The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-10

her husband, Charles Watkins, on Mon
day night, was tho all-absorbing topic
at Salem yesterday. Business in every
department of trade was practically
suspended, and people gathered on the
street corners, in real estate offices and
at the hotels, and excitedly discussed
the murder.
The colored people of the town, re-
inforced by large number of 6heir
race from the surrounding country,
hung around eager for information.
Some of thom, holder than the rest,
freely indulged in threats to lynch the
murde rer when he was caught, and a
few went SO far as to declare to tho
authorities their intention to take the
law into their own hands when Watkins
was brought to Salem.
Judge Griffin, Commemorative At
torney Hansbrough, Sheriff C. NJ. Web
Der and his deputy, II. A. Webber, Mayor
Younger, City Sergeant Frier and
Policemen johnson and Boon had little
to say, but that little was indication of
their belief that Charles Watkins had
murdered his wife, and Of their deter
mination to protect the accused, if he
was apprehendcd, from mob violence
At 10 o'clock Coroner John Ii. Camper
called to order the jury of inquest, COM
posed of the following citizens: c. M.
Hatcher, j. l.. Shipman, John N.
Banks, Frank A. Lovelock, S. r.
Stricken and DR.. b. P. Laundus, and
u Mt 1c
sumed. In order to give the readers of
HE TINES clear statement of the
crime it will be necessary to briefly re-
view the testimony adduced before the
jury on Wednesday, before reproducing
the testimony of the three witnessese K
amined yesterday.
Susan Watkins, oolored, wife No.
of Charles Watkins, arrived in Salem
Saturday night and went to the home of
benjamin Wright, colored, and intro
duced herself as the wife of Watkins,
saying she had often heard him mention
Wrights name in speaking OF Salem.
She exhibited papers. which substanti-
ated her claim to the relationship she
sustained to Watkins. She remained
all night and on Sunday morning
Wright accompanied her to Roanoke in
search for hor husband. They found
him at tho residence of George Wash
ington, on Sixth avenue n. e., where he
lodged with white woman he claimed
as his wife. No. introduced herself as
the lawful wife of Watkins, and he,
with apparent reluctan acknowledged
the truth of what she said, and the
white woman, or wife No. 2, left and he
accompanied her. He subsequently, re-
turned, however, and spent the night in
n room with the late arrival lie in
vited her to take buggy ride shortly
after returning, but she declined, and
he did not press his invitation.
On Monday morning Watkins departed
early, but his wife (No. y, remained
until between 5 and 6 o'clock, when he
returned and took her away, going in
the direction of the Shenandoah Valley
railroad track. In the afternoon, about
o'clock she informed Washington's
wife that she was afraid to 60 away
with Watkins. Tho next time Watkins
was heard of was in front of Youngers
drug store, on Main street, in Salem,
where Isaiah Reynolds, colored, saw
him in company with colorcd woman
shortly after dark.
Miss Fannie Cox, who resides about
two miles west of Salem and about 200
yards north of the turnpike, testified
that on Monday night Charles Watkins
came to her house about O'Clock and
asked for lantern. Just before
his appearance at the door she had heard
some ono crying at the log over the
creek, and, listening, heard q voice say
ing: Come across the log; come on.
come on" A woman's voice replied, 81
can't walk the log" elf you can't,
stand there" was the reply. Immedi-
ately the man said: II will go to Miss
Fannie Cox and borrow lantern"
Going to the door in response to rap
upon it, she found Charles Watkins
there. In reply to the inquiry what he
was doing there at that time of the
night, he said he and his wife ''comc up
on the dummy and were going up home"
Miss Cox and her sister lighted the
lantern and accompanied him to the
creek. where they found a colored
woman. Watkins, with the aid of the
light, assisted her across the log, and
they continued on their journey.
Miss Cox said that just before dusk a
white woman. whom they knew as the
wife of Watkins, passed their house,
going in the same direction taken by
Watkins and the colored woman.
Lucy Taylor Watkins, wife of Taylor
Watkins, who lives at the Same house
with the grandmother of Charles, with
whom he made his home when at Salem,
said that Ida, the white woman claimed
by him as his wife, came to their house
at 7:35 p. m. Monday.
"Her dress and shoes were very wet
and she said in explanation that she
was frightened and waded the creek in
stead of crossing on the log. She said
that she had first gone to Ben. Wright's
on reaching Salem, and had come to tell
us that she could not pay debt she
owed us, but would do so in few days,