The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-30

Hundreds OF criminals have been ap-
pretended by means of letters they
wrote in an unguarded moment. The
name OF Charles Watkins, who MUIR
dered his wife near Salem on Monday
night, April 6, IS the latest addition to
the list. He wrote q letter which led to
his arrest at Island Beach Hotel, N. c.,
a few days ago. There are good reasons
for believing this letter, now in the pos
session OF Henry A. Weber, manager
of the Virginia Detective Agency and
deputy sheriff at the time Watkins
killed his wife Susan, was addressed to
Addie Anderson, his cousin, who is now
domestic in the family Of Col. James
Patton, corner of Campbell and Park
streets, this city.
After wearisome search Of several
days by TIMES reporter, who found
two Addie Anderscns in the city, Wat
kins' cousin was located and interviewed
yesterday She is bright mulatto,
about 80 years of age, very intelligent,
and talked unreservedly about the let
ter. She lived at Hotel Felix at the
time Watkins was head waiter there
and committed the terrible crime which
brings the gallows within range of his
mental vision. The other Addie is of
dark color and no relation of Charles.
"lf Charles Watkins wrote to me after
he left Roanoke said Addie, II never
received the letter. a letter came to
Salem for me, addressed to the care of
Edward Johnson, the colored constable,
and was taken from the office by his
father, Edward Johnson, Sr. l never
received this letter, although I made
several demands for it. l have been
told that it was taken to tho council
chamber in Salem by him and opened in
the presence Of the authorities. Who it
was from, or what was in it. | don't
know.
while was a steward in the family OF
PostmasterAsbcrrys shortly after Charles
went away, he asked me where Jacob
Evans, who some time ago waited upon
w. Allen at the Grocer Furnace, was
told him the last letter had from him
was written at Pittsburg. Mr.. Asberry
afterwards told me that Jacob Evans
was Charles Watkins, the wife ,mur-
derer. Charles and Jacob were close
friends"
was travelling under the name Of Jacob
Evans. The latter was arrested at
Pittsburg under this supposition, but as
soon as 1t was reliably ascertained that
he was not Charles Watkins, he was re-
leased. Addie did not mention this Cir
cumstance and is probably ignorant of it,
The letter alluded to by Addie is no
doubt the one that led to the location Of
Watkins al or near Wilmington What
it's contents are is known only to the
county authorities at Salem. IL is said
that 1t contains admissions tantamount
to confession Of guilt. 1t will be re-
membered that in an interview with
representatives of THE TIMES Monday,
Watkins denied positively that he had
written to any one in Salem orERoanoke
since his flight on Tuesday, the day his
'wife's dead body was found, and that he
made any effort at Wilmington to con-
ceal his identity. The letter before
alluded to will probably convict him of
falsehood in both statements, as it is
claimed that he wrote Addie Anderson
and told her to address him as S. G..
Williams.
Addie Anderson contradicts the state
ment of Lucy Taylor Watkins, who lives
with the grandmother OF Charles, where
he spent portion of the night after
numbering his wife, in that he left for
Roanoke with Edith Friebel about or
o'clock Tuesday afternoon. Addie says
she arrived at the house at 10 M. and
they did not leave until about 5 o'clock.
She says also that she asked Charles
where the other woman (his wife) was,
and, with wave of the hand, he an
swered, "Oh. she is down at Roanoke
with some of her friends" Addie knew
that Susan had gone to Salem with
Charles, hut says his answer was salts
factory al the time.
If the letter addressed to Addie Ander-
son led to the detection of his where
abouts and his arrest, her friends claim
that she Ii entitled to the reward 1t
is doubtful, however, if she will press
her claim, as she is troubled deeply by
his incarceration and the territ lie charge
brought against him.