Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-02-16
ooEFKssBD A FELoNY.

CONFESSED FELONY.
he told with al the colOrinr he could
his pouring oil around the door and
trying to burn the house with Wilson
in 1t. BE knew Wilson's wife and five
children were In the house. but said he
y ould have saved them ut the lisk OF
his own life.
He fred two shots through tie door.
when he heard some one whom be be
lievea was Wilson. The houte would
not burn and they left, mot caring I"
w atkins said. to be killed by q scoun-
drel"i watkins was q contumacious
witness.
His language IVES discourteous ia
the court room. and he was severly ad-
monished BY the Judge. The jurors
questioned Watkins closely at d merri.
ment was often occassioned.
The case was adjourned until Frid nv
morning Of ESQ O'Clock. There was
not much interest in the procesd iurr.
Tie testimony was disappointing 60
the mob and it was realiz ID by all Inn
partial observers that o mountain had
been made OF q mole. b ILL.,"
ASSISTED TIE DryEscE.
The newspaper correspondents AZ
sisted the counsel for the defense bv
taking down the testimony. and .
feeling OF disgust with Watkins and
his wife had followed the feeling of
resentment and singer towards the
prisoner. 1t was realised that the
death. penalty WAS out OF the question.
The bearing OF witnesses was re.
sumed.
Rens Archer tcolored), the woman
for whom Mrs. Watkins sent when the
alleged assault was made, was the first
witness. What she knew OF the incl
dent was told her by Mrs. Watkins \
few moments after the occurrence add
her evidence in the main was the same
as that Riven by Mr.. Watkins.
The Archer woman corroborated the
testimony Of Mrs. Watkins, and said
FRAT she carried message from Mrs.
Watkins to Wilson not to come to the
house any more.
CARRIED THE MESSAGE.
She testified that Mrs. Watkins knew
that Wilson was at work at the barn.
because she carried q message from
Wilson to Mrs.. Watkins telling her
that he, Wilson, dad not mean to harm
her.
A legal controversy was had upon
the admissibility of Buck Wat
kins, testimony, the latter being a
small boy. The court admitted his
testimony, which was excepted 80 by
counsel for the prisoner. His testimo-
ny was merely to prove that Wilson
early that morning knew his father
was absent from home.
SURPRISING ADMISSION.
W. T. Watkins was recalled by the
Commonwealth. On cross examinn.
tion he admitted that Wilson had a
perfect right en- his premises. In his
preceding evidence Watkins had evad-
ed this admission.
Az this poir Miller, counsel for the
defense, asked Watkins where the MIS-
toll was with which he went TO viii
sons home to shoot him. The oues-
tion was objected to by the Common.
wealth's Attorney and ruled out hv
the court. The question was prompt.
60 BY the fact that Watkins had A MS
toll on his person yesterday. The mil.
itsry watched him closely. SERGEANT
Barlow saw Watkins in a suspiciops
near the prisoner lust after
the motion for change Of venue yester-
day.
PISTOL TURNED OVER.
he called Watkins aside and Iiau.
tenant Skipwith went with him into
the jury-room add had q conversation
with him in which he re quested that
turn his pistol over to him
This Watkins did with some hesitation
and afterwards thanked Lieutenant
5kipwith for making the request, say
ing he might have been impelled to do
&c me damage. The incident was un-
noticed and WAS unknown, save to the
reporters and military men.
Z recess was taken and at the after
noon session the court submitted itA
instr uctions, which were as follows:
THE INSTRUCTIONS.
When court reconvened this afternoon.
,ounsel agreed to the instructions Of
'ered by the court. No witnesses were
put on for the Commonwealth. Wilson
was not put on the stand. The court
then read the following instructions to
ihe jury:
The court instructs the jury that to
,onvict the prisoner of attempt to
commit criminal assault, as charge d
Is is incumbent on the Commonwealth
10 prove that the defendant ne I'd the
assault, As charged in the indictments
with the intent to commit criminal as-
Iault, and having the intentions he
attempted to execute his purpose and
10 this end used force, and that the
acts Of the defendant were against the
will and consent OF the plaintiff.
The Court further instructs the
Jury, that il they shall believe from
me evidence that the intention of the
defendant was to commit criminal as.
Iault, as charged in the indictments.
hen the attempt to commit the of. |
epse with the use of any force ia suf-
lcleHt 10 establish his guilt, provided /
his was against the will and consent |
" the prosecutrix. The slightest fores |
N his part anc the utmost Resistance /
u her part being required to prove |
H. IA =