The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1874-10-01
now 3. BRIDE OF FIFTEEN
YEARS MURDERS HER BROTH
ER-IN.LA

The Burksvillo (Ky.) Courier relates
the following remarkable story;
About ono year ngo, In Cumberland
county, vas enacted o1o OF the mos. hor.
riblo tragedies that ever appalled, an
enlightened community, the account OF
which, If given IN the order OF sequence,
will not only surprise the reader al every
step, but will aslound him as the cstss-
tropho in which the victim 10 u desperate
and tho murderer n girlish bride.
For the sake Of those OF our readers
who know little or nothing Of the case, We
give the facts rs We gathered them from
the plcsdngs 10 tho Bnrksvillo circuit
court last Saturday
CLAY and Jaepsr Watkins were brothers,
and, from all that wo could learn, wero
fearless, reckless, dissipated and danger.
Jus mon. For all this, they were not Of n
family which would usually be dsnomin-
ated low. They quarreled at almost every
meeting; finally threats were uttered, and
Clay wen. over TO Tennessee, it IL claimed
TO avoid fatal result. During his ab.
sence his brother married girl of Is
summers, who was OF good family and
possessed character simply spotless.
Only about three DAYS after Jsper's
marriage Clay returned to Kentucky,
and, being under the influence of whiskey,
| said 70 some one that no was going to
see Jasper, have friendly chat, and shoot
II out with him" True to his promise,
he went, and on meeting his brother,
asked him for the conference proposed
The response from Jasper was, "aro you
armed?' Clay replied, II have nothing
but a pocket knife. Have you anything
| jasper answered: IL have arms, and
plenty TO divide with you" The mother
| of tho angry men left lest she should
witness violence. The enrsged Clay sd-
vencod upon his brother, and jasper and
his bride went up stairs, whence possibly,
fatal shot, taking effect in Cisy's back,
brought him to tho ground. Who did
THE, the dying man seemed not 10 know,
for when asked after ward who shot him,
he ssid, Il reckon brother did, but
thought him too brave to ely on me-
Next morning the wounded man was
| taken TO the house of Mr.. Martin, where
he was visited and cared for by his friends
Here his hopeless condition was doplored
by bimself hero his dying declsra-
lions were made: but the most fearful
scene was yet to DO witnessed.
A day or two later, the noble Jasper
and his generous young wife go 10 see the
unfortunate brother, and proposes TO min
| lster to him. AN wet with tho morning
dew, the bride stands by tho door in the
sick mans room, her husband near her,
| but on tho outside. The mother of Clay
Watkins stands by his bedside attempting
to feed him, as the unimpeached witness
to these facts entered the room. Now Jas.
| per Watkins enters the room calls his
mother from the bedside, saying, "A word
with you, mother, Clay turns his face TO
the pillow, closing his eyes as his mother
walks away with her back 70 hun, aud al.
this moment the tender bride Of Jasper
advances TO the bed, and drawing pistol
which bad been concealed under an over
skirt, shoots out tho heart and Immediately
ends the career of her victim. %, why
| did you do that, Mary was the hypocri.
tical interrogation of Jasper, to which the
proper answer would have been, because
| you urged me to do so.
From the time ofthe commission Of the
crime till the beginning Of the Banksville
Circuit Court, the murderers we're held
for safe keeping In the Cumberland county
Jail, joyleas honeymoon, indeed.
During tho trial the young woman, who
would seem to be in state OF nervous de.
bility, was borno to and from the court.
house on a lounge which she occupied.
Tho jury was unable to agree on q var
dict at the close OF the argument, and the
merderers were held over for futher trial.