Caleb Powers papers
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Caleb Powers papers
- Date
- 1900-1941 (inclusive)
- 1903-1908 (bulk)
- Extent
- 6 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Assassination -- Politics and government -- Kentucky.
- Conspiracy -- Kentucky.
- Affidavits
- Statesmen.
- Lawyers -- Kentucky.
- Preferred Citation
- 51w15: [identification of item], Caleb Powers papers, 1900-1941, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Caleb Powers was born near Williamsburg in Whitley County, Kentucky, on February 1, 1869. He attended several public schools in Kentucky, including Union College in Barbourville, the University of Kentucky in Lexington, and Centre College in Danville. He eventually graduated from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana. After attending West Point from 1890-1891, Powers studied law and was admitted to the Bar in 1894. He served as superintendent of public schools in Knox County from 1894-1899 and was elected secretary of state on the Republican ticket in 1899. The results of the 1899 election were contested by the Democrats and when the legislature convened in January 1900, Democratic candidate William Goebel was declared elected governor over William S. Taylor, Republican incumbent. Goebel was shot outside of the old State Capitol building in Frankfort on January 30 and died four days later on February 3.
- Powers was charged with complicity in the assassination of Governor Goebel. He was tried four times, with the first two trials resulting in a life sentence and the third in the death penalty. All three sentences were reversed by the Kentucky Court of Appeals and new trials granted. The fourth trial resulted in a hung jury and Powers was eventually pardoned by Kentucky Governor Augustus E. Willson in 1908. Powers went on to be elected as a Republican to three succeeding Congresses (1911-1919). He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1912, and later moved to Washington, D. C., where he served as assistant counsel for the United States Shipping Board from 1921 until his death on July 25, 1932.
- Scope and Content
- The Caleb Powers papers (dated 1900-1941; 6 cubic feet; 9 boxes, 1 item) consist of materials relating to the third and fourth trials of Caleb Powers, which took place during 1903-1904 and 1907-1908. Papers include the correspondence of Powers, his attorneys, witnesses, and other interested parties; affidavits, subpoenas, and other legal documents; newspaper clippings and magazine articles; and other miscellaneous materials relating to Powers' four trials. Judge Samuel M. Wilson of Lexington served with Powers' defense team and collected the manuscript materials.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
- Use Restrictions
- The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Contents of the Collection
THIRD TRIAL, 1903-1904
Scope and Contents note
These materials relate to the third trial of Caleb Powers, which took place during 1903-1904 and ended with a guilty verdict and death sentence for Powers. Included are transcripts of witness testimonies, various legal documents and notes, correspondence, published copies of Powers' speech given before the court, and Judge Samuel M. Wilson's notebooks from the trial.
WITNESS TESTIMONIES
MISCELLANEOUS LEGAL DOCUMENTS AND NOTES
Notes
SAMUEL WILSON NOTEBOOKS
CORRESPONDENCE
FOURTH TRIAL, 1907-1908
Scope and Contents note
These materials relate to the fourth trial of Caleb Powers, which took place during 1907-1908 and ended with a hung jury. Included are subpoenas, witness lists, bills and receipts, correspondence, notebooks and notes, affidavits, motions, and other miscellaneous legal documents.
SUBPOENAS
Scope and Contents note
Subpoenas are organized alphabetically by the county in which they were issued.
WITNESS LISTS
AFFIDAVITS, STATEMENTS, AND TESTIMONIES
SAMUEL WILSON CALENDAR AND NOTEBOOKS
JURY SELECTION AND INSTRUCTIONS
MISCELLANEOUS LEGAL DOCUMENTS
NOTES
Scope and Contents note
This section includes notes regarding jury selection, witnesses and their testimonies, drafts of motions, points, and addresses to the court, references to prior court decisions and rulings, and other misc. notes taken during trial.
CORRESPONDENCE
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by sender's last name and chronologically thereunder.
A-N
A
E
I
0-Y
Caleb Powers, December 1906
Y
POST-TRIAL AND MISCELLANEOUS, 1900-1941
Scope and Contents note
This section includes materials from the period following Powers' fourth trial, as well as a few miscellaneous materials relating to all of his trials.
Brief prepared for the Petition Committee of Georgetown, Ky. by Caleb Powers, March 18, 1908
Kentucky Court of Appeals: Caleb Powers, appellant versus the Commonwealth of Kentucky, appellee. Brief for appellant. Copy 1
Kentucky Court of Appeals: Caleb Powers, appellant versus the Commonwealth of Kentucky, appellee. Brief for appellant. Copy 2
Kentucky Court of Appeals: Caleb Powers, appellant versus the Commonwealth of Kentucky, appellee. Brief for appellant. Copy 3
ELECTION RESULTS AND NEWSPAPERS, 1900-1908
ELECTION RESULTS, 1900-1907
Statement of the Official Vote of Kentucky, The Morning Democrat, Supplement, Saturday, December 29, 1900.
Statement of the Official Vote of Kentucky, The Morning Democrat, Supplement, Saturday, December 19, 1903.
Statement of Official Vote of Kentucky, The Morning Democrat, Supplement, Wednesday, December 14, 1904.
Election Results, Grant County, Kentucky, November 21, 1907.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWSPAPER SECTIONS, 1903-1939
Powers, Caleb. "Caleb Powers' Plea for Justice." Lexington Leader, August 30, 1903, Sunday Morning: Second Section 1-6. copy 1
Powers, Caleb. "Caleb Powers' Plea for Justice." Lexington Leader, August 30, 1903, Sunday Morning: Second Section 1-6. copy 2
The Farmer's Equity Journal, Saturday, May 2, 1908.
"The Last Word on Goebel's Deathbed" by Richard Rennelsen - review of "The First New Dealer, William Goeble" by Urey Woodson. (from Courier-Journal, June 6, 1939)
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
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Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Table of Contents
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UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
