The Washington herald., 1906-11-01
FIND POPKINS GUILTY
Jury Speedily COnyicts Man
Who Tried to Kill Niece.
GOES TO PRISON FOR 10 YEARS
The Defense Pats Forward the Plea
OF IntOzfcation as the Excuse for
the Act-Cut Girls Throat with a
Razor and Then Sought to End
His Own Life with Same weapon

! Suppressing 4 tender little smile, and
stealing a surreptitious glance at the man,
who four months ago almost killed her.
1 fourteen-year-oId. rosy-cheeked Jessie N
/ Popkins, in Criminal court No. /, Justice
Stafford presiding, yesterday told jury
/ her part of the occurrence
/ In an almost cheerful voice. and with
I Iraassuring manners she recited the story
of how on July > her uncle, John Popkins.
dealt her blow on the head with ham
mer, rendering her unconscious. She said
/ that she did not know what happened
after that. until she rcgained conscious
ness at the hospital where she lowered
between life and death for three weeks.
/ As the result Of the testimony given by
/ Jessie and other witnesses. John Popkins
was sentenced TO ton years 10 the peni-
/ tentiary.
! The governments case was presented by
Assistant United States District Attorney
Charles Turner. Popkins stood indicted on
two counts. the first for making an as
sauit with a dangerous weapon with In
tent to kill. end the other for making an
assault with dangerous weapon.
Opposed Her Leaving.
The facts as presented were 10 the ef-
I feet that oB July , last. while at the
house Of his sister. Mrs Stubbs, 1915
Eighth street northwest. John Popkins
expressed his dissatisfaction that Jessie
/ Popkins, his niece. was 10 terminate her
three months visit al Mrs. Stubbs' and
return 90 her parents lie said he did
not care where she went, so long as be
could see her bat that he objected to
/ her going back to her parents. as he
could not see her there.
( This conversation took place in the
yard where Jessie was packing her trunk
and while IN this act Popkins dealt her
three blows on the head with a hammer
/ each one causing a fracture Of the skull
/ He then picked Up razor. cut her jugu-
| lar vein, her wrist arteries, and Slsshed
her hand inHictlng most serious and dan
gerOus wounds
1 Staggering Up the alley adjoining the
house Popkin- sat down on q doorstep
and cut his wrist with tie same razor. in
/ fictinE a deep wound lie was found By
I the police IN a weakened condition from
/ loss OF blood. When placed under arrest
/ he said. II know ! killed her, and know
/ 7 am going TO hang for g. 7 did Il be-
cause I loved her"
Popkins counsel, John r. Shields. said
20 the jury that De would endeav0r TO
Z prove that Popkins. when DE committed
/ The deed. was too drunk as 10 bee able 10
T form an intent 70 Kill. and that FOR this
reason-not being able 10 form on intent
/ be could not have Intentionally committed
/ the crime with which he was charged.
PORkiHS often n Terror.
The defendant when put on the stand
testified that he had always been a drink
/ ms man; that he drank ever since he
was big enough TO drink" that on the
day when he committed the assault on
little jessie he had been drinking; that he
had not eaten anything for a whole week.
not feeling well enough 70 retain food on
bis stomach Many witnesses were pro-
duced who testified as to PopIlns' good
character when sober. but that be was "a
regular terror when intoxicated
On CrOss-cXaminati0n P0pkins said that
his relations with Jessie had always been
pleasant; that be did not love her. but
that be liked her He said they never
quarreled: that he had the k.ndest feelings
for her, and did not want 20 see her 20
back 10 her parents He denied ever hav-
inS owned razor IN his life, bat admit
ted that the hammer with which he dealt
the blow was his property.
Justice Stafford, when charging the
jury, said it did not matter whether Pop
kins was drunk or sober when he com
mitted the assault IL was the Jury'S duty
&c decide whether the assault had been
committed that drunk enuess did not ex-
cuse the deed, and that it was also left
10 their good. sane judgment 60 decide
whether POpkins was in q sufficiently ra-
tional and responsible state Of mind 10
form an intent 20 commit the assault Of
which be stood indicted
The jury, after celebrating on the case
Tor ten minutes, returned "a verdict of
guilty on both counts. Justice Stafford
imposing a sentence OF ten years In the
MoUndsville PenitentiaTy.