Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-01-30
Case Was Called on Monday, and Prose
CutiOn and Defense Both Ready.
A VERY SHARP LEGAL BATTLE
Large Crowds Attend the Sessions Of Court
Each Day, But Everything is Orderly
and Free From Excitement.


]. W., Geo. W., and John Jones upon an
indictment for killing John &. Watts,
would be called on Monday, the 9th inst.
A great many persons did not believe 1t
likely that the case would be tried at the
nresent term. but it would be continued
when called, as such cases are usually de-
layed by the absence or sickness OF Wit
ncsses. Contrary to expectations, when
the case was called on Monday the Com
monwealth and defense both announced
that thev were ready. 1t was found that
the prosecution was being conducted by
Mr.. Barnes Gillespie, Commonwealth
Attorney, assisted by Major r. H. Henry
and Messrs. j. w. Chapman, A. ). Hlg'
elnbotham and E. l.. Greever The de-
PENDANTS had for their counsel Messrs' d.
c. Anderson, Jos. G. Wysor, j. N Harman
and V. /. Sexton.
This array of counsel gave assurance that
hard legal battle was to be fought, ana
at each step Of the trial the promise was
fulfilled.
After some preliminary motions at the
afternoon session of the court, the regular
pannel, composed of twenty-f1ur citizens
of the county was called. 1t was COM
posed of the following:
A. ]. Nash, VIM. Shannon, S. II. Gill,
J.C. Holbrook, Levi Rhudy, j. +. Fox,
s. S. Fox, A. w. Davis, S. Z. Rosenbaum,
Ed. Goodman, James T, Peery, A. b.
Peery, H. r. Showers, j. A. Altlzer, l..
w. Wingo, Mahlon Anderson, G. W. Hen
kle, d. w. Dudley, F. II. Hit, E. NJ III
ley, R. fl. Ratlff, ]. a. Neal, G. F. Kits
and Fuller Thompson.
1t was found that all the panel was
present except Fuller Thompson. When
they were called up to be sworn and en-
paneled the following announced that they
had formed and expressed an opinion
about the case and were ordered to step
aside: Levi Rhudy, ]. F. Fox, A W.
Davis, Ed. Goodman, James I. Peery, a.
E. Peerv, II. r. Showers, and G. +. Kits.
This left only fifteen of the necessary num-
Der of sixteen to form yenire. Ihereup'
on the court made second list, with the
names of Harvey Showers and w. I. Cor
rell thereon. When these two were called
they both announced that they had formed
and expressed an opinion, and were or
dered to stand aside A third list, with
the names of Paris Thompson and NJ. B.
Lockhart, was furnished by the court
and when called Mr.. Thompson was founc
qualified, thus completing the venire.
The jury, therefore, which is trying th'
case is composed of the following citizens
Al. Nash, William Shannon, S. ii. Gill
&c. Holbrook, T. w. Wingo, Mahlol
Anderson. G. w. Henkle, D. W. Dudley
FIJI. Hit, E. NJ. Tllley, j. A. Neal ant
Paris Thompson.
As soon as the jury was completed O
Monday afternoon the court adjourne
until Tuesday morning.
On Tuesday morning the examlnatio
of witnesses for the Commonwealth begaI
The first witness put upon the stand VIZ
Oscar Hedrick, who was present when tt
fatal blow was struck, and who heard tt
words that passed between George JON
and the deceased, John &. Watts. 1t
impossible for us to give the exact test
mony of this witness, but he is consldert
the star witness for the prosecution. Bt
Dinkes, who was cook for Col. Watts ar
his son. Bowen, was the next witness 81
was at the house, standing at the windo
of the sitting room, about three hundr'
Yards distant from the scene of the ira
edv. and also saw the blow struck Whit
caused the death of Watts, and testified
to the action of the three Jones'. She hi
also heard a conversation which pass
hotween Col. Waits and VIM. Jones
short time before the killing, when Jon
bad gone to the house to see Bo"
3 Watts about building the fence, which pl
vol,ed the trouble and led up to the tri
ed.
The next witness was James Lawren'
who was also at the house, but who
rot see the killing. He testified to imp
tant matters that occurred immedlat
nrecednp and following the killing. Th
Drs. Pyott and Painter we're intlodn(
to prove the character OF the Woun
The wounds were described by the d
tors, and two of them pronounced to be
such a character as to have necessai
resulted in immediate death other
nesses we're introduced to show the nu
ber Of wounds. and the post bole dig
and the rock we're exhibited and idel
fed as having been found upon the SCI
of the tragedy, and proof made that u
were the two instruments with which