The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-10-12
A BLOODY cHILB.BRIDE.
How Mountain Desperate Game 10
His Death Nt the Hands OF RI.
brothers. Wife,

How Mountain Desperate Came TO
His Death Nt the Hands or his
brothers. Wife,
About one year ago In Cumberland
county, says the Kentucky Spectator,
was enacted one OF the most horrible
tragedies that ever appalled, IN en-.
lightened community, the account of
which, il given in the order Of sequence,
will not only surprise tho reader al
every step, but will astound him at
the catastrophe in which the victim is
q desperate and the murderer s!rlish
bride.
For the sake OF those of our readers
who know little or nothing OF the case,
We give the facts as we gathered them
from the pleadings in the Burksville
Circuit Court
Clay and Jasper Watkins were broth.
erS, and from Ill that we could learn,
fearless, reckless, dissipated and dan.
gerous men. For all this they were
not Of family which would usually be
denominAted low. However they we're
disposed to quarrel, than which moth
ing could be more degrading, Their
last and fatal quarrel was in regard to
. note which one wished the other to
destroy, 1t was Clay who made the de.
mand, md for the sake al peace Jasper
claims that he at once complied: but il
appears that nothing more than nomin.
al peace was ever enjoyed thereafter
between them. They qnarrelled at al.
most every meeting. Finally threats
were uttered, and Clay went over to
Tennessee, II Is claimed to avoid a
fatal result. During his absence his
brother married girl OF fifteen sum.
mufs, who was Of good family and
possessed character simply spotless.
Only about three days after Jasper's
marriage Clay returned to Kentucky,
and, being under tho Influence OF
whisky, said TO some one that he was
"going to see Jasper, have friendly
chat, and shoot it out with him." True
to this promise he went, and, on meet.
ing his brother, asked him for the con.
ference proposed. The response from
Jasper was, "Are you arredY Clay
replied, III have nothing but pocket
knife; have you anything?" jasper
answered, ~ have arms enough and
plenty to divide with you" The
mother Of the angry men left lest she
shonld witness violence. Tho enraged
Clay advanced upon his brother, and
Jasper and his bride went up stairs,
whence, possibly, q fatal shot, taking
effect in 0lay's back, brought him to
the ground. Who did this tho dying
man seemed net to know, for when ask.
ed afterward who shot him he said, 81
reckon brother did, but | thought him
too brave to sly on me-" This remark
would indicate that more happened on
that dreadful night than has yet been
told, but 1t is believed that Jasper
Watkins shot his brother at au unex.
pected moment, as nothing else will ac-
CONT for this remark.
Next morning the wounded man was
taken TO the house OF Mr.. Morton,
where he was visited md cared for by
his mother and his friends. Hero his
hopeless condition was deplored by
himself, here his dying declarations
were made, hut the most fearful scene
was yet to be witnessed.
A day or two Inter tho noble Jasper
and his generous young wife 20 TO see
the unfortunate brother aud propose to
minister TO him. All wet III the morn.
ing dew the bride stands by tho door
in the sick mans room, her husband
near her, but on the outside. The
mother Of Clay Watkins stands by his
bedside, attempting to feed him, rs the
unimpeached witness to these facts en-.
tered the room. Now Jasper 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 MS his
mother walks away with her back to
him, and at this moment the tender
bride OF Jasper advances TO the bed
and, drawing pistol which had been
concealed under an overskirt, shoots at
the heart aud Immediately ends the co.
reer OF her victim. "Oh, why did you
do that, Mary2' was the hypocritical
interrogation OF jasper, TO which the
proper answer would have been, "Be.
cause you urged me TO do So"
From tho time OF the commission OF
the crime till the beginning Of tho
Burksville Circuit Court the murderers
wero held for safe keeping in the Cum.
berland County Jail-a ioyless honey.
moon indeed. During the trial the
young woman, who would seem to be in
state OF nervous debility, was borne
to and from tho Court House on
lounge which she occupied; but we
frankly confess that wo saw nothing in
this calculated to awaken tho sympa.
thies OF any thinking man. Not that
we felt no sympathy for one so young,
so helpless, and in such hopeless mis-.
cry. We felt deeply for her; but not
on account Of any hypocritical air or
attitude. We looked upon her Us the
willing dupe OF the leartless wretch
whom she loved. Through his influence
she had fired the fatal shot, and under
the same influence she is now profess.
ing weakness which lie thinks will
plead for both; hence she is the less
to blame, but by no means blameless.
The argument for the Commonwealth
is closed, and the jury retires. What
is their iate9 The faces Of the prison
ers are as expressionless as stone. The
anxious crowd disperses for little
season and the Court proceeds 10 other
business.
Tho curtain falls over the window Of
the Jury room, the eager crowd presses
to tile bar, the Judge resumes his seat,
the prisoners look little anxious, and
the jury fails to come down. The dis.
appointed crowd slowly moves out OF
~ ci....L I1nnnn onnL III, . I'LL.