The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-11-18

remarked, "If that is so she ought not
80 claim you as her husband" and then
returned to his house, whore BIO went
upstairs to the room in which was Susie
Watkins and sat down and asked her II
Charles was her husband.
Here the defence objected, ana the
prosecution wishing to quote authorl-
ties to show that in this case the decia-
ration OF the woman could be stated py
witness, the jury was sent out in charge
of the sheriff, while the argument went
on. AT its conclusion the judge sus-
tanned the objection, the jury was re-
called, and then again committed 10
the sheriff, and the court took recess
for dinner.
A. five minutes past two George
Washington continued. When Charles
came back Sunday evening from Hotel
Felix witness asked him whether the
white woman or the dark woman was
his wife. Pointing to Susan who was In
the room he said: "This is my lawfully
married wife,"
Witness did not see Susan any more,
and Charles Watkins not till Tuesday
between and z, when he came to pay
his board and get his trunk. George
asked him where was his wife, and he
said he'd left her on Jefferson street.
Asked about what became OF the Whlte
woman; said she left Sunday afternoon
with Ben Wright's daughter. when
shown portrait OF Ida and asked IL he
recognized her, he said. 'Oh yes, I've
dinner George Washington could not
give Ida's full name, he was now able
to cone pretty near the mark, and in
GROSS examination the defense tried to
show that he had been tempered with.
Phyllis Washington, wife OF George,
large, light mulatto woman, possessed
OF more intelligence than her husband,
then came forward and told how Charles
and Ida had been living as man and
wife in her house for weeks. and that
Charles spoke of her as his wife, and
brought her meals to her in her room.
where she stayed most of the time. Said
that on the Sunday when Ben Wright,
mis- daughter and Susan called witness
little boyswent to the door and Wright
asked for Charles Watkins room, and
all went up TO it.
Five minutes after her mother called
her upstairs, she went up and stood in
the hall, heard no words or fuss in the
room, spoke to Ben Wright, Wright's
daughter and Ida Freibel passed out OF
the house, so did Ben Wright. AS soon
as Phyllis saw Charles, she said, mir.
Watkins, what is the trouble?" to which
he replied, "Oh, that lady is my cousin;
she's all right" She answered, ben
Wright says she's your wife, and If
that's so you must move from here"
Watkins then said he'd mako Ben
tell different tale when he came back,
and then went off. After dark he came
back and saw Susan, who called my
husband in the parlOr, and we agreed to
let her stay all night, as she was
stranger.
The last I saw OF Susan alive was
Monday evening. Just before dark she
and Charles came over the hill towards
the Colored Methodist Church, going to
the dummy, and she had on plush
cloak, blue Japanese silk dress. with
white flowers in the pattern.
Regarding the white woman, Phyllis
stated that Ida Freibel came back to
her house on the Wednesday, and about
fifteen minutes afterwards the deputy
sheriff came for her and took her to Sa-
lem. Witness also testified that she
saw the dead body of the woman at
Oakey's, and recognized it as that of
Susan Watkins. Cross-examination
failed to materially shake the evidence
of Phyllis Washington.
Captain j. G. Hathaway, who for
time acted as conductor on the dummy
line, then testified as follows: II live in
Roanoke; was there last April. Saw the
prisoner on the dummy last spring, one
colored woman with him. 1t was either
the $40 or Z p. N. trip. The colored
woman was little taller than medium
height, little darker than Charles,
well-dressed, with scar on one cheek.
From her conversation, judged that
she was more than ordinarily intelli-
gent. There not being many people on
the car, sat down and noticed her.
She had on seal plush cloak. When
we got to the end of the road ut Salem,
she and the prisoner got off, Have
never seen the prisoner since till yes
terday. Captain Hathaway was allowed
to go without crossexamination.
Isaiah Reynolds, colored laborer,
known Charles Watkins for ten years.
He saw him on the Monday night near
Spies store on Main street, in company
with q woman. Continuing the witness
said: 81 passed by him, but didn't
speak. just as 1 got to the courthouse
corner the woman crossed over the
street toward Younger's drug store;
Charles kept on till he reached Bur-
dett's store, when he crossed over
towards the Lucerne. This was be-
tween and o'clock. Tho woman
seemed to have on black coat coming
to her knees. I couldn't tell whether
she was white or colored, as she had
her back TO me. Saw the dead body;
couldn't identify her, as hadn't paid
no attention to her." Slight cross-ex
animation followed.
Taylor Watkins, middle aged
darkey, bearing strong resemblance to
the prisoner, then gave in his evidence.
Said he, ~ live on the macadamized