The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-11-17

around his neck, black sack coat on his
back, whilst black vest and dark pants
completed the costume of tho dudish
head waiter, now on trial for his life.
The role Of witnesses being called it
was found that Addie Anderson, an i'm
portant witness for both sides, was
absent, and the sheriff stated that both
he and Sergeant Wright, of Roanoke,
had been endeavoring to serve q sub
poena on her, but that she could not be
FOUND, though it was certain that she
was in Roanoke few days ago.
Sheriff Iirkle stated that he had in.
qired for her at Hotel Felix. at the AL
leghany Institute and at Mr.. Cookies,
the latter the Norfolk and Western
auditor. but all to no purpose. Tho
counsel OF both sides then Began to dis
cover that it was impossible TO proceed
without Addie Anderson, and the case
was In fair way to be postponed again,
when Judge Griffin, who evidently is
tired out with the continuation Of it
from court to court, ordered the sheriff
to proceed at once to Roanoke to find
the missing witness and bring her forth
with. Then postponing the case till .
p. M, and to make sure that Addie
should appear, he himself. accompanied
the sheriff to Roanoke. where the
delinquent Addie was found at Auditor
Cookies and brought back to Salem.
At p. m. court again convened and
the prisoner having been brought in
was arraigned on four separate counts,
as follows: One, charging him, in legal
phraseology, with having, on the 9TH of
April, 1891, murdered Susan j. Watkins
by striking her in the head with stick
or wooden club; second, as before, with
a stone or rock; third, as before, with a
pistol loaded with gun. powder and
leaden bullets; fourth, as before, in
some way or other. manner or means
unknown.
A demurrer to this indictment and
objection to each count thereof was
promptly overruled by the court.
venire of sixteen well-dressed and
intelligent looking men from the neigh
borhood of Vinton was then called and
the usual questions to determine their
eligibility to serve, were asked, which
resulted in discharging S. l.. Thresher
who bad formed an opinion; N. Preston,
who had also made up mis- mind; George
kasey, was over 60 and begged to be
excused. and j. H. Pedigo. who didn't
believe in the death penalty.
The counsel for the defense not OBJ
jecting to any of the gentlemen, the
following jury was then sworn.
Messrs. John Jones, j. r. Richard
son, Frank Gish, r. o. Smith, r. j.
Burnett, Isaac Kelly, Jacob Vineyard.
r. b. Rhopes, S. NJ Muse, Joel Ridg-
way, Griffin Lloyd and r. w. Bryant.
After this the Indictment was read,
the jury charged and the following wit
nesses for the prosecution sworn:
Lawrence Anderson, John Banks,
George Washington aud wife, Mat.
Baity. Isaiah Reynolds, Taylor Wat
kins. Lucy Watkins, Asa jackson, Tay-
lor Fieds and ben Wright, all colored;
also Miss Fanny Cox. Drs. Sanders and
Baird and Capt. John c.. Hathaway.
The first witness introduced for the
prosecution by Commonwealth Attor-
ney Ballard was Lawrence Anderson, a
black boy of about sixteen, and a
nephew of the prisoner. He was the
lad who whilst driving his OK cart in
the mountain hollow, with some other
children, picking up wood, first dis
covered the body of the murdered
woman at about two o'clock on the
Tuesday afternoon. When asked
whether he examined the dead body
when he found it, he said:
"No. sir; didn't stay no longer than
could get in my wagon and go home.
I was scared, and went home and told
my mother"
The boy gave his evidence in very
clear, straightforward manner. and de-
scribed the position of the body as it lay
in the branch worry intelligently, and
after short cross-examination was
allowed to go.
John Banks was the next witness, and
he told his story very we'll, though con-
siderably badgered by Lawyer Pugh, of
tho defence. Banks was one Of the men
who went to view the dead body when
Anderson raised the alarm. He Mad Just