Melvin Lane Powers
Encyclopedia
Melvin Lane Powers was an American businessman who was best known for his alleged role in the murder of his uncle, Jacques Mossler. Prosecutors claimed that Powers and his mother's sister, Candy Mossler
, were lovers and that they had conspired to kill her husband in order to acquire his fortune. Attorney Percy Foreman
was able to convince the jury to disregard the evidence presented against his client. Powers and his aunt were acquitted and no other persons were ever charged with the murder.
to Garrett "Ace" and Elizabeth Powers. He served in the United States Navy
and worked in a number of jobs before he was convicted of a con job in Pontiac, Michigan
and sentenced to serve 90 days in jail. He moved to Houston in 1961 while he was on probation and his mother suggested that he make contact with her sister, Candy Mossler, who lived there with her husband, who owned a number of financial companies.
After the couple separated, Candy Mossler gave Powers money to buy a mobile home business. Employees there testified under oath that Powers had made threats that he would kill Mr. Mossler, who was found dead on June 30, 1964. Candy Mossler returned from a hospital visit and found her husband's body wrapped in a blanket in his house in Key Biscayne, Florida
, where he was dead after being bludgeoned and stabbed 39 times. Powers was arrested days after the murder.
described as "one of the most spectacular homicide trials ever" with the judge barring any spectators under the age of 21 from attending. Defense attorney Percy Foreman presented a theory that Mr. Mossler had been killed by a male lover, and convinced the jury to "disregard the whole wheelbarrow loads of manure that have been dumped from that witness stand" — which included a substantial array of evidence and testimony showing that the two had been having an affair, a motive
for the killing (Candy would have gotten only $200,000 if she had filed for divorce, but all of her husband's wealth if he died first), physical evidence from the crime scene which connected Powers to the murder, and a diary entry written by Jacques Mossler that read, "If Mel and Candace don't kill me first, I'll have to kill them". Though the prosecution showed that Powers had been in Miami when the murder took place, found his fingerprints in the apartment, and showed that Jacques Mossler's blood was in a car that matched one seen at the murder site, the court accepted the defense's case and voted for acquittal. After their acquittal, Powers and Mossler kissed each other on the lips and drove off together in a gold Cadillac
. No one else was ever charged with Mossler's murder.
Mrs. Garrison died at 55 of an overdose of medication in 1976. Mr. Powers attended her funeral accompanied by “an attractive blonde,” many newspapers said. By then, he had become a flamboyant real estate developer in Houston, favoring ostrich- and alligator-skin cowboy boots, owning an immense yacht and bobbing between riches and bankruptcy. By 1979 he had built a fortune estimated to be worth $200 million, which included a 142 feet (43.3 m)-long yacht the "Jan Pamela" to which he added a 23 feet (7 m) section that included a Jacuzzi
and a mirrored ceiling.
Within a few years he was facing financial difficulties, but was able to convince a judge that his 20000 square feet (1,858.1 m²) penthouse atop one of the Arena Place
towers was a protected homestead under Texas law. By 1983 he was bankrupt, but he was able to rebuild his fortune in real estate. Powers was found dead at the age of 68 on October 8, 2010, at his home in Houston.
Candy Mossler
Candace "Candy" Mossler née Candace Weatherby was a socialite at the center of a sensational, highly-publicized murder trial in the 1960s. Candace Mossler and her nephew Melvin Lane Powers, with whom she was having an incestuous affair, were charged with the killing of Candy's millionaire...
, were lovers and that they had conspired to kill her husband in order to acquire his fortune. Attorney Percy Foreman
Percy Foreman
Percy Eugene Foreman was a criminal defense attorney from Houston, Texas. Foreman was born near Bold Springs, Texas, and moved to Livingston, Texas when he was six years old. He was the son of William P. Foreman, a former sheriff of Polk County, Texas...
was able to convince the jury to disregard the evidence presented against his client. Powers and his aunt were acquitted and no other persons were ever charged with the murder.
