Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-21
WATKINS Is FOUND GUILTY
OF SWEETHEART'S MURDER
CONTINUED from First Page)

torney Smith, he denied any knowl-
edge Of the details surrounding the
shooting. According to his testimony,
his mind is Il total blank as regards
the events that transpired on the night
OF February 5, except that he remem-
bcrcd Hestcr's entering the room when
he called at her home.
The prisoner spoke in subdued
voice and with marked calmncss. He
had loved Hester Dodson for seven
months. he said. and had during that
period paid no attention TO any other
girl. They were to have been married
in June. He denied that he and Hester
quarrcled on the evening of February
. or. seriously. at any time before.
There was no earthly reason. he said,
why he should have wanted TO take
her life.
Watkins denied that he said to Hes
ter. You've wrecked my life. and now
I'll ruin yours" words