[1] Powers studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1894 and commenced practice at Barbourville, Kentucky.

Powers was convicted of complicity in the assassination of Governor William 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, Governor William S. Taylor (Kentucky politician) (R), could stay in office.

Governor Augustus E. Willson (R) eventually pardoned Powers in 1908 though he had already served eight years in jail.