The herald., 1894-12-11
THE MURDER OF WATSON,
Robt. Ashwortll, the Aged Mur-
derer. on Trial.
A Contumacious Witness Causes Rip
pies of Fun.
witnesses Agreo That ths Dsfsn d. N I
Thr~atsnsd tho L,fs of Manuel Wat
souArhs Trouble Over q Trining
Debt of Three Dollars.

~ith having murdered Manuel Watson,
on the 1st OF September last. on the
Domineuez ranch, began in department
one yesterday.
Ashwortb 10 man in the "sere and
yellow Leaf" being 81 years old. He is
OF rough exterior. but OF very nervous
temperament. Most OF the time yester.
day he kept his white head bent down
and tugged constantly at his beard.
The prosecution is being conducted by
Assistant District Attorney Oonklin, as.
sisted by Henry T. Gage. esq. The evil
dence introduced was of a particularly
damaging character, inasmuoh ss it
tended to show positively that the old
man had uttered threats some time be-
fore he wrsAked his vengeance on his
victim. Manuel Watson was 33 years
old when he met his unhappy fate. in
the hey.day of = vigorous manhood, but
his strength availed him nothing
against the murderous stab that let the
life out
There are some contradictions in the
case, however, which MesBrs. Carpenter
OF San Pedro and Bledeoe and Woolner
OF this city, counsel for the defense, may
mske the most of.
Ashworth ekep out precarious live
linood ct . point not fa. from the Wat
son ranch. For years he had been the
recipient OF the bounty Of Mrs. Watson.
mother OF the murdered man. Even
the wagon he was driving at the time o!
tho killing belonged to his benefactross.
There WAS every reason, therefore, why
he should have held the Watson family
In highest esteem. But all such kindly
thoughts were obliterated, apparently,
whom Manuel Watson delayed payment
OF . triHing debt. He brooded over it
and breathed out vengeance against the
man whom, he opined. was attempting
TO deiraud him of his just dues, and his
passion eliminated when he met Man.
asl, and hot words passed.
Relief was given to the somberness OF
the general evidence yesterday by that
given by J. r. Boswell, who with great
coolness but soms asperity objected to the
line OF examination pursued by counsel.
It was 2 o'clock when the jury panel
was completed, and the first witness.
Mrs. Lille N. Watson, widow OF the
man who was murdered, took her seat
on the witness stand.
% follows:
my husband. Manuel Watson. left
Ave children. saw him last during the
afternoon OF September II, at about 4
O'Clock, when he was on horseback. ]
know Robert Ashworth, and I have
known him about 20 years. 1t had been
his habit to visit our ranch and that Of
my husbands mother very often. had
seen him at the ranch about three weeks
previous to the murdar. Some conver-
sation took place then regarding money
matters. Mr.. Ash worth had called at
the house for IS which he claimed Mr..
Watson owed him. Ny husband told
him he did have the money with him, but
be intended coming to town with ecme
cheese and would get it. The defendant
used very bad language at that time.
On the night OF my husbands death he
saddled his own horee and went down
to fix the fence. His body was brought
TO his mothers place later. but didn't
know at what precise time; although l
wss there then"
DR.. Edgar D. Seamans testified to
having practiced a. physician and SUR
geon for 10 years. He resides ct Will
mington and was called upon to exam
Inc the body of Manuel Watson, whom
he had known very we'll in his lifetime,
at the residence Of the mother. Il
found" said the witness. Ga fracture OF
the nose, abrasions of the skin on the
forehead. the upper jaw was broken and
several OF the inoisors were missing from
the left aide. There was also contu-
aion behind the left ear and wound Or
the left side over the region Of the heart.
That wound was about one and one.half
h.. A4I- Id
upward and backward and penetrated
the heart. That wound was sufficient
20 cause death. The effect of the
wounds described on the head.
Gross examination: Would Q wound
on the head inflicted under ordinary
circumstances on q man OF Mr.. Watson's
weight be likely to cause death, inquired
Mr.. Woolner.
mo, siY."
On redirect examination q wordy
Wrangle ensued between counsel as to
the Withdrawing witness. testimony
regarding the effect OF the wounds other
than the one stated to have been suffi-
eient in itself to have caused death. The
Argument resulted in the witness being
temporarily Withdrawn.
James r. Boswell, . butcher at Long
Beach, stated that he knew the defendant
and slgo the deceased in his lifetime. II
was running q butcher wagon, and went
TO the defendant's house some time in
August. He said II he could get the
$3.50 Manuel Watson owed him ior cut-
ting wood be would be able to buy meat
~ IL was. he couldn't. He got mad and
said II he didn't pay him he would cut
his d--d throat from ear to ear"
Gross xamination-"You've been in
the livery business, haven't you 2" in
Quired Mr.. Woolner.
Eyes, cir"
What are you doing now?"
Sitting IL this chair"
For q moment counsel was nonplused
but. after the laughter which the reply
provoked had subsided. he resumed.
HOW long after Manuel was killed
did you tell Jim Watson what defend
ant had ssid?"
"Oh, = fsw days"
What took you to his house?"
Il don't know that its any of your
business what took me-"
The ,court-"Juss say how you went
ibid you tell Jim Watson before or
after the preliminary examination %
Inquired counsel, amending his cues
lion.
Il don't know when the preliminary
examination took place. / was there
when the man was a corpse, but don't
know what day IL was. I don't think I
lold anybody else about it; II aid l
1on't remember"