Montgomery County sentinel., 1888-06-15
Edvard watk,n. Held to BAIL

instant, Dy Judge NlnsOn, on Monuay lhS'
in the Court House, which was crowded
with spectators eager to hear the evidence
in the case. The State was represented BY
States Attorney Edw. G. Peter and the de
fence by Messrs James B. Henderson and
Alexander Kilgour.
Thomas Luckett, colored, was the first
witness called ON the part of the State
Resides at Gaithersburg, and works for Lev
Watkins; saw Edward Trail and the pris
oner on Monday; was eighty or ninety yards
from the parties when the fuss took place
1t was about 3 o'clock in the afternoon
Watkins came TO the field and said Pap
Bud Trail is at the house again, and have
ordered him way" His father told him tc
tell Trail to go away Trail was then OIL
Watkins fence with his legs towards the
house. The prisoner ordered Trail to leave
Trail said, "You - will not 60" He
got off the fence and started in the direction
of Watkins. The latter stepped back, then
turned and fired three shots. Trail called
out that he was shot. He lived about TWEEN.
ty minutes. There were three holes in him
one near the neck, one above the heart and
one through the arm.
James E. Rabbit was at Watkins farm
on Monday last. Edward Trail went with
him as far as the gate of Norwoods house
saw the prisoner standing in the door of the
mill as they passed. He left Trail in the
road and went into the house. He had been
in the house but few moments when Wat
kins came in and said Trail was on the
fence. Watkins popped out OF the back door
in the opposite direction. In few mo.
ments he heard loud talking ont of doors.
Ed Watkins told trail to get off the fence
and leave the place. Trail said TO Mr.. Levi
Watkins, II never did you any harm" I'M
mediately afterward he heard the pistol
shots in rapid succession. Was at the mill
about month before this and heard the
prisoner say that he had fuss with Trail
and he would have shot him with gun
but that his father grabbed it from him, and
that if he ever caught Trail on the place
again he would kill him
The defense called DR.. Etchison, who tes-
titled that he had been called TO see Trail,
who was lying dead about twenty yards
from Mr.. Watkins tenant house. The doc,
tor described the wounds.
Levi l.. Watkins, father of the prisoner,
said that on the afternoon Of the murder his
son came down into the field and said that
Trail was up at the house, and that he had
cursed him. The father went up to the
house with his son to order Trail off He
found when he got there that Trail was un-
der the influence of whiskey, and asked him
to leave the place. Trial refused, saying he
was waiting for Mr.. Rabbit, and then made
for the prisoner. The latter moved and
then fired three shots. After the shooting
he asked Ed why he shot Trail, and he re-
piled: "My life was in danger" The re.
mark was made Immediately after the shoot.
ing.
Mrs Fanny Norwood testified that she
lived on Mr.. Levi Watkins farm. She knew
Bud Trail he was at her home Monday
afternoon last about 3 o'clock. Mr. Rab-
bitt was there. She heard some one knock
at the door; went there and saw it was Bud
Trail. She shut the door in his face. Trail
then went in front Of the house and sat on
the fence. Then Ed Watkins came into the
house, and as he came in Bud Trail said,
"What are you doing here, you -" Ed
| Watkins then went out to the field where
his father was He returned with his father
| When Mr.. Levi L. Watkins told Trail to
| leave his place he said he would not go un-
til he got ready that there was the - that
he was looking for, meaning Ed Watkins.
Had heard trail say on one occasion that
the first time he caught Ed Watkins from
the mill he intended to cut his heart out
Upon cross examination she said she had
seen Trail make an assault ON Ed Watkins
| in her house about the 1st of March. Her
husband had to take Ed Watkins up stairs
so as to keep him away from Trail.
John Norwood lives with Mr.. Levi Wat
kins He heard Bud Trail say some time
ago, in conversation. that he wanted me to
tell Ed Watkins to have his coffin ready, as
he intended to kill him as sure as hell.
| Edward Watkins, the prisoner, was the
next witness. He said "ln the afternoon
|
way l stopped at Mr.. Norwood's 10 get "a
drink. But Trai Was sitting on the fence
He cursed me MS | went in the house.
told my father that Trail was at the house
and had been cursing me. | wanted my
father to go with me and drive him off the
place. was afraid to do SO myself When
we went to the house my father told him to
leave. He said he would not do it, was
afraid of Trail, had heard OF his threats to
kill me, and shot because, when he put his
to kill me. | was much excited at the time
Trail was directly in front and coming to
me. do not know how many times fired.
Norwood told me the Saturday before that
Trail had said that he intended to kill me"
This closed the testimony, and alter u
short argument from States Attorney Peter,
Judge Vinson decided that he could not
hold the accused for murder in the first de-
gree and fixed the bail at 81 800, which his
father, Levi l.. Watkins, furnished.
DOgg0neness.-Our Town Council has
passed dog taxing law. 1t will have a
funny efect-that is, not so funny in the
sense of jocose, but in the sense of contrary,
morose-increased and increasing howl. If
we shall be permitted to stick our officious
nose in this matter, we would suggest rem
edy for this nuisance the law desires to abate.
Under the nuisance law. take AS dog and
remove" him from this mundane sphere.
The other twenty five lettered gentlemen of
dog theory would enjoy it hugely. AS you
proceeded through the alphabet those who
have been treated dogmatically would as
sist you with alacrity and dog gone ven
gesnce, and those yet further down the al
phabet would hold aloof with dogged un-
concern. You see, you stand be:wixt and
I'd tis.ss &c