The Washington times., 1906-07-26
Victim of MurderOuS AS
Sault Tells Story on
Witness Stand.
RECOVERY NEAR MIRACLE
DR.. Warfleld Declares Girl Is
Not Yet Out of All
Danger.

Nearng hospital cap 20 hide q
number Of ugly scalp wounds and ex-
hibiting a hve-inch scar on her neck.
little Jessie May Popdns. fourteen years
old. appeared in the witness stand In
the Police Court today and testified
against her uncle. John Popkins, who
was arraigned on a charge OF murder
ously assaulting her with hatchet and
razor four weeks ago. After hearing the
girls story and reaching the conclu-
sion that the assault was made without
provocaton. IN a drunken jealous rage,
Judge Kimbau held the prisoner in
$3.50 bail for the action OF the grand
jury. He was unable 10 furnish this and
was recommitted to jail by order Of the
court.
Mans Victim on Stand.
When the little girl was called 70 ths
stand she was trembling and nervous
and had 10 be assisted by Deputy Mar
shaI Johnson.
In a gentle voice Judge Kimbau asked:
Did some one hurt you?"
Yes. sir Ny uncle replied the lit
tie girl
New tell me about 1t in your own
way said the Judge.
Well. ] don't know why he did il. but
he came into the house drunk and began
quarreling as soon as he saw me At
ter a few words he knocked me down
with the hatchet and before 1 could
gel Us he Tained blows on my head
until I became unconscious The next
thing I remember ! was IN the hospital
with cloths on my head and neck"
Alice Gray. Marguerite Carroll. and
Nora Stubbs, were the other witnesses
Tney stated that Popkins returned 10
his home on Upper Eighth street north
west. and appeared 20 be drunk. Short
ly after he entered the house they heard
the girl screaming murder and help"
They rushed 10 the house and saw the
man standing over the PROSTATE form
OF the little girl. shOweriug blows on
her head Blood was gushing from the
child many wounds. Before anyone
could interfere he procured razor and
began hacking az his neice's threat.
He was sitting in a chair when arrested
by policeman who was summoned 10
the neighborhood by screams OF women
Dr. Warfeld's Testimony.
Dr warfeld. from Freedman's. was
the next witness
He said. Judge this Is one OF the most
remarkable cases / have ever seen. This
girls jugular vein was severed bv a
razor or some other sharp instrument,
and it has been a puzzle to me and other
physicians how she ever recovered. We
examined her neck closely and are sat
isfied that her tugular vein was severed.
several stitches were taken N IT, There
are half dozen serious scalp wounds
and probably fractures OF the skull She
seems 10 be able 10 walk and talk and
reason. but that cannot be interpreted
as meaning that she is out OF danger.
The wounds are OF such a nature that
we cannot tell whether or not she Will
die as 4 result of them or what will be
the effect in years 10 come. The wound
on her neck has almost completely
healed. al YOU can see. but these on her
head have TO be Tedressed several times
a week"
Girl Identifies Her AssaiIant.
While the girl VS. testifying she was
asked TO point out the man who struck
her. She turned toward her uncle and.
with a shudder pointed an accusing I'm
ger at him. saying: There he sits
The uncle betrayed no emotion what
ever. He is a man OF medium height
and build. and appeared pale and hag-
gard today
Judge KimbaH asked Assistant Dis
trict Attorneys Given and Taggart
what bond they would ask They stated
that 5000 would be low enough in view
Cf the fact that IL was not known
whether the girl would live or die.
Judge Kimbail ordered the bond fixed
at s. 200
Attorney John Shields, representing
POpkins. stated that he thought the
bond was eNorb.tant and asked that It
be reduced to $1,000.
The court refused 10 reduce the bond
and POpkins was sent back 20 jail.