The New York herald., 1874-09-28
A BLOODY CHILD.BRIDE.

How . Mountain Desperate Came to
His Death at the Hands Of His
Brothers. Wife-A Honeymoon In Jail.
From the Columbia lKy.) Spectator, Sept. 24.I
About one year ago In Cumberland county was
enacted one OF the most horrible tragedies that
ever appalled, an enlightened community, the &C
count Of which. II given in the order OF sequence,
will not only surprise the reader at every step, but
will astound him at the catastrophe in which the
victim is q desperate and the murderer girllsh
bride.
know little nothing Of the case, give tho
facts as we gathered them from the pleadings
In the Burksvtlle Circuit Court last Saturday
Clay and Jasper Watkins were brothers, and
from all that we could learn, were fearless, reck.
less, dlssipated and dangerous men. For all this
they were not OF q family which would usually be
denominated low. However, they were disposed
TO quarrel, than which nothing could We more de-
grading Their last and fatal quarrel was in re-
gard to o note which one wished the other to de-
stroy 1t was Clay who made the demand, and for
the sake Of peace Jasper claims that he At once
complied; but it appears that nothing more than
nominal peace was ever enjoyed thereafter be.
tween them. They quarreled at almost every
meeting. Finally threats were uttered and Clay
went over 70 Tennessee, 1t Is claimed 70 avoid a
fatal result. During his absence mis- brother mar.
rled glrl OF fifteen summers, VINO was OF good
family and possessed a character simply spOtess.
Clay returned to Kentucky, and, being under the
influence Of whiskey, said to some one that ne was
IL out with him. Troe to snis promise he
went, and, on meeting his brother, asked him lOr
the cOnlerence proposed me response from Jas:
per was, "Are you armed Y'' Clay replied, Il
have nothing but pocket knife; have you any
thing W Jasper answered, "a have arms enough
the angry men left lest she should witness vio
lence. The enraged Clay advanced upon his
Whence posslby. iasa AlS shot, tasins % erscs IN
Clay's back, brought him to the ground. VINO did
this the dying man seemed not TO know, for when
asked aterwaro Who shot HIM he said, ''i reckon
brother did. but thought him too brave to sly on
me-" THIS remark would indicate that more hap
pened On that dreadful night than has vet been
told, Dut 1t is believed that Jasper Watkins shot
his brother at an unexpected moment, as nothing
else Will account lOr this remark.
Next morning the wounded man was taken TO
the house Oi Mr.. Morton. wnere he was visited and
cared Tor by his mother and his friends. Here hs
hopeless condition was deplored by himself here
his dying declarations were made, but the most
fearful scene was yet to be witnessed.
A day IT two later the noble JASPER and his gen.
erous young vile go to the unfortunate brother
and propose to minister to him. All wet with the
morning dew the bride STANDS by the door IN the
SICK mans room her husband near her, but on
the outside. The mother Of Clay watkins stands
bv MS bedside, attempting to iced him, as the un-
impeached witness to these iacts entered the
room. Now Jasper Watkins enters the room, calls
his mother from the bedside, saying, "a word
with you, mother.n Clay turns his face to the
pillow, closing his eyes as his mother walks away
with her back tU him. ana at this moment the
tender bride OF Jasper advances 70 the bed ana,
an overskirt, shoots at the heart and immedl-
ateiy ends the career OF her victim. "Oh. why did
you 10 that, Maryt" was the hypocrltical inter-
rogation OF Jasper, to which the proper answer
would nave been, because you urged me to do
From the time Of the commission OF the crime
till the beginning OF the BurKsyllle circuit Court
the murderers were held for % safe keeping In the
deed. During the trial the young woman, VINO
would seem TO be In state Of nervous debility,
was borneto and rom the Court House on lounge
winch she occupied; but we frankly confess that
we saw nothing IN this justly calculated to awaken
the sympathles Of any thinking man. Not that we
felt no sympathy for one 80 young so helpless and
in such hopeless misery. We lelt deeply Ior ner;
but not on account Of ANY hypocraca! air or aiti:
tude. We looked upon her as the willing dupe OF
the nesrtless wretch whom she loved. Through
his influence abe had fred the fatal shot, and un.
weakness which he thinks with plead Ior both;
hence she H the less to blame, but oy no means
The argument for the Common wealth is closed
and the jury retires What Is their fates The
Iaces OF the prisoners are as expressionless as
season and the Court proceeds TO other business.
Now Ia the time for long, loud and enthusiastic
made ia The case we are told that our towns
man. T. c. Wtnirey, In the prosecution, made the
fnest enott Of his NE and Jordan surprised and
entirely, and Jokes are perpetrated and jolity In
dulged.
III Is the opinion Oh young lawyer VINO OnCe
lived in Burksville and VINO possibly possessed
less pety than wit, that all things are known from
the foundation OF the world except the decision OF
petit jurorA U.Lv u.I
THE CURTAIN PALLS
over the window OF the Jury room, the eager
crowd presses to the bar, the Judge resumes hls
seat and takes mp the SPECTATOR the prisoners
look u little anxious, and the jury ails TO come
down, The disappointed crowd slowly moves out
OF the Court House, each with sicKly smile NO
decision yet." At this juncture We retired, ons
learned afterward that no decision was reacned,
and the prisoners we're held over 10 further tTlAl.