The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-01-08
ROANOKE TINES BUREAU,
BILLIARD 81 PERsINGER BLDG,
SALEM, VA, Jan Z, ll:lS a. m.

ROANOKE TINES BUREAU,
DILLARD 81 PERsINGER BLDG,
SALEM, VA, Jan Z, l1:1S n. m.
The signal is given, the trap is sprung
and Watkins neck is broken.
The murder of Susan Watkins is
avenged.
Charles Watkins, the wife murderer,
has paid the penalty of his brutal crime.
well-built trap and strong rope in
tho firm hands of the officers of the
law did the work we'll despite tho OBJ :
stinacy Of the victim.
Watkins maintained his insanity
dodge to the end and possibly his brood
ing over his impending fate, with saw
and hammer at work on the death ma
chino sounding his funeral knell, IN
balanced his mind.
Contrary to general expectation, Wat
kins early in tho morning declared his
intention to meet his fate like a man.
and when the officers were ready to read
the death warrant he made full con.
fession of the crime to tho Rev d. +.
Fox, OF the Colored Baptist Church.
lie had sent for Rev. Mr. Fox, who in
the meantime had arrived, and as the
officers and press representatives gath
e:ed around the condemned he began,
and in clear and distinct tones told The
whole story of the crime lie shot his
wife four times and described in detail
the effect of each bullet.
After passing fairly peaceful night
Watkins rose bright and early this
morning, and. changing the clothes
which he has been wearing in Jail for
suit from his own trunk, renewed the
iDcoherent talk which has charac terized
his demeanor for the pa st few weeks.
Shortly before eight o'clock Jailer
Hening asked him what he wanted
for his breakfast, when he Expressed
no particular wish, but Mr.. Fred Web
Der, who gave him his last meal, sent
waiter with oatmeal and cream, tender
loin steak, broiled oysters, poached
eggs on toast, fried potatoes, pot of
coffee and glass of wine, which was
brought to him soon after a. M, and of
which he partook heartily.
About 10 ecloock Sergeant Frier com
menced to station his twelve guards out
side the jail, inc'osure and courthouse,
and twas god thing he did, for by
that time the Gro V in the neigh borhood
was large and growing larger. The
guards were w. A. Littrell, Ed. Fitz-
gerald, VIM. Dulaney. l.. ". Spies. A.
l.. Hess j. Horace Smith, Joseph Strick-
Ter, A. Ii. Whitesell, VIM. Burch, w. w.
Harveycutter and Robert Dooley.
Sheriff Ilrkle at This juno ture issued
tickets to those whom he wished to be
present. and they passed through the
county treasurer'S Off 80 TO the enclosure
behind the courthouse in the Jail yard
giving up their tickets to Officer Boone,
WV "oo db Luc IrOnL door OF
the treasurer's Office to take up the
tickets and see that none who were not
entitled to be present were admitted.
At the rear door OF the office, leading to
the scaffold, G. A. Hatcher, deputy treas
urer, was stationed.
1t was nearly eleven o'clock when the
sheriff and his assistants went to the
cell where the condemned wretch was
even then praying and singing
The sheriff read the death warrant,
after which the handouts we're put on
his hands. his arms were pinioned. and
the doomed man was lead cut OF the Jail
cell.
From there into the dining room and
oct snt9 thr !sti gar h- wals cd with an