The Savannah morning news., 1902-08-11
TRIAL OF WATSON
ALLEGED SLAYER OF JOE ROBIN
SON TO FACE A JURY.
MAY UNRAVEL MYSTERY.
TRUTHS THAT HAVE BEEN HIDDEN
MAY COME TO LIGHT.

thC VI
Pistol Duel Between Cicero Wat
son and George jackson, Two Ne
gro sports From the West side
Ill Blood Between Rivals Brought
on the Trouble That Resulted in
RObinson's Death-DOubIe Defense
VIII BE Urged at TriaI-Watson
VIII Contend jackson Attempted
His Life and, Secondly, That He
Did Not shoot Robinson.
In the Superior Court this morning
the trial of Cicero Watson, charged
with the murder of Joe Robinson, will
be begun. The accounts of eye-wit-
nesses to the homicide differ essen
TALLY as to the manner of it's COM
mission, and the trial to-day is like
ly to develop incidents of quite I'M
usual interest.
The man who was killed had moth
ing whatever to do with the quarrel
which terminated in his death, but
was an innocent bystander. In a pis-
Jackson, rival proprietors of negro
gambling dens on the west side. Rob-
inson met his end.
The duel occurred in Minis court,
blind street just west of the Union
Station, about two months ago There
had been bad blood between Watson
and Jackson for some time, and Jack
son seems to have taken no particu-
lar pains to avoid quarrel. On the
contrary, he did much to bring one
on.
1t CHANGED that Watson had s1SS
stolen from the hell that he controlled
and suspected William Eady, another
negro, of the commission of the theft.
To his friends he communicated his
suspicious and Jackson, hearing of the
charge, went to Eady and told him
he ought to call Watson to account
Got Eady to Start "a Row.
Thus urged Eady consented and he
and Jackson repaired together to Wat
sons house, where Eady asked Watson
If he had made the charge. Watson
said he had and that he believed it to
be true, and then turning to jackson
asked that individual what the hell he
had to do with it,
One angry word brought on another.
and the men separated after a violent
quarrel, Jackson throwing over his
shoulder the information to Watson
that he would fight it out or cut it out
or shoot 1t out, just as he pleased"
The next meeting took place at the
house of Jackson whore RnhipsO1 MO g
SO unfortunate as to be living at the
time. There the quarrel began again
and had not progressed far when pis-
tolls were drawn and the firing began.
The evidence differs as to which of the
men fired first, but when the smoke of
the battle had cleared away Jackson
had received a wound in the arm and
one in each leg, and Robinson lay dy-
ing on the ground.
On the theory that Robinson was
shot by Watson, the latter's guilt will
or course depend on the measure of his
guilt had he killed Jackson instead
the man at whom he was shooting, and
at the trial to-day he will plead self
defense.
Second Theory of Defense.
But his counsel r. L. Colding, has
another theory of defense which will
be submitted for the consideration of
the jury. This Is that Robinson was
not killed by ball from Watson's re-
volYeT.
One of the queer features of this Sec
ond defense is that it will be support
ed by the expert testimony of Dr. FL
ton s. Osborne, brother of Solicitor
General Osborne who will prosecute
for the state. The ball that killed
Robinson entered his side and ranged
downwards, and DR.. Osborne will tes-
tify it could not have taken this
course had it been fired by a. man
standing on the ground and shooting
up at men in a house. 1t is admitted
that Watson was on the ground all
the time
Additional support for this theory
comes from a statement made by Rob-
inson to Detective j. J. Murphy, who
reached the scene few minutes after
the shooting. Robinson was then
breathing his last, but perfectly con-
scious. He told the detective the ball
that struck him had been fired by a
man in the house.
Difference in Bullets.
The only trouble with this theory is
that Robinson was killed by a bullet
from a 3S-caliber revolver, while Jack
son, the only other person supposed
to have taken part in the duel. used
one of 44-caliber If the theory that
Watson did not kill Robinson can be
substantiated. 1t will be at the expense
of some other person, not now con-
nected with the crime.
Altogether the developments at the
trial are likely to prove interesting.
There are many witnesses to be exam
ined, and they have diverse stories to
tell To one who has watched the
case, it is very evident the whole
truth has never been told, and it may
be that it will come out to-day.
NEW STYLE OF POST CARD.