The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1905-03-24

nonosteel, 5, d.. March 17.-From
stan correspondent: There are
stirring times in Bonesteel The ex.
citemeut which has been aroused here
as sequel to the sensational scandal
that was made public week ago,
and the dramatic episodes which have
followed the closing of the trial of
IL. ID. Watkins, the young attorney
against whom charges were preferred
by Frank Nunnemaker, has riyalled
the Rosebud rush Of last summer, for
interest.
AS result of the trial, which ocCu-
pied week and which was attended
every day by enormous crowds OF
eager spectators. David Watkins, the
young attorney, has been bound over
TO the circuit court by Judge Howlse;
warrants have been sworn out against
Mrs. Nunnemaker charging her with
the same offense alleged against Wat
kins, and also against her husband,
Frank Nunnemaker, for shooting
with intent to KILL
And as sequel to this series of
events in the law, which followed one
upon another in rapid succession,
there were threats to tar and feather
the presiding judge, Mrs. Nunnemaker
has taken a dose of poison with sui
cidal intent and confession, it is
said, has been made by her to the ef-
feet that she testified against Wat
kns on the stand falsely, and that she
did 1t because she was forced to.
Faction Against Faction.
All Bonesteel is divided into two
parts. One part is strongly with the
handsome young attorney, n graduate
of the state normal school of Peru and
also of the law school of the Univer-
sity of Nebraska in the class of 1904.
SO strong was the feeling between
the two sides of the question that af-
ter the long and sensational trial had
been brought to an end and the young
man had been bound over, there were
ugly threats in the air and Judge
Howlse considered it policy to be-
come a scarce commodity. 1t is said
that the feeling went SO far as to pro-
duce a rope moose in the court room,
fastened from the ceiling and hanging
down in a menacing manner.
The saloons all night were filled
with angry men, who cursed the judge
and the Nunnemakers and the de.
fendant,
Story Of the Trouble.
1t was on the morning of March &
that Frank Nunnemaker, who is pol
ished looking individual and wealthy,
went to the home of Mrs. Beck in
Bonesteel. accompanied by two men
at witnesses, and there found his wife
and young Watkins. This was Wat
kins' boarding house. Stories as to
just what happened at that moment
vary. The testimony goes to show
that Mrs. Nunnemaker was in the
parlor and that Watkins was in an.
other room; and that Nunnemaker
was angered.
Watkins claims that NunnemakeT
offered to settle the affair right then
for $1,000; that when he saw the
trouble that might ensue, If he of.
fered to fight, he sat down in a chair
that Nunnemaker then struck him VIC,
lently in the face, making black
scar which still is worn by the lawyer
After that, Watkins says, Nunnemak'
er drew gun. Watkins alleges that
he grabbed the others hands to pre-,
vent a shooting and that, shortly af
ter, realizing the undesirability OF
the scandalous publicity which must
ensue If he remained in town, even
though he were innocent, he deter
mined to leave the country and start
ed, in rig, for Nebraska.
Husband Pursues, Shooting,
Nunnemaker pursued, with the sher
iff and a warrant. After a race OF
three miles, at the close of which Nun,
nemaker fired a bullet after Watkins,
the latter was overtaken and brought
back TO Bonesteel. Two days later
the trial began and 1t has just closed.
Watkins was bound over for the pre-
liminary in the sum of $1,000, and for
the circuit court in the sum of $500.
His bond was Immediately furnished
by prominent business men in the
town.
The whole social strata Of Bone
steel was stirred by the story. Men
and women from the best families in
town, have flocked to the trial to lis.
ten TO the evidence introduced in the
case. 1t was the talk of the streets,
the homes, the churches.
Woman Testifies Against Him.
On the stand Mrs. Nunnemaker tes-
tifed against Watkins. She testified
to all of the circumstances which