The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-27
THAT BALLOT
Examining Trial Of Watkins Begins.
Tho Dofenso Endeavors TO Have It
Postponed Without Success.
A Bond OF $4,000 Being Required,
Some Testimony l. Takon.
j, f. Fairburn IL the Principal Wit
ness for tho u. s, Government.
His story Is Worry Damaging FOR wat-
klns, as 10 Quotes tho Defendants
Alleged Conversations with Him
Tho Trial Continued.

spy'0' nlp0t 70 ,o Ih Appeal
lrlr Rock, Ark. Feb. 26 The cx-
aiming trial OF Robert Watkins today
before United States Commissioner Wa
tens, Ion alleged completely for the stealing
Of the rIummcryillo balot.boN last No
ycmbcr, developed practically nothing to
provo either that lac had auylhru. to do
with stealing the box or with the ue,1siin-
alton OF Clayton that followed. The cx-
animation was begun u, o'clock this
afternoon, the Government being repre-
scented by United States Attorney J. T..
williams, assisted by Judge John Me-
Clurr, aud the dcicusc 10y the Hon. +. Il.
Martin, of this city MIR Martin stated that
the defendant desired 10 waycan examina-
ton, aud WIS ready TO give any bond
within reason Tor his appearance ut tho
next term ol this court. lie pleaded not
guilty. cmphatic1lly go both a. to primary
or secondary connection with the oilcnsc
charged, either prior or subsequent to its
commission.
Counsel for The Government said that IL
has frequently been the ease that the evil
dcncc had boon heard after the waiver by
the defendant A far as be- WIS concerned
he would not be- satisfied with smaller
bond than SO Olo Mr.. Martin declared
that such an amount would be- unra,ou-
able. The court observed that the cOulyn-
ton OF counsel as 90 the proper amount Tor
the bond was sufficient argument In
itself To lead to tho belief that
an investigation was necessary.
Mr. Martin then moved Tor a con,inu.
ancc. but Ia the opinion Of the court ho
presented mo- sufficient grounds as Il, tho
defendants witnesses not nON ~ gt,und-
nncu can be- heard on another duy. Tho
court, under the further consideration that
the witnesses iur the Government NAV ha
scattered 40 thu next term Of thc court. ur-
dyul ihc examination 90 proceed Twelve
| Witnesses Cor tHs Government Jud Use lUr
| Che dpiruHn we're then sworn.
The MOST important Testimony WfH riycn
by j. T.. luuhuu, ct Moul f., Vito saure
nut thH vtrUut ilr NUk.u ni
/ Charl, Iic, who oa, sru AEl On
thr uIfhi The ballot box WIS l1lcn Fair.
iru testified rs ini'1ws 7 1--we r' N1nii-
D lHu, auI u.Au ru.F IH.1. ua,U ...a
I defendant several timcs mot him
dr.t in the Hotel Biknr in This city on
| the 10Th luy of February l,,l ] clmn
hero after NV tnn's Aitrr icw minutes
talk hr lakrl ii See couldn't rut some rcd
uyr anywhere NJ town on Sunday. ! sid
/ ! thought there was q hole iu iha wall
somewhere. aud We went out aud iound
| il We took drink aud eitor talking
awhile took another drink. aud
went back aud st down. 10y
/ the hotel stove. Watkins said
! hp came down that evening ! u-kDd him
! where Wall WAS tie al Nam was
gone. he told about @ game ul p,kcr at
/ pmmm,ryiilc in which Wnhl enjoyed, a
man came aud knocked un DO, door and
! Wan,cd tD got In tho game boat was refused
! admtinurr Presently n shot was fired
| through The window at Wall, iuiurng him
/ slightly, johnson I,lod Watkins Why they
wHulri t1 hill Wall. "Oh. be- knew too
/ much, Was the response Watkins then
went on 10 tell that he AMI some other
/ parties went 30 The voting playv in Plum
! mcryiIlr on the night ui NUycmb.i q. and
while be- lWaikinsl held a pistol Al oae 81
/ the Judges iho uthrrs took TIE box that iis
and Charles PATIO drove OF with Il In
buggy la the direction IT the Arkansas
River
u was proved on eros examination that
fl.rhun bad been in jail al N1u..l0u fur
umh.ls.rmrui, bat bad been released With
uut % iiIUl
Charles Pate testified know the d.
fpuIrut anil arW him uu tNr tIl day u
November. aNuut . O'Clock NJ l.uWmcr-
Willie. sass bin UiI aud Ul aN iby alter
noon COO about two huur hy suu. ! Wcut
| home with him. llu live, W d. %. H.
Whites about seven ur eight miles tom
| r.umm,ullIu NrWCuti ina buggy. Nygpt
iu ur Whites house si,vr dark. negro
took ulf mule tom the buggy 1ui We
! went boz thr house and slt hy tbH Iiru I'LL
supper Was called. As Hpuu uB Wr got our
supper Wo got on SOME mules unl started
| back 10 rummcrN'lp We got % tnNn
between 40 and II o'clock. On tho
ull We met Jack Owens about
mIlu aud q half ur two mile, from
rIummurilIp. lie was clfylu. q torch.
| liyhi. hy which We rryulusd him. ITO
| toll us that thr balIutlIs lIi iv.u stolen.
l Ihuv told uI that sheriff shelby hul u'cn
/ to'psmuhrl 90 and was coming 1n tho
/ train. aud We went over o. the depot 70
meet him. llc got OH ilu train aud bad
noon with Him Veal vent back over
o. the drug store, aud after staying about
ten minutes, I went home.
The Government here rested. Counsel
Tor defendant stated that be- would be- ablo
TO prove an aIibi, but did not desire 10 be-
gin taking testimony thea gs dD.undants
material witnesses bad not byyu served.
The officers will serve these witnesses
without DELAY The hearing was con.
tiuurl until Thursday morning NJ 10
O'Clock. when thp testimony Tor the de-
PENDANT will be- heard.
.#a
. So, .f.t..,t fltiteI