Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-08-16
COTTON ALIAS SMITH.
The Murder Sen; on-The Evidence AL
most positiNe.

Mayors Court yesterday morning to
near the trial Of Walter Cotton, alias
Eeo. Smith, who is charged with the
murder of Mr.. Chcs. Wyatt on the
morning of August Bird, but they were
not admitted in the court room. Mayor
Baird having given instructions to keep
All except witnesses and the members
OF the press out. SO they contented
themselves with sitting on the $. y. l..
Platform and standing i'll the middle
OF the street.
The prisoner was brought over from
Norfolk At 9:45 in charge of Detective
Heppel and two officers. and was car
ried 10 the station house. where the
was represented by Col. X. X. Griffin.
INc prisoner had no counsel.
Mrs. Wyatt wife of the murdered
man. was the first witness. Mrs. Wyatt
said that her husmband was taken sick
on Thursday morning. August s. before
daylight. and Went down stairs, sup
posedly to get glass of ice water. At
ter that Mrs. Wyatt fell into Il doze.
from which she was awakened by
moaning. She went To the room her
husband slept in, but not finding him,
started down stairs to look for him.
Leaning over the blnister she saw Wy
att sitting or lying on a sofa, moaning.
his head covered with blood.
In the doorway between the dining
room and kitchen she saw large nc
gro man. dressed. as well as she could
describe, in blue ovoral!s and blouse.
the latter thrust down in the overalls
This man had his back to her. and was
bending over the money drawer. which
ne mad torn from the counter The ne
gro ESCAPED through the kitchen. she
SAD that Cotton's figure corresponded
10 the murderer. but that her husbands
aSSailani seemed a little bulkicr. She
described the wounds inflicted on Wy
at. who asked her TO do something
Tor him. I'm afraid it's o'clock with
me. he said. Her eyes filed and her
Voice trcmbed with emotion as the
Smdll gold watch stolen from her nus
pand "A; the time OF the murder was
handed 10 her. she identified it as her
own. 1t had been given her at the
time of her marriage by Wyatts
mother. SHE also identified the other
JoWelry stolen.
Cotton had on no top clothing exrep;
an undershrt, which made him Iool,
nluch smaller than he did the nigh, OF
thc murder. she thought, that her has
ndhd was asleep when he was frs.
struck ana was so benumbed that he
was unable to rise lie received two
oiher blows. one of which vas sl,ppos-
ed to have killed him. The murder
WAS committed with coupling pin,
winch was left in the room.
Al the conclusion of Mrs. WAITS
testimony Cotton asked Mrs. WAT If
ahe saw him in the store To this she
replied no.
Mr. w. Il. Ferguson was the next
witness, lie testified to being called
ny Mrs Wyatt about 4 n. m. and was
told that Mr.. Wyatt had been badly
h"r,. lie went in, saw Wyatt and then
inauc an examination. and found that
me entrance had been effected by cut
ing Stat out the blinds. forcing the
window UP and then entered
MIR. Faylor and Mr.. West were both
pui upon the stand and testified to the
'"""i'Inn NJ the room. etc. when thew
icacheu there. Mr.. West said that Tho
money drawer had been torn out ami
was carried off and was afterwards
.ouha some distance away. II had been
i.nen ana left there. Mr.. West said
~, ~ ne went for DR.. Hope, but by the
'ihe ne reached the mouse II was
plainly seen that there was no chance
Tor Mr.. Wyatt
pe''a Watson. who lives at CO. Queen
street, said that Cotton had beer
boarding with her for a short Will.
ana That she knew him well. on Wed
neShay. August End. he left home about
o'clock in the afternoon and did moi
."hlr PACK until the same hour next
.'.''' n'hs. tie ratified Al the door and
enc lei MIN in ana then looked at IN,
clock He was dressed in a White shir,
ana collar She knew nothing of th,
,.uruer until two days afterwards
r'ihlna 'rii;. who is employed II wash
loT 'elII Watson. said that Cotton was
around the house at 7:30 o'clock Thurs.
u'E morning.. ate his breakfast and
went on, but returned again about
mon ON being asked what kind OF
:, ;, ."'lies lie mad, she rerlied-She did not
hn'W, as she had never washed fnr
MIN. she was asked ala shc wash
PAR OF overails FOR him and replied no.
pe'ec'Ive lieppel then went on the
stand ana told all the facts which lead
up 10 me arrest. which were previous.
~ published in this paper.
MI Weaver also told the same story
as published when Mr.. Heppols ac-
count was published. He said that he
off his feet.
Detective Vests testimony corroho-
~ '"h the testimony Of the other Two
detectives
Jane Hardy a colorod woman living
IN Addington's lane. in Norfolk. said
mat Cotton had given her a breast min
ear rings and broken focKet on Thurs.
Jay morning. the ith Of August. They
were identified by Mrs. Wyatt as her
property. Jane lIarGy's testimony was
corroborated by two other women who
I'VE In the same house. She said that
she got the articles between 10 ana II
o'clock on Thursday. August 4th. MIR
" IN. Wyatt fully Identified mis- broth
ers watch; said he wore ii for more
than a year. This closed Tho testimony.
Mayor Baird asked Cotton ii he had
any witnesses or if he desired 10 saw
anything. lie replied that ne had no
witnesses ana did not care to talk.
Cotton was then carried back in the
station house and vas kept under a
guard until 1915 O'Clock. when h. was
committed 10 Jail. Mayor Baird not