The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-01-09
CONFESSED THE CRIME.
wATKTSs n4voEo ron MURDER.
lie First Played Insane. Then Became Very
Desperate. Finally Making "a tuil Con-
fession-yi rginia News.

ROANOKE. VA. Jan. s.-lSpecial. Charles
Watkins was hanged in Salem to-day for tho
murder Of his wife. Susan Watkins. April G.
1891. Contrary to general expectations, the
condemned man confessed and tho affair
passed oil without difficulty at about 10
O'Clock.
Mr.. NJ. G.. McClung. one OF the counsel for
Watkins was admitted to the grating Of tho
cell. where Charles. ia answer 10 Il long
series Of questions. made a complete.
full and rational confession, giving all
tho details Of the crime. lie adj
mitted shooting his wife twice. once
In the wrist and once in the neck. before they
went 10 Taylor Watkins house. He impli-
Gated Taylor and bis wife. Lucy. as beng
cOgnizant Of the whole affair, and lda ire
bal the white woman W On whom ne llVed lOr
some time he said. vert with him T. see II
che was dead and took tie Docket-Ooo rom
her right stocking leg. Charles claimed tlAO
he did not take any Of his wiies money. iie
had meditated this murder "a far back as
July IS. 1890. when he left Chicago foF VIZ
ginia.
Dr. Armstrong then spoke 20 the prisoner.
who recognized him ard attributed ms TRAN
eient insanity 20 the gases Ia the cell new
i. +. Fox then approached and toia mares
not % fear. but 90 put his trust ia Hon me
cell door was n en- o. ened and Charles brought
into the corridor. where the handouts were
put on his arms pinioned and the blac1 cap
with veil raised put on hos head and the death
warrant read The procession then hled OUT
OF the iail into the yard. Charles being lea 10y
Jailer Ienning and his deputy. He assembled
the scafold with firm step and at once took
position over the trap. whore his legs were
strapped and the rope put around bis neck
Tie Sheriff then told him If he had anything
10 say 10 do so. and he started of m loud
voice with inc0herent talk, which he stonped
in two or three minutes. Rev. r. l.. toN
then offered an earnest prayer for ;hc wc';sre
of his soul. after which the veil &c the cspwas
dropped. and az ll.l7 the trap Wa pu.ea aHd
tie body shot downward through .ae hoe
only making one turn. no c;aos movement
being discernioe.
nounced him dead and after hzrt,1e .~ea''
five minutes tho body wss places .r ref'
coffin, and will be turned over 90 $ -. s.tss>-
HISTORY or 9Hr cuNa.
The body Of Susan Watkins Was found 80
secluded mountain Tuesday morning. AprA e.
1891. few hours otter the crime hal been
committed Watkins was a hotel waiter IN
Roanoke and WAS living with ida lnenal.
a pretty German girl vino be claimed % have
married in Milwaukee Saturday preceding
the murder a well-dressed and intelligent
negro woman arrived IN Salem. Watkins old
home and claimed she was Whthlus VIE,
having married him in Chicago. Sunday
morning. in company with Ben Wright, che
proceeded TO Roanoke o. ind her truant nus
band.
Watkins finally acknowledged that she was
his wife and Ida was told to 30.
Monday night Watkins and susan were
seen in Salem. and at a late hour the former
arrived at the house of a relation three miles
away. lie was soon followed by Susan. who
said she had been shot by Charles, her hand
being injured
A little before day the next morning the
two left O5tensibly for Roanoke. A lew
hours later the dead body of Susan was found
half mile away. Watkins escaped, but was
captured in July at hotel in Wilmington,
~ G.. He was tried az the November term OF
the Roanoke County Court convicted ana
sentenced 20 be hanged January 9Th.
At the trial letter written by atkins 10
Ben Wright IN which he confessed the whole
affair. was introduced as evidence. This let
ter was turned over 20 Detective Weber by
Wright and was the means OF Watkins cap
ture While he was waiting trial, and for
some time after he was convicted. Watkins
was a model prisoner and only FEW weeks
ago informed the ialer of plot by the other
>t,FTsoners 20 assault the jailer and escape.
When the last effort came for saving his neck
he became suddenly insane. He declared
himself Jesus Christ, and his ravings made
the NIGHT hideOus for q week.
Experts. after close Watching decided that
he was shaming lie then became desperate.
and last Sunday when he was all owed out in
the corridor u talk with some ministers who
called. it took five men to put him back III the
cell The death watch has been kept over
him ever since. lie was expected TO create
Rcene