Goldsboro semi-weekly argus., 1909-10-30
WATKINS TRIAL AT AsHEvILLE.
Defendant Had an Innlng I'm the Tes.
timony Yesterday.


sessions Of the trial OF F. c. Watkins
for the killing of John Hill Bunting,
at Black Mountain August Z. was
featured by the production Of evidence
highly beneficial to the defendant.
C. e. Adams, OF Atlanta, testified to
hearing Bunting and Collins using
profane and vulgar language and Of
his efforts to quiet them: his wife told
Of hearing the men using profane lam
guage and of being greatly frightened.
Proprietor Manly, of the hotel, testi-
fied that Glenn Jones told him the
men had Watkins down and he had to
shoot Watkins sister, Mrs Craw-
ford, testified that Gowan told her the
men had Watkins down and her hus-
band said that Jones told him the men
had Watkins down.
Dave Glenn testified that Jones told
him the men had Watkins down and
that he thought the men were going
''to kill us."
Leslie Hummel, clerk at the hotel,
testified that Jones told him the men
attacked Watkins. A number Of wit
nesses testified to defendants good
were rigorous and whatever matters
contradictory were developed will be
used 10 argument. The cross-exami-
nation by Judge Jones, OF the defense,
was resumed when court met yester-
day morning and witness was asked
h4 70
papers some hours after the tragedy
with O view to showing that they did
not correspond to sone OF those he
made to the court. Witness denied
the correctness OF certain statements.
He denied that he had caused a
statement he signed to be published
with a view to influencing public SEN
timent and also denied that he had
been to various section Of the county
talking about the case to influence
sentiment and that he had agents
around seeking to influences people. He
said he had no money to use for any
such purpose. saying that while he
had sold a place for some $3, 100, he
had used $4,000 Of this money in a
few hours to buy farm. He had not
furnished cent to get witnesses here
and no one had done this for him so
far as he knew. He admitted that he
was intoxicated once and denied that
he had engaged In the sale of near
beer, although he had kept his store
open Sundays. On redirect examina-
ton he said that he had killed the ne
gro of whom he spoke the day before,
because the negro had cut through
his door with an axe and nearly struck
his daughter with 1t.
C. e. Adams, cotton broker OF At
lanta, who said he had been at Black
Mountain for his health, was called to
the stand and when the ladies retired
testified that he was awakened by
talking and heard two Intoxicated
men using profane and lewd talk,
which he detailed.
Mrs. c. e. Evans testified that she
was awakened by cursing. but she was
so much shocked she did not know if
there was vulgarity used. Her hus-
band went to quiet the men, and then
went a second time and said: "You
ought to be ashamed OF yourselves"
and someone made reply she did not
hear.
On behalf of the State Miss II. z.
Eller testified that she was nurse at
the Mission Hospital and half an hour
before the operation Bunting said he
was going to die. He said, 'I am go
ing to die" In view OF DR.. F1etcher's
testimony, which the court considered
might have held out to Bunting some
possible hope OF recovery, Judge Ad-
ans consulted authorities, but then
allowed Bunting's statement to stand
az dying declaration, this being that
he was shot for nothing.
Walker Taylor, T. D. Meares, w. N.
Harriss, former mayor OF Wilmington
and Rev. r. w. Hogue,, OF Chapel Hill.
testified that Bunting's character was
good, as did Rufus Weaver and Harold
E. Johnston, Of this county.