Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1838-09-13
TIT EssDAY MORNING, sEPTEMHER ,a. ,s.s
MURDER Ia nm srnINns-

FhN ~ Tue w lt'E NnIlHltf
springs were leaving the dining room
some time about tie middle of August. A
man Mas observed coming huriiedly across
The lawn, from the cabins. towards the
Stage oihoc and at the same time men on
horseback were galloping IN no, haste
from The Warm spring road TO the same
point. In few moments these laAi An.
nounced that a man had been sho, =, Sur.
rers Tavern about quarter OF a mile
OIL, ana II not dead. stood eminent need
OF physician. They Indicated the man
crossing the lawn as the murderer
w ME part OF thc guests went or iur .
phNsician, Others fastened 10 arrest the
armed persona nan under the middle
SIZE rather, compactlv built with good
features aud iorid complexion. AM
who was NJ once recognized a. Watkins
the bar keeper at Slncr's. lie did not
hesitate 10 cay that he had shot Pi,mar-
person from Augusta County. Who vas
horse dealer well known a, the s.rio.-,
Tor Calling him "a Id lar" Watkins
made no resistance 30 his arrest. Stain,
that he came 10 the springs voluntarily
20 consult with counsel! The gentlemen
who arrested him tIcd III, hands behind
his back and took from him the ristol-
an eight inch barrel. with which he hid
hred al Pitman and knife called an
hr.ansas tooth pick. Of The Bowie knife
genus. He w, then taken by the zen.
ilcmen around 10 the store. where he va.
examined before the magistrate lie was
quite calm aud collected, indeed The only
person who seemed ~ ,ribulat,on was the
worthy Constable, who was. In hi, color
most probable more like dead man than
PiIman himself and who vocifefaied "a
ther more than he acted on the occasion
me examination was suspended cfore
ihc magistrate. Cnlil the issue OF P,,man
wound could be northumberland Wat,
k'ns IN the mean while was confined in
neishbor'ng tavern. The following
morning. about : o'clock. Pitran died
having BLEED to death internally. and after
suffering the most awful aeonies Of pain
itom the time he was sho, until hi> death.
As soon as this fact was known. the cx
animation Of Watkins was resumed and
so FAR as the testimony went the history
OF las case appeared TO be this:
Pitman and Waikiki, had had an allcrc,
ton about some unimportant matter i'm
the course of which, P,man had called
w. "a damned liar" They continued
the alteration, according to ono state.
mcnt while PI.man walked, Watkins fol-
following him, into the dining room -
Here PItmln sat down 20 the table and
Watkins, still standing demanded fro5n
Pi'man Thy he had used the above cpi.
thet PI,msn answered carelcsslv. and
hnally, when Watkins said be must either
reirac; or repeat the offensive term told
HIM he would do neither. nor trouble him.
self more about the matter Whereunon
Watkins drew the pistol from under his
coat and shot him as he sat. The ball
which was not larger than 80. I buck
shot and wrapped in tow. struck a quar-
ter dollar IN the wnttcoat pocket, and
ranging downwsrds towards the back bone.
wounded the great vein there. and caused
the death Of the individual. When struck
pt'man rose and staggered 10 the wall
he was then supported 10 chamber.
where be remained until he died Wat.
kns drew bis knife and walked unmoleSt.
cd from the house, and taking a sho-t cut
reached the springs a. above mentioned.
Another version of the story is that al
ter Pi'1nan had called Watkins a liar, the
latter LETT HIM and armed himself though
on this no'ni tho testimony was not clear
The examination before tho magistrate.
IN which Watkins was assisted hy allie
counsel, resulted IN his comnitmen, on a
charge Of murder in the first degree
tB7f,imcTe Chreui,I