Early life
Powers was born in 1942 in Birmingham, AlabamaBirmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
to Garrett "Ace" and Elizabeth Powers. He served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and worked in a number of jobs before he was convicted of a con job in Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
and sentenced to serve 90 days in jail. He moved to Houston in 1961 while he was on probation and his mother suggested that he make contact with her sister, Candy Mossler, who lived there with her husband, who owned a number of financial companies.
Romance and homicide
Based on documents and photographs provided by the prosecution in the murder case, Powers and his aunt had begun their incestuous romance in 1962. Her husband found out about the relationship a year later and threw Powers out of their home, having heard about the affair from his servants and then reading details about the relationship in his wife's diary. He was said to have considered divorcing his wife but was afraid of the negative publicity, and knew that under a prenuptial agreement that he had signed, his wife would get half of everything he owned.After the couple separated, Candy Mossler gave Powers money to buy a mobile home business. Employees there testified under oath that Powers had made threats that he would kill Mr. Mossler, who was found dead on June 30, 1964. Candy Mossler returned from a hospital visit and found her husband's body wrapped in a blanket in his house in Key Biscayne, Florida
Key Biscayne, Florida
Key Biscayne is a village in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States on the island of Key Biscayne. The population was 10,507 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 10,324....
, where he was dead after being bludgeoned and stabbed 39 times. Powers was arrested days after the murder.
Murder trial
Candy Mossler and Powers were tried in March 1966 in what The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
described as "one of the most spectacular homicide trials ever" with the judge barring any spectators under the age of 21 from attending. Defense attorney Percy Foreman presented a theory that Mr. Mossler had been killed by a male lover, and convinced the jury to "disregard the whole wheelbarrow loads of manure that have been dumped from that witness stand" — which included a substantial array of evidence and testimony showing that the two had been having an affair, a motive
Motive (law)
A motive, in law, especially criminal law, is the cause that moves people to induce a certain action. Motive, in itself, is not an element of any given crime; however, the legal system typically allows motive to be proven in order to make plausible the accused's reasons for committing a crime, at...
for the killing (Candy would have gotten only $200,000 if she had filed for divorce, but all of her husband's wealth if he died first), physical evidence from the crime scene which connected Powers to the murder, and a diary entry written by Jacques Mossler that read, "If Mel and Candace don't kill me first, I'll have to kill them". Though the prosecution showed that Powers had been in Miami when the murder took place, found his fingerprints in the apartment, and showed that Jacques Mossler's blood was in a car that matched one seen at the murder site, the court accepted the defense's case and voted for acquittal. After their acquittal, Powers and Mossler kissed each other on the lips and drove off together in a gold Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
. No one else was ever charged with Mossler's murder.
Later life
Powers and Candy Mossler lived together for a few years before separating. Candy Mossler later remarried Barnett Garrison, 19 years her junior; the year after they married, he suffered brain damage after a mysterious fall from their mansion’s balcony. They later divorced.Mrs. Garrison died at 55 of an overdose of medication in 1976. Mr. Powers attended her funeral accompanied by “an attractive blonde,” many newspapers said. By then, he had become a flamboyant real estate developer in Houston, favoring ostrich- and alligator-skin cowboy boots, owning an immense yacht and bobbing between riches and bankruptcy. By 1979 he had built a fortune estimated to be worth $200 million, which included a 142 feet (43.3 m)-long yacht the "Jan Pamela" to which he added a 23 feet (7 m) section that included a Jacuzzi
Jacuzzi
Jacuzzi is a company that produces whirlpool bathtubs and spas. Its first product was a bath with massaging jets. The term "jacuzzi" is now often used generically to refer to any bathtub with massaging jets.-History:...
and a mirrored ceiling.
Within a few years he was facing financial difficulties, but was able to convince a judge that his 20000 square feet (1,858.1 m²) penthouse atop one of the Arena Place
Arena Place
Arena Place is a complex including two office towers and a theater located in Greater Sharpstown, Houston, Texas.The complex, located on U.S. Route 59 , includes One & Two Arena Place, two 19-story towers each with about of space, the Arena Theatre, a live performance theater with a 2,850 seats,...
towers was a protected homestead under Texas law. By 1983 he was bankrupt, but he was able to rebuild his fortune in real estate. Powers was found dead at the age of 68 on October 8, 2010, at his home in Houston.