The Hattiesburg news., 1910-09-28
MANY WITNESSES
SUMMONED IN CASE
fense Will Probably Not Conclude
Until Late This Afternoon.-No
New Evidence Adduced.

At the time of going to press this
afternoon the preliminary trial of Ar
thur A. Watson, charged with the
murder of his fourteen-year-old wife
in this city about three weeks ago,
was in progress before Justice Of the
Peace Bolton, and indications were
that the case would not conclude until
late this afternoon or probably to-
night.
The defense is represented by Hon.
Robert Miller, of Hazlehurst and Cur
rie and Smith, of Hattiesburg, while
the prosecution is being conducted by
Hon. John Street.
Calm and apparently unconcerned
and not manifesting the slightest per-
ceptible emotion, the defendant was
arraigned before Justice Bolton and
without the culver of nerve, Arthur
Watson heard the awful charge, ac-
cusing him of numbering his fourteen
year-old wife, read by Prosecuting At
torney Street. A plea of not guilty
was entered, and the preliminary
trial, to determine whether or not
the defendant should be admitted to
bail, was commenced.
The first witness examined by the
state was DR.. Emmett Dill. DR.. Dill
told of having been sumomned to the
home of Mrs. M. B. Mccullough short
ly after the shooting occurred. He
stated that Mrs. Watson was dead
when he arrived at the scene OF the
tragedy. Death had been produced
by gunshot wounds, the nature OF which
were described, two in number, either
of which would have produced death.
The dead girl had been placed upon
stretcher and no examination of the
nature of the wounds was made by
witness.
David Farley was then called and
testified as to having seen Mrs. Wat
son before the body was removed
from the position in which it was ly-
ing Immediately after the shooting.
He examined the wound, one of which
he stated, was in the left side of the
head. close to the ear, the other IN
the top of the head, the bullet which
produced the latter having evidently
passed entirely through the skull and
brain.
Mrs. M. B. Mccullough, mother of
Mrs. Watson, was then called to the
stand. She related the particulars OF
the tragedy and the incidents leading
up to it, Her daughter, Nora Wat
son, she said, had been married to
Arthur Watson about fourteen
months: the couple lived with her
about three months after their mar
riage, afterwards going to Memphis
where they lived until Friday before
the tragedy occurred. They had al
ways gotten along pleasantly and
were apparently devoted to each 9th
er.
On Friday night, before the tragedy
occurred, witness stated, Mrs. Wat
son arrived at her mothers house in
Hattiesburg. She said that her hus
band, Arthur Watson, had accompa
MED her as far as Canton, Miss, but
not having sufficient money to bring
both to Hattiesburg, had sent his wife
ahead, saying that he would "beat his
way" and follow on later. Watson
arrived Saturday morning and con
frmed the girls statement in this
connection.
When questioned as to the conduct
of the couple during the time they
were at the home of the witness, be
fore the tragedy occurred, Mrs. Nc
Cullough stated that she had noticed
nothing unusual in their behavior
Watson, upon arriving at the McCul
Apugh home, kissed his wife anc
| lhother-in-law affectionately, and moth
s "a IFS - = tf