The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-10
WATKINS
ON TRIAL.

Media, Dec. 10. The Cri mlnal
Court was crowded yesterday when
the case of Nathaniel r. Watkins was
called. He is charged with shooting
his uncle. Edwin =. Williamson. for
merly of Wilmington, Del.
The alleged shooting occurred ON
the seventh Of last May. and at the
time excited no little interest. As ii
result Mr.. Williamson is carrying Il
thirly-cighl caIlibrc bullet in his leg.
The prosecutor testified that Il dog
belonging to Young Watkins had been
sucking eggs. and he determined TO
shoot it. On the day in question he
went after the animal with a gun.
and firing at it some distance from
the house. made a miss AS he was
about to lire again. he heard Wat
kins voice tcliny.him if he shot the
dog he would kill him. Needless Of
he threat he fired again. and the dog
fell dead, rolIin" into the road be-
tween the two farms. True TO his
word Watkins fired twice. the Sec
ond bali taking effect in William>on'>
leg. V. G, Robinson, Esq. and II. X
Makivcr. ESQ. represented Watkins.
and W. Il, f'ronciicld, Esq. assisted
District Attorney Smith. in behalf of
the prosecutor.
On cross examination witness tc>ti-
fed that he had been great y annoy
ed by the dog. and WOULD have shot
il if he had been killed the next min
ute. II" acknowledged never seeing
the dog with an egg. and That he had
two DOGS OF his own. Mr.. Robinson
then attempted 10 bring out that
Williamson animal, were wicked,
and Watkins dog wa, afraid Of them.
He said that before ne magistrate
Watkins had offered 500 oSet, !c the
case. but he wanted $1,000: in other
words he stated that IA compromise
that had been attempted was not con
sllnlmatcd. and Watkins was placed
in Jail until two days later. when he
was liberated on bail aflcra hearing
in hahcaS corpus proceedings.
Mrs. Edward Williamson testified
similar 10 her !llSbinA ana had told
her husband to shoot The dog. despite
HE threat. not believing Watkins
wuuld shoot. She said he aIlcrWaM
point cd the revolver at her.
Dr. Horace Chandler test flied to
dressing Williams'n's wound and
probing for he bullet, without sue
cess. and later advised him TO 20 /"
tn" II spiaI to have the ballet Iorai-
ed. Dr. kclsdj)"r. "I tn" Mpdico
Chinrgical Hospital. testified to cX-
anining The iey with he Nl'ay> and
produced a pll"tngrApIl showing the
location Of the bIIirt.
II. X. NHkiNcr opened for The de-
feiIsc. stating That h" would SHOW
That Williamson had >Lol at he de-
Irntaut tirsl The story ut Watkins
N0, quite different.
lIr testified that the proScriil0r'S
chickens had hcrn tearing up his corn
and he went utll viii! lllp revolver to
>,,DI or scare lhcm. He said after
lc had Ilyci 1hrc" shots MIR, William
>Ou and hi, wife appeared on the
scene. and tm heard the latter say:
"Shuot that crazy ed Ring. mean-
inc he defendant. 50 he latter tcstl-
Iicd. Il, ne Wa, shooting their chick
ems, Williamson did tire and the Shot
St truck direct i at hi, feet. Witness
1hrn warned him not to shoot again.
Williamson did. and Watkins fired
Ulr shot. which struck his uncle in
he Irg. lIr said on this occasion the
dog witch caused all tIc trouble had
followed him lrpnl he luus" when iIr
went over dttr. he cilrhrns. and had
NOT been over tp WiIliamsui>. lie
said II, wmlI shuol again under ne
circumstances. aA iIia uncle lad de-
iiDeralrll tired at him. He ALSO said
hat his uuc!r. after shooting the
dog. bad broken hi, hrrcrh'loadng
gun as though 10 reload. and had
pointed it in thc direct ion Ui the corn
field Wil"rr he wa, Standing.
Richard j. Baldwin pointed uUI the
sites Of the >nuutirg. and test itrd to
il having been impossible for Ih" first
shot Williamson fred hcjug into the
road at IN" doc II was tired IA" said
over TIE hudg" and ivdgcd near Wat
Kim, feet. vino was Standing on a
bank opposite five rcri ahuN" the read
way. lie Also testified to Watkins
uOud character ard /" finding shot IN
tn" road whore the dogs blood lay.
i'lrun,as Baldwin {; Nuu Of L. j.
Baldwin. Il son in law Of Mrs. Wat
kim,. testified HAT The reputation Of
Mrs. Williamson WIS rather bad: that
she had testified falsely Whrn She said
That She had never seen anyone cAaln-
ming he ground after he slwn'ug,
and thai she had Followed at him It
day cr i've after. Harrison IlinhsUn.
Thomas johnson and WiIianN 1'rjn-
bic testified HAT Mrs. Williamson had
NOT 4 very GOOD reputation. She 'c>-
tIiod lal he had had som" business
dealing, with him Of a quest ionahlr
nature, and that see was match
enough for him.
Elmer STROBE test flied that ne knew
the du9 belonging To- Watkins. 1t had
been about hi, hou,r with every on-
p"rtni1y t" >)"rI eggs. hUl had not
/ dUlln So.
Tine case viii he resumed To-Day,
when c">m>c. will present th"Ir pleas
IN III" jury.
| Canal RHuie Leased.
MA\AGlA. Nicaragua, Dec. 10