticket of the Music Hall Convention Objections of Prohibitionists Anti-Goebel move- ment goes on Denunciation of the Goebel Election Law 85 CHAPTER XIV THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION Race for nominations on the Republican ticket State convention at Lexington I am nominated for Sec- retary of State 93 CHAPTER XV MR. BRYAN VISITS KENTUCKY FAGB Goebel opens his campaign at Mayfield His reluctance to mix with people Republican campaign begins at London Opening of anti-Goebel campaign at Bowl- ing Green Goebel refuses to take part in joint de- bate Mr. Bryan on the stump for Goebel Louis- ville election board removes election officers ... 98 CHAPTER XVI ELECTION DAY IN KENTUCKY IN 1899 Election day "Repeaters' paradise" Assembling of military Republicans win by a safe plurality Democrats claim election Election board renders decision in favor of Republicans 105 CHAPTER XVII THE REPUBLICANS STAND FIRM Goebel contests decision of election board Democratic caucus Evidence of Mr. Harrel Inauguration of Taylor Rules of Contest Committee . ill THE SHOOTING OF WILLIAM GOEBEL Effort of Taylor's attorneys to remove Democratic mem- bers of contest committees Suit to enjoin Taylor appointees from taking oath of office Republicans seek to arouse the people I bring the mountain people to Frankfort Meeting on the steps of the Capitol I go to Louisville for more petitioners Goebel is shot The excitement at Frankfort The military is called out . 118 CHAPTER XIX MAKING POLITICAL CAPITAL PACK Demand for revenge Governor Taylor convenes the Legislature at London Democrats declare Goebel and Beckham elected and later falsify the records of the general assembly A proclamation Senator Goebel's death is announced, and Beckham takes the oath of office as governor 126 CHAPTER XX AN APPEAL TO THE~COURTS Sorrow over the death of Senator Goebel Governor Taylor rejects the Louisville "Peace Agreement" General assembly reconvenes at Frankfort Two legislative bodies and two sets of state officials . 130 CHAPTER XXI DEMOCRATIC SLEUTHS BEGIN WORK Decision against Republicans Action of Legislature final Goebel partizans threaten to take forcible pos- session of the offices Situation becomes warlike The Democrats appropriate one hundred thousand dollars to discover and punish the assassin . 137 CHAPTER XXII MY ARREST I visit my father and mother Threatened with arrest, I seek safety in flight, but am taken from a train at Lexington I pass a gloomy, apprehensive night in a cell 142 CHAPTER XXIII FROM LEXINGTON TO LOUISVILLE PAGE Nocturnal visit of officers to my cell Handcuffed, I am taken from jail, driven across country to a rail- way and hurried to Louisville A defense fund of ten thousand dollars 150 CHAPTER XXIV MY PRELIMINARY HEARING Before Judge Moore The late T. C. Campbell's record Wharton Golden's testimony Dramatic scene, pregnant with dire possibilities, that finally passes away without bloodshed Moments of great peril to myself I am denied bail and go back to jail . 155 CHAPTER XXV THE PROSECUTION'S PLANS Arrest of Combs, Noakes, Youtsey and others How " Lawyer Campbell and Arthur Goebel secure a con- " fession from Youtsey Decision against Taylor and Marshall Report of the grand jury, indicting myself and many others Federal supreme court de- cides against the Republicans Governor Taylor's flight to Indiana Denunciatory Democratic plat- form 164 CHAPTER XXVI REPUBLICANS BARRED My first trial before Judge Cantrill Selection of a par- tizan jury Disregard of the law for the purpose of insuring conviction Campbell's statement in behalf of the prosecution 176 CHAPTER XXVII A POLITICAL NECESSITY PAGE Trained witness for the Commonwealth George F. Weaver's sensational statement in regard to the shoot- ing of Senator Goebel Indictment for perjury, but no prosecution Finley Anderson's false testimony 183 CHAPTER XXVIII THE VALUE OF AN OATH Robert Noakes in the role of a star-witness Later con- fesses himself to be a perjurer W. H. Culton exon- erates me after giving sensational testimony F. Wharton Golden's evidence Prosecution calls the Goebel press to its rescue 189 CHAPTER XXIX MY DEFENSE AND MY CONVICTION Judge Faulkner's statement for the defense My testi- mony for myself Cross-examination by Lawyer Campbell Address to the jury Verdict of guilty, with penalty of life imprisonment Juryman Porter My card to the public 195 AFTER THE VERDICT I am again taken to the Louisville jail My reflections on the way I find myself a victim of injustice, with no prospect of redress Charges and countercharges preceding the trial of Jim Howard Summary of the testimony Howard is convicted of shooting Goebel and is sentenced to death 204 CHAPTER XXXI TRIAL OF HENRY E. YOUTSEY FAGS Campbell's deftly woven statement Hunted look of the defendant His fierce denunciation of Arthur Goebel and paroxysmal display of emotion His illness and his appearance in the court-room Jury returns ver- dict of guilty, with imprisonment for life . 213 CHAPTER XXXII A REPUBLICAN JUDGE ELECTED Confessions by Anderson and Noakes, admitting they were bribed Youtsey signs an affidavit exonerating me I am encouraged by a change in the political complexion of the court of appeals 220 CHAPTER XXXIII A NEW TRIAL GRANTED Four Republican appellate judges grant Howard and my- self new trials Colonel W. C. P. Breckinridge's arraignment of the Democratic judges Continua- " " tion of the prosecution's Hang and damn policy Captain Ripley's acquittal Judge Cantrill's famous charge to the Grand Jury 225 CHAPTER XXXIV AGAIN BEFORE JUDGE CANTRILL Governor Durbin declines to honor requisitions for Tay- lor and Finley My second trial a repetition of the first Judge Cantrill refuses to vacate the bench Twelve partizan Goebel Democrats act as jurymen Am again convicted, and sentenced for life . 232 CHAPTER XXXV YOUTSEY AND THE PROSECUTION FAG* J. B. Howard's second trial results in change of sentence to life imprisonment Berry Howard's acquittal " " Attempts to induce Youtsey to make a new confes- sion Torture at last produces a statement that is satisfactory to the prosecution My own position be- comes more grave 237 CHAPTER XXXVI HOWARD'S THIRD TRIAL Cecil's remarkable testimony Youtsey tells a long story, but fails to connect me with the so-called conspiracy to kill Senator Goebel Admits having perjured him- self, when confronted with affidavits Is again con- victed and sentenced . 246 CHAPTER XXXVII MY THIRD TRIAL Death of my father I am not permitted to attend his funeral Judge Robbins supplants Judge Cantrill Another packed jury Youtsey and Cecil testify against me 253 CHAPTER XXXVIII CONDEMNED My closing argument in behalf of myself Crowds listen to my review of the case, in which I arraign the pros- ecution Jury, however, finds me guilty, attaches the death penalty, and I am sentenced to be hanged Appeal to the higher court 259 CHAPTER XXXIX WHERE MY CASE RESTS PAGE Tragic end of T.