Caleb Powers | |
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| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's11th district | |
| In office March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1919 | |
| Preceded by | Don C. Edwards |
| Succeeded by | John M. Robsion |
| 55th Secretary of State of Kentucky | |
| In office December 12, 1899 – January 31, 1900 | |
| Governor | William S. Taylor |
| Preceded by | Charles Finley |
| Succeeded by | Caleb Breckinridge Hill |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1869-02-01)February 1, 1869 Whitley County, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | July 25, 1932(1932-07-25) (aged 63) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Dorothy |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | Valparaiso University |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Caleb Powers (February 1, 1869 – July 25, 1932) was aUnited States representative fromKentucky and the firstSecretary of State of Kentucky convicted as an accessory to murder.
He was born nearWilliamsburg, Kentucky. He attended the public schools,Union College inBarbourville, Kentucky, theUniversity of Kentucky atLexington, Kentucky andCentre College inDanville, Kentucky. He graduated from the Northern Indiana Normal School and Business Institute (now known asValparaiso University) inValparaiso, Indiana and attended theUnited States Military Academy at West Point in 1890 and 1891. He was discharged due to having weak eyes which led to temporary blindness.[1]
Powers studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1894 and commenced practice at Barbourville, Kentucky. He was the superintendent of public schools forKnox 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 theassassination ofGovernorWilliam Goebel (D) in 1900 who had just won the election.[2] Goebel was walking to work at the Capitol between two body guards, when assassins opened fire and killed him. The prosecution charged that Powers was the mastermind of having a political opponent killed so that his boss, GovernorWilliam S. Taylor (R), could stay in office. Among his attorneys wereR. C. O. Benjamin andFrank S. Black. Powers was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.[3] But anappeals court overturned Powers' conviction, though Powers was tried three more times, resulting in two convictions and ahung jury. GovernorAugustus E. Willson (R) eventually pardoned Powers in 1908 though he had already served eight years in jail. While in prison, Powers authored the 1905 bookMy Own Story.
After leaving prison, Powers was elected as aRepublican to the 62nd and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1919) but was not a candidate for renomination in 1918. He served as a delegate to theRepublican National Convention in 1912 and moved toWashington, D.C., and served as assistant counsel for theUnited States Shipping Board from 1921 until his death inBaltimore, Maryland, in 1932. He was buried in City Cemetery, Barbourville, Kentucky.
Caleb Powers married Laura Rawlings in January 1896 and she died six months later. He was survived by his second wife, Dorothy. He had one daughter, named Elsie.
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Secretary of State of Kentucky 1899–1900 | Succeeded by Caleb B. Hill |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromKentucky's 11th congressional district 1911 – 1919 (obsolete district) | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
