Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-04-05
prisoner proceeded to Gaithersburg and sur

rendered to Mr.. Crawford
The prisoner further said that Saturday
evening before the homicide he had been
out looking after stock and on returning to
his fathers barn had heard the report of a
gun and was attracted by shot falling
around. He then saw Trail approaching
who dared the witness to come down in the
marsh. Two boys accompanied Trail, but
refused to accompany him when advancing
on the prisoner. Trail was warned to keep
off the place under penalty of the law, but
after defying Watkins and the law he dis
appeared. The next day Watkins was in
formed by friend that Trail had spoken of
getting after" the accused on the evening
before. Witness further stated that he had
been abused on previous occasion at Mid
dlebrook, but no assault had been made -
He stated further that on two occasions
Trail had assaulted him, knocking him
down in each instance. The first time was
in the mill OF the accused's father. Trail en-
tered where young Watkins was occupied,
and after accusing him of lying about the
sale of some washing compound which
Trail pedded, struck at Watkins, who tried
to dodge the blow, thus not receiving its
full force. Watkins was felled to the floor,
and attempted to seZe gun in the corner
but was prevented. In the month of June,
1887, one Sunday, Trail had found Watkins
at Norwood's house. Trail was drunk, and
when Watkins made some remark to little
child, saying rats" Trail took exceptions,
and after cursing Ed. struck him several
times, abusing him violently. Mr.. Norwood
and half sister of Mrs. Norwood, Eliza
Raines, then removed Trail. After cross ex-
animation by States Attorney Mcclure the
witness was dismissed
Wallace Mobley testified that on June 4,
Trail asked him to go squirrel hunting. The
boy replied that he had but one load of am
munition. Trail replied that this would be
enough. After staying in Mr.. Watkins
woods for some time, in passing near Nor
woods Trail told Mobley's brother, a young
boy, to fire the gun and "wake them up
down there" meaning down at Norwood's.
The boy then corroborated Watkins state
ment rs to the threats made by Trail
Mrs. Fannie Norwood was next sum-
moned. She had been out of the court.
room during the trial and was unaware of
the character of testimony presented by eth
er witnesses. She is quite prepossessing in
appearance, weighs 1876 pounds, is 25 years
old, of medium height, good figure, rosy
checks, luxuriant brown hair, regular fea
lures, brown eyes and red lips. She came
into court attred in a dress of green cloth
and wore neatly fitting plaid coat A
jaunty hat, trimmed with blue velvet and
She said she had been married seven years,
and had two children, aged three and seven
years. Her testimony was given in clear.
unhesitating terms, and was in accord with
the statement made by Watkins. She stated,
however, that the quarrel between Watkins
and Trail, II any there was, was because of
Mrs. Norwood's half sister, Eliza Raines.-
She witnessed the killing, and saw Trail
rushing at Watkins with a hand behind
him, after using the threatening language
heretofore detailed. She had known Trail
casually for some years and had known him
to carry IA black jack She denied any in
timacy between her and prisoner or with
Trail. On the day OF the shooting, after
Rabbit had called, Trail tried to enter, but
she shut the door in his face, as he had
been ordered away by her husband some
months previously. After the shooting she
said Rabbit told Ell. not to change his
clothes, to remain at Norwood's, go upstairs
and shoot any one following HIM. Wat
kins wanted to change his clothes prepare.
tory to giving himself up.
After Mrs Norwood's testimony, Mr..
Wootton desired to recall Luckett, with
view to impeaching certain parts OF his tes-
tmony, but he was over -ruled.
VIM. w. Kinder was next called. He had
known Trail to carry a pistol and a black
jack. He saw trail make an assault upon
Deputy Sheriff Howard White.
Washington nj. Miller, the next witness
placed on the stand said Trail was vicious
man. Trail had told him Of the affair Sat
urday evening preceding the killing, say
ing, "Wash, I've been up to old man Wat
kins' after that boy" Miller said, bud,
you ought to stop this. 1t is supposed that
Ed is carrying that pistol for you, and if
you keep on molesting that boy he may
Oh,
after him, will eat all his bullets and break
every bone in his body" On Sunday Mil
Ter told Watkins of Trails conversation
and counselled avoiding him. Ed. replied ::
I've surely kept out OF his way all could"
Witness testified that Rabbit had met him
near Middebrook some time after the kill
ing. aad said to him that he was so mixed
up with the Ricketts, and Trails that as a
witness he could not do justice. He had it
in his power TO convict or clear. He seemed
to fear the Trails and Ricketts,, and said he
wanted to go down to Tennessee, and old
man Watkins would do well TO give him
the money TO go with Rabbit further said
that the case should be removed from Rock.
vile, as there was too much prejudice in
Montgomery to secure a fair trial; that
Judge Lynch had informed him that trial
in Rockville would result in Conviction
Witness SAID he was nephew of Mr.. Levi
Watkins.
The court then took recess to 2 O'clock
George Iramme took the stand. lie stated
Trail To be IA bad man and ready 10 take ad
vantage OF Il weaker. Luckett, in describ-
ing the killing of Trail to him after the oc-
currcnce, said that he was an witness
and that the killing took place outside Nor
woods yard; that Trail had reached for
Watkins with his left hand and thrown his
right behind him. Watkins turned as II to
escape, then turned back and shot He also
spoke of an election riot in which Trail was
implicated, and gave the whole family a
very bad character The witness was In.
clined to be garrulous, and had 10 be FREE
quenty restrained by Judge Jones, when
disposed TO launch into the discussion Of the
local option and other questions.
Mr.. Peter, Of Montgomery, had some trou-
Bile with the next witness, Richard Green,
his failing being likewise an inclination to
talk too much. The witness finally said
"You had better let me sit down." while a
laugh ran around the room, upon which
Judge Jones promptly frowned
John A Selby, Il constable of MOntgom-
cry county, testified that Trail had once
struck him on the side of his face and no
whiskers had grown there since.
AppOintments-Th County Commits
sioners at their session this week appointed
the following named collectors of taxes and
supervisors for this county,
Colectop-1st district, Bowie Magruder
2nd, John IL. Clagett; Bird, Chas. Selman
4th, John E. West; 9th, Sam' ID. Waters
Supervsors-1st district, VIM. Allnutt, G
Fenton Snouffer, Franklin Groomes, John
o. Clarke, j. Calvin Thompson, Michael
O'roole, and others.
End, Geo. NJ. Monkey, Luther Day, John
E. Brown, James Holland, Geo. T. Linthi-
cum Of G., Grafton Duvall, and others.
Bird, Levin b. johnson, Frederick o. Sell
man, Richard T. White, Thomas Hickman
Iachariah G. Cooley, Martin +. Fisher, and