The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-08
MRS. WATKINS STORY.
Her Husband Tells of Effort to Burn
the Negro's House.
JUDGE GOODWYN's CHARGE.
Motion for Continuance and Change
OF Venue We're Orerruied anu
TrinlTahen Up-There Is Strong
Doubt Of the Ability Of the
Prosecution to n AXE Ont
Case as Charged.
From \ Staff Correspondent

,'Frop a Staff Correspondent
xoTTOwAY {. H. VA, Feb. Viii
liam II. Wilson, the negro charged with
atter1ptad criminal assault on Mrs w.
II. Watkins, January 22d. was indicted by
a. special grand jury here today. and I'M
4nediate!y paced on trial
After examining Nh. and Mrs Wat
iins, court adjourned at S:i5 TIL O'Clock
1o-Eno-Tow.
The military escort was present all day
Some persons from Blackstone did not
.nake uny effort to conceal their pistols
and cartridges but there has been no at
14p7r,f at violence and nothing to ind1-
cate that any WEI be used. The case IS
proceeding slowly. the evidence pells
taken in ..ull for use in the Court OF -Ap-
s,eals in case Wilson is convicted
NOT A BAD CHARACTER.
There has becn no evidence to sho"
,bar wilson is "a bad character, and, on
t1,,, contrary. Mrs. Watkins testified that
he vas always respectful to ner- I'herc
are few comments on the propap!e re-
ss;,lt of the tri;.l- Persons not cohleeteo
with the case on trial MAINTAIN iiIil u
The case IS anything but one OIL assault
and battery it has not yet been proven,
and the main witness hHs test'hea' Inc
case Wi be concluded tomorrow.
THE ESCORT
-Four officers and 6S anon OF 90. = oes-
cntieth Regiment, Captain George T.
Sl,srl5le.ord. formed The escort. iheE
IoF{ IairI,,,,ond at Q o'clock this F--orfl-
ing and took charge Of the prisoner at
1,e+er-hl1r-g. where he was IN Jall LOT
safe lSeepins, and brought here, aiter
stop at Blackstone.
At THE STATIONS
Small crowds had gathered at the sta
tiorls along the way expecting TO see the
prisoner but were disappointed He oc-
clIpied a seat about midway the car and
The curtain was down over the window.
There was only a small crowd at Black
stone and 10 trouble whatever.
There was a large crowd at the court
house when the prisoner arrived, but the
utmost uuietness prevailed. There We're
no threats OF violence, and the military
is only present in the event the prisoner
is not convicted or is sent to the peniten-
1iaTy for a few years only, when mob
violence is anticipated. Wilson is repre-
scented by Hugh G. Miller, assistant United
State District Attorney OF Norfolk. He
had conversation with his father af-
and is taking considerable interest in the
proceedings
THE GRAND JURY.
The grand jury in the case was COM
posed OF the following citizens of Motto
way county:
T. E Epes. chairman: Benjamin Cobbs,
Wayerly Hunt. c. w Hamilton and sam
uel Fitzgerald and James Edward Waugh
an >tlast two colored).
Judge j. III GOODWIN, the venerable
ju:-ist delivered the charge. II was given
without preparation ana was fall OF
I,r.5ise for the laws of the Commonwealth
and the assurance that the citizens Of
Nottoway would not interfere with these
laws and tnlse them in their own hands.
TIE. CHARGE.
The charge was, in part, as follows:
! much regret that in the county of
Nottoway. which is one Of the most
peaceful and law-abiding counties in the
commonwealth of Virginia, anything
should occur that should bring the bayo-
net in sight. 1t is a regret to all the law
abiding citizens OF the county. But we
know that all men are human, and that
there are incidents that excite them TO
violence. Isut where offenses occur we
haze a law TO mete out justice, yet in0ig
nation often gets the better OF our supe
r.ior judgment. With speedy action at
law the hand OF the people is STAYED and
there is time for the sober thought, and
n.ha1 tbe,- recover that thought there
In J,a ,,, ,,oa,; NJ tho barnnat
Do,-.-r r1r-r ran nAvoNET
iN-' -
nope TINS VIII pe the iaSt iime thaI i
ha3onet sitaii ne IN slsitl OF d No'toMas
grand 3urF- Shafacter 1"r Jasuce exists
among the 1eol'ie o. ->o,,oMaH. S tlis ID"
Nlii pe 1iiS inns a r ,1,
IONS a"ui a. aoi "a
rep stt sin the law laws s',f of lI Wir;nin
and while the Constitution stands and
While the statutes OF Virginia stand thefe
IS too mGch bT'tNeiE. 100 hauch chlNaitF
for the people OF Noito"aN not TO abide
10y the "i!l oi 'te constitution. resfet
that there mas heeh threats OF violence
and that justice must be meted out al