The Saint Paul globe., 1904-02-15
FATHER Of WATSON
EXONERATES PARKER
Says Colored Man Did Not I'm.
tend to Kill Son-Boys Went
to Scare Him.

The coroner's jury yesterday viewed
the scene of the death of Fred B. Wat
son, the seventeen-year-old son Of D.
w. Watson, hveryman, residing at S81
Ferdinand avenue, who was killed at
1880 p. m. Saturday by a blow over
the head with piece of gas pipe WELD
ed by David Parker, colored boy,
twenty years of age.
The jury was sworn in yesterday aft
ernoon, and after viewing the barn
where the tragedy occurred and the
body Of the dead boy, was dismissed by
Coroner A. W. Miller, with instructions
to appear at the county morgue tomor-
quest Will be held.
The post mortem examination, which
was conducted by Drs. Beckley and
F1nnell, revealed the fact that the skull
had been fractured for a length of five
inches, beginning above the left ear
and extending to the base of the skull
The fracture was sufficient to cause
death In from one to two minutes.
The police think they have discover
ed the weapon used. Clinton Watson.
brother OF the dead boy, says that the
weapon was neckyoke, while Parker
asserts that it was a piece OF gas pipe
about three feet long. The police found
mark in the snow near where Parker
stood after delivering the death blow,
which corresponds to the length and
breadth Of piece of gas pipe discover
ed In the barn after the tragedy.
Their Stories Vary.
Parker's story and the assertions of
the Watsons differ considerably. Park
er says that young Watson approached
him In an intoxicated condition in the
barn, and thumped him several times
with his fists for having told his father
that he had been to the barn on the
night previous and had stolen his,
Parker's tobacco.
Parker also says that Watson pushed
him against the side of the barn and
threatened to blow his brains out with
a revolver which he poked in his face.
Parker then ran to the ground floor of
the barn, up the runway, and tried to es-
cape from Watson Watson followed
and stopped him just as he was about
to go out of the barn. Watson stood
on one side of the large door, so
Parker claims, and he stood on the
other. Then Watson placed his hands
on a revolver which he carried in his
pocket and said, II ought to shoot you
for that"
1t was then that Parker, according to
his story, picked up the piece of pipe
which was standing against the side of
the wall, and struck Watson over the
head He ran outside, and stood
few feet from, the door, while Clinton
Watson and William McComb rushed
to the PROSTATE boy and carried him
into the house.
Parker then returned to the stable,
and after securing his hat and coat
rushed to the Prior avenue police sta
ton few blocks away, and gave HIM
self up.
81 suppose Mr.. Watson will want me
arrested" he said when he entered the
station, because hit his boy over the
head with piece of gas pipe
Clinton Watson and his father both
declare that the three boys, Clinton
and Fred Watson and William McComb,
went to the barn to scare Parker, and
that he, hearing suspicious noises and
seeing them, took them for burglars
and threw the pipe which killed Fred.
D. w. Watson, the father of Fred,
said last night to the G | o b e:
Doesn't Hold Parker Responsible.
81 wish to be fair to every one and
1 cannot say that I hold Parker re-
sponsible for my boys death. The
boys went there with the intention of
soaring him, and he, becoming fright
ened, threw the weapon without any
intention of killing Fred. 1t was an ac-
cident, and / cannot say that l will
prosecute Parker"
Parker was employed as a barn man
at the Watson livery. He had been
working there two weeks and four days
before the tragedy. He had been en-
ployed there previously and had work.
ed twenty-three days. He has been
In this city for four months and during
that time worked for Watson and a de-
livery man, Jenkins, 1149 Sherburne
avenue. His father and mother are
dead, but he has a sister with whom he
previously made his home living at
GAINESVILLE, Wis.
Fred Watson, the dead boy, was sew
enteen years Of age, and one Of seven
children whose ages range from eight
to tWenty-e eight years.
The funeral will take place from the
residence. 381 Ferdinand avenue, this
afternoon at 1870 o'clock. Rev. Dar-
nell, pastor of the Trinity M. E. church
at Merriam Park, will officiate. Inter-
ment will be at Forest cemetery.