Show wounded man says caleb powers of kentucky is not guilty of the crime for which he has suffered bakersfield cal dec 22 charles B ehler on a cot in the county hospital suffering from a wound presumably self inflicted has admitted to the superintendent franz buckreus that he has information as to the killing of governor william goebel of kentucky which if it were adduced on the witness stand it Is alleged would clear caleb powers former secretary of state of kentucky and now under sentence of death tor complicity in the murder of the late governor A few days ago powers wrote from the blue grass state to ehler in bakersfield saying in substance 1 I see by a press dispatch that you may be an important witness in the goebel murder for six years I 1 have lain in prison and three times I 1 have been sentenced to death for a crime of which I 1 am as innocent as the angels around the throne it you have any information that will throw any light on the death of governor goebel then for gods sako declare yourself and aid in proving my innocence ehler on receiving this letter permitted superintendent buckreus to read it and the latter recognizing its importance questioned ahler closely whereupon the latter admitted that he could give testimony that would save the life of powers and he intimated that it the ex execution was imminent he would give euch testimony when mr buckreus had read the pleading letter of the condemned official he asked do you know anything that would clear this man of the charge ot murder ehler who Is racked with pain after a moments silence nodded his head then said the superintendent in gods name why dont you declare yourself because it would implicate others ehler replied but you would not see an innocent man executed said the superintendent indignantly ehler reflected for a moment and said well caleb powers is not executed yet thereupon he closed his eyes and refused to say more powers has been notified of the admissions of the man now in the hospital and whether any steps will be taken by the kentucky authorities Is not known here it was shortly after midnight on the morning of december ath last that ehler was mysteriously shot in front of the southern hotel in this city he passed out of the corridor of tho hotel and a few minutes later a shot was fired the bullet striking ehler in the breast the assailant was not in sight when help came nor was any weapon to be found and none vas discovered on ehlers person former state senator E H emmons was present on the ground almost immediately after the shooting and he cared for the wounded man during the night he professed to have known him for twenty years emmons is now in the sacramento hospital where he surrendered himself he being under sentence to serve five years in the state prison for bribery ehler Is a tall and fine appearing man of powerful build before the shooting he was employed by a local department store as advertisement writer he was well liked and bore a good reputation A rumor of his connection with the goebel case gained circulation over a weak ago but until the present disclosures no facts were ascertained to substantiate the rumor |