Caleb Powers
| Caleb Powers | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 11th district |
|
|
In office March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1919 |
|
| Preceded by | Don C. Edwards |
| Succeeded by | John M. Robsion |
| 56th Secretary of State of Kentucky | |
|
In office December 12, 1899 – January 31, 1900 |
|
| Preceded by | Charles Finley |
| Succeeded by | Caleb Breckinridge Hill |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
February 1, 1869 Whitley County, Kentucky |
| Died | July 25, 1932 (aged 63) Baltimore, Maryland |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Valparaiso University |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Caleb Powers (February 1, 1869 – July 25, 1932) was a United States Representative from Kentucky and the first Secretary of State of Kentucky convicted as an accessory to murder.
He was born near Williamsburg, Kentucky. He attended the public schools, Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky, the University of Kentucky at Lexington, Kentucky and Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. He graduated from the Northern Indiana Normal School and Business Institute (now known as Valparaiso University) in Valparaiso, Indiana and attended the United States Military Academy in 1890 and 1891.
Powers studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1894 and commenced practice at Barbourville, Kentucky. He was the superintendent of public schools for Knox County, Kentucky 1894-1899. He was elected secretary of state of Kentucky in 1899 but was unseated after a contest.
Powers was convicted of complicity in the assassination of Governor William Goebel in 1900. The prosecution charged that Powers was the mastermind, having a political opponent killed so that his boss, Governor William S. Taylor, could stay in office. Among his attorneys was R. C. O. Benjamin. He was sentenced to prison. An appeals court overturned Powers' conviction, though Powers was tried three more times, resulting in two convictions and a hung jury. Governor Augustus E. Willson pardoned Powers in 1908. Powers had served eight years in jail. While in prison, Powers authored the 1905 book My Own Story.
...
Wikipedia