The herald., 1894-12-13
HOW WATSON WAS KILLED,
AshwOrth Makes a Statement
in His Own Defense.
Defending Counsel Come to Open
Rupture and Retire.
Mr.. wooIner, Alone in D-fsndIng Ash
worth, Provokes Some Oomment
By tho Court, and Now
ClS'ms Conspiracy.

Things are, to say the least, getting
rather mixed up in the Ashworth mur-
der case. When the court opened yes
terdsy a thunder cloud hovered over
the brow OF MIR. Bedsos. who has gem
orally been regarded as senior counsel
for the defense.
Rising from his seat he addressed the
court; by imputation hurled defiance at
Mr.. Woolner, who. with the meekness
OF dove, sat quietly by. "As counsel
for the defendant" began Mr.. Bledsos.
II last evening drew the attention OF
the court to the disagreement among
counsel. l have done everything l
could to carry the case before the jury
In proper manner. After l had been
appointed by the cour to watch the in.
terests OF defendant, in conjunction with
Mr.. Carpenter, Mr.. Woolner came to
me and asked II he might be permitted
10 associate himself with US. l readily
an swered yes. for was glad to share the
responsibility. and right now, at this
ju notion. want the court to say If |
shall be leading council in this case and
examine witnesses or shall Mr.. Woolner.
The defendant desires This man to be
senior counel"-pointing scornfully at
Woolner-"snd 1 ask il that is right ?"
Counsel turned to the object OF his in.
cendo as II awaiting reply.
go on" replied Mr.. Woolner, make
your statement; don't know any thing
about it,"
The court would not adjudicate on the
matter but left il TO the defendant to
select his leading counsel. He chose
Attorney Woolner and Mr.. Bledsoe then
retired from the case.
Thereupon Mr.. Carpenter jumped mp
and stated that Mr.. BleGsoe and him.
self had agreed entirely about the cJn-
duct OF the case. and seeing the turn
events had taken he must ask leave to
withdraw from the case. He was per-
mitted to do go. and he also gracefully
withdrew. leaving Mr.. Woolner master
OF the situation.
His mode of examining witnesses Is
certainly unique, and was only matched
BY the objections lsvelled at Henry T.
Gage, whose caustic little remarks in
reply were not only not appreciated, but
did not apparently reach the counsel,
who was impervious TO euoh attack.
During the afternoon Judge Clark made
some rather severe remarks regarding
Mr.. Woolner's methods, but deapite all
restraining influences he went his own
way.
The defendant, while on tho stand
testfyi ing in his own defense, was at
times almost jooular, and his statement
in many particulars was very contraa
iictory. Considering that his eyeeight
is bad and that the night Of the killing
was. according to him. very dark, he saw
many things ss we'll as bstter-sighted
man might have seen them in daylight.
OPENING TESTIMONY.
Patricio Watson first took the stand.
on recall. and said that upon returning
to the ranch last evening he had meas
ured the wagon tire and found it to be
two and half inchee. he then de-
scribed the tracks surrounding the place
where the BODY OF his brother was found.
Timothy Todd. young farmer resid-
ing at Todd's ranch. one mile from the
Watson place. described the finding of
the body of Manuel Watson. II did not
see any signs OF a scuffie," said witness,
until next day about o'clock. The
wagon track appeared to have been par
TALLY Obliterated by the scuffiing. J. saw
blood marks close to the body, and to
the west, abont five feet from the body,
there were other patches OF blood stains
The marks clearly indicated that a man
had been down, whether on his back or
not l don't know. | inferred this by
the hand prints and other marks"
Crosssexamination-" had been
nonnlo thovo I haliauo aft ho
body was found. The impress on the
sand seemed to indicate man had lain
on his back. I saw blood on the
front wheel OF the wagon. later, and one
drop on the brake.rod. l saw the two
pieces OF rope found. but don't remem-
beY II one had q moose on it or not"
At the conclusion OF this witnesses
testimony the people rested their case.
Before calling his first witness for the
defense, Mr.. Woolner briefly stated that
as every one knew this was a case OF
self-dsfense. The old man had been
attacked by Manuel Watson and acted
in self defense. With this remark Fred
Maskew took the stand as the first witt
ness. He testified as follows: II saw
Manuel the evening before he was
killed."
"Was he then drunk ?' inquired Mr.
Woolner.
Objection made by the prosecution.
Mr.. Woolner explained that he wished
to show that Manuel Watson WAS on
drunken spree from the evening previous
to his death up to the time when he got
into trouble with defendant.
The court overruled the objection and
witness resumed:
~ don't think he WAS, / had no QUAR-
rel with him, nor did he chase me off
the premises. 1t was between and
O'clock"
Witnesses testimony not being just
what defense wanted, he was tenn
porarily retired.
Timothy Todd was recalled, and the
defense made him their witness. He
testified as follow: II was coming
from Los Angeles on the night of the
killing. 1t was between and O'Clock,
and was rather dark, there being no
moon. As we'll az l can remember it
got dark about 7 o'clock. | got home
about the time defendant arrived at my
fathers house. l heard part OF the
abatement he made"
DO you remember him saying he had
nad nothing since morning. and was
faint ?"
Objection sustained.
Kesuming, witness said HE ap.
peared very much excited. | saw a
wound over one eye. which appeared to
nave peen bleeding profusely. When [
got TO the Watson house. Pat and Jim
came out, and they started out to look
Tor the body. Pearson and 1 went to-
wards the winery, while the Watsons