Caleb
Powers was born in Williamsburg, Kentucky, on 1st February, 1869.
He studied at the University of Kentucky and Valparaiso University
before attending West Point Military Academy (1890-91).
Admitted to the bar in 1894, Powers worked as a lawyer in Barbourville,
Kentucky. A member of the Republican Party,
Powers served as superintendent of public schools in Knox County (1894-99).
After the election of William Sylvester
Taylor, Powers became his Secretary of State. Taylor's opponent
in the election, William Goebel of the
Democratic Party claimed the Republicans
were guilty of ballot rigging. When Goebel challenged the result of
the election, threats were made that if he won on appeal he would
be assassinated.
William Goebel was given bodyguards but
on 30th January, 1900, while Goebel was entering the State House,
a gun was fired from the window of Powers' office. The bullet hit
Goebel and he was taken to hospital and while receiving treatment
it was announced that as a result of the investigation he was now
the governor of Kentucky. However Goebel died of his wounds on 3rd
February, 1900.
William Sylvester Taylor fled to Indiana
and refused to return to face charges of conspiring to murder Goebel.
Several men were arrested including Powers. Eventually Henry Youtsey
and Jim Howard were convicted of murder while five others, including
Powers, were found guilty of conspiracy. While in prison Powers wrote
My Own Story
(1905).
On 23rd April, 1909, the Republican Party
governor of Kentucky, Augustus Everett Willson,
pardoned Powers and William Sylvester Taylor
for their involvement in the murder. had been found guilty of conspiracy.
Powers returned to politics and was three times elected to Congress
(March, 1911 to March, 1919). He continued to live in Washington
where he served as assistant counsel for the United States Shipping
Board (1921-1932). Caleb Powers died on 25th July, 1932.
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