Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-07-24
WASHING ron CORRESPONDENCE.
Extract Of letter from

WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE
Extract Of n letter from
WASHINGTON, 2O;h July. 1920
The case oil Watkins having engrossed more public
attention than any other matter, il may be desirable to
you be Informed Of is present state One Of tho
indictments, sustained by the judgment Of the court,
was'iied last week Great exerons were made by the
counsel on both sides. Tho Attorneys of the United
states have sought his conviction, for fraud commit
ted in his inairduoi capactyby false pre- oces On the
Other hand, the counsel Of the accused have steadily
defended him upon the plea that By color of his office
he Obtained the money in question; AMI having applied
TO his own use, he Is only deaullcr. These in few
! words arc the merits of the case.
the jury, having twice conaiered Of their verdict
rendered it finally in the following terms, viz:
The irrors, in the of the United States sgain
Tobias Watkins hnh him guilty OF obtaining, in his of.
caI capacity, hundred and fifty dollars the mo-
ncy oil ta u States and applying the same 10 his
private use
1t viii be seen, that this verdict rendered in terms so
e4uiyocal, makes room for question to the court,
whether it can proceed thereon 10 Judgment of acquit-
tai or conformation. IL is evident, the jury has
found him guilty al chargcdin the Indictment. Then is
he acquitted? If he is guilty merely OF applying money
OF the United States, obtained by colour OF his Office
ms own usc he Is Iiot guilty of any criminal offence
common law; but of official breach of This
would be putting him upon the footing of defaulter
y; for il will be remembered that in every he OBJ
tanned the money on rcquisiton OF the Secretary OF
the Navy.
Mr.. Southland, when before the court as n witness,
gave his testimony unrcservedly and apparently
very much affected by The disclosure of all the Of
DR.. Watkins. He must have to the stand with an
opinion entirely settled that Watkins had abused his
ience, for he had in his possession letter written by
him. Philadelphia, while in the custody of the
shall imporin his interposition and support by affirm
ing the statements of which he had been guilty from
time 10 time.
Tho second Indictment remains to he tried and win
probably engages the court to-day The testimony Will DO
like that already gven but there will be another uenre.
Extract Of letter fran, Washington.
- have received the following accoun, Of the anony
nous letter written by DE- Watkins 10 Mr.. Southland,
~ ranf in ta,f IF Lie
non;-h-----, III some way other had heard that w
had written anony letter TO Sou,haT, when he
was first apprehended in PHILADELPHIA in which he
cioseia ce'fan Stateent in relation the transaction
which iD'enjcd 10 his guilt from eyposure
This statement he called upon his friend, Southland TO
verify NpoH OATH, and so save him anil his family rom
iniiny and ruin. Mr.. Sontard replied, that hs did
recoec the facts contained in the satemcn but he
pockets The le'ier-says nothing about it, until unex-
pectedly, II was forced from him by compulsory order
oil the court This anonymous letter j., in substance,
an acknowledgment Of IYatfinS' guilt and yet hIr
son'iarI keeps it in his pocket upwards 0! three
months more, since Watkins was aporehen led i'm
Philadelphia. Why dill lie not enclose il to the pres-
dent aud put eni 10 all ;his in the Court?
Wen; the letter was called ior-Mr. Southland
would u produce il without being compelled. lie is
compels1-and Mr. Swami takes the letter 10 read IL
conains, in substance attempt at snbornltion. MIR.
Swami expresses 10 the juTy, with great feeling his
horror at w. guili, and commences reading lie be-
comes Affected, overwhelmed with emotion and sets
down. Some gentleman Of the bar reads il cut-Souh-
ard requests permission 10 read bis reply. II com
4 Il
tears an! sets down. l nothing has b.cn sud
about this extraordinary transaction in the Telegraph
Why, ain rot informed. The letter. with all s circum-
stances, wiz I've made known, presume, in due time
1t sill furnish moot paint for the Coalition iDoraliss
!lie coiiin.hamdb peopictle mourners over The six
| mia-men, and the base and Infamous sianderers of
Mrs jackson, al the head OF whom this same Dr.
| Watkins"
The following il extracted from letter. in tlIr Phil
alelphia United States Gszetic. dated:
WAs1IrNGroN, July IL, 1920.
Two letters were offered by the counsel for the u
which gave to Che case very adverse aspect the
accused. One of them was letter OF explanations
which Dr. Watkins wrote to Mr. Harris the Navy a.
gent az Boston, and in which he attempted 20 siew that
| all his drafts upon Harris and Panling were drawn
with the knowledge AMI APPRECIATION Of Mr. Sou,lar,,
and that The money thus raised was 10 be applied 10
some particular IL Ems Of navy expenditure, for which
appropriations had not been granted. ~ DIR.
Watkins was arrested in Philadelphia, it appears that
ne enclosed copy OF those explanations, in letter 10
No. Southland, addressed him at Trenton hut Vat.
kns, having met with fiicnd Of Mr. Souhari ON board
the s!eam-aoat, and learning that Mr.. s. was then ia
Pilllephia sent 10 him request that lie would take
and instantly (ior although Watkins had put no sigma
rs TO bis letter, the ani wiring well known e
| Mr. Southard) wrote reply TO it.
"Mr. Southland replied. that ii gave him regret tina
he could not confirm the explanations which Dr. Wat
kns had made. He expressed his regre that he SHOULD
have place himself IN such elang si;ultion and IT,
noran as he was oil tile precise character OF f, aeea.
ions against him, Mr.. Southland said il was out Of hi
power 10 say more than that when called upon 10 give
testimony, he should give ii with siIic regard 20 truth
rs fir as hts recollection would permi, him
"The whole Of Nj Souhagds conduct has be en- man.
y and highly honorabe.--iIi5 emotion in reading ia.
letter which he had delivered up by orlr Of The court
was extreme III u at the fate Of the accused " a,
in lis hands, and that il cruel, but I,,le
duty, which compelled hin To sacrifice the man he ha,
once esteemed Before be could finish the readps 81
s letter, Eush Of tears coked his uterance; Judge
Crancb Kindly took tao letter from iO, anil finished 4,
anI NJ. Southland sinking into his chair gave way for
few moments 10 feelings honorable to him, and which
! gained him honour from alI"
-------------------
The last Evenings Mail brings a very interesting
arelcin tho Baltimore Republican Of the 22i, from its
! washington Correspondent; giving Wa,knss letter TO
! MI baris, while he at Boston, in April last in
compliance with his request Of cxplanoton Of the
singular circumstances OF his account Nv this letter,
be does not con'en; himself with standing on his de-
fence, bat he makes vinIedve attack O., Mr. A..
mos Kendail,. charging him with villanies" and
threatening, ere long" 20 make him feel .he C,ii
force Of the recoii Of his blow upon himselcq--Tle
same Communication also gives the following ne the LEI.
tsf from W. to Mr.. Southland. We shall pnbli.h The
whole OF this Communication in our next;
I PHiLADEbrHIA, Nay 1, 1929
| "Cn you, and, perhaps, on you atone, ny syoe,y
aud honoured Sir, depends tho future peace LISTING