The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-28

long conversation with Charles Wat
kins, the alleged wife murderer, in his
cell in. tho Roanoke county Jail, at S
o'clock yesterday afternoon. When
accosted from the window he sprang
lightly to his feet and came forward
with a.pleasant greeting. His appear
anco was haggard and an uneasy look
was plainly noticeable in his eyes. He
volunteered the information that he
was worried and tired "My brain is
troubled" said he, land confinement
goes hard with me. | have a great
deal to bother mo and am trying to get
things straight SO can got out Of this
trouble. have been writing letters
since ~ o'clock to my friends and am
not through yet
My cell is nice and clean and have
no complaint to make. have not seen
any of my friends or kindred since got
back, except cousin from Roanoke who
called to see mo. / do not know WHY
my kinspeople have not called, unless it
is because they have not heard of nv
return, or like great many others,
Cuey DcllcV0 am guilty.
NO, sir, | don't believe have anv
statement to make about the charge
against me. My brain is troubled and
am not prepared to talk much about it
now. You can say to the colored people,
who are anxious, learn, to hear what
have to say about the crime am ac-
cused of, thatI will make my statement
At the proper time and it will make nv
innocence clear"
Whether Watkins meant that he
would make this statement at his trial
or earlier was not clear to the scribe,
and he was not disposed to solve the
problem. In answer to an inquiry about
his defense, he said:
"Onc of the attorneys, Colonel Hans
brough, who l desire to defend me. is
out of town, 1 understand, but will
see him as soon as he returns and make
the arrangements. / also intend getting
Mr.. A. b. Pugh, who, learn, is one of
the sharpest young lawyers about here,
TO assist Colonel Hansbrough. With
them shall not be uneasy"
Watkins could not be led to talk di-
rcctly about the murder, and the re-
porter, mindful Of the injunction laid
upon him by the authorities. did not
press his inquiries.
In compliance with request for in
formation about his flight the prisoner
said:
II did not fec from anything left
Roanoke Tuesday and stopped over in
Lynchburg The first heard about the
murder of my wife was in barber shop
where went for shave on Wednesday.
picked up Lynchburg paper and read
telegram from Roanoke, saying she
had been murdered and that was ac-
cused of it. This news did not excite
me. got shave and listened to the
talk OF several colored detectives who
were boasting about what they would
do and how they would catch me.
think remained in Lynchburg until
Thursday, when went to Wilmington
and secured 4 Job as waiter at Island
Reach Hotel, nine miles from the city.
Here made no sort of attempt to dis
guise myself, although l expected to be
arrested every day.
AT Wrightsville, one and half miles
distant, there was $4,000 or 90, 600 sol
dlers in camp, and l expected to be re-
cognized by some one every day, but l
did not care. ] just thought that if
was arrested l would come back and
they could do what they wanted to with
me. l was arrested while eating supper.
had just called for a beefsteak when
several men rushed in with drawn
pistols and demanded surrender. 1
asked them what was up and told them
they did not need pistols to take me.
l requested permission to finish the
steak, so you see | was not furried, but
they said, No, you must come along
now, SO | went.
II would have come with Mr.. Zirkle
and Mr.. Weber without being ironed,
and cannot see why they thought it
necessary to handcuff me. have done
nothing to try and get away, for al
though some of the colored people here
sayit took six men to arrest me, and
that tried to jump from the car win
dow. So you see how people start false
reports. The newspapers have pub
lished lot of stuff that is not true, but
1T will all come right at my trial, when
the ruth will be made known
Where is Edith Friebel?"
II don't know. At home, | suppose,
as she intended to go there as soon as
she could get some money from her
father, and intended to go to Philadel-
phia. She was rot we'll and wanted to
go home.''
Watkins did not say why he went to
North Carolina instead of PHILADELPHIA.
His wife was incidentally mentioned,
and he asked quickly:
"When they found her body was there
any money on it?"
Watkins repeated the inquiry before
he was answered that she had several
pieces OF jewelry AMI very fine clothes,
but no money. deep, long .drawn sigh
escaped him, and after Slight pause he
said:
my wife and | both wore the best of
clothes. She had pair of earrings that
cost SO, watch that cost $50 and sew
oral cat nd y>1oip eroI1 .;..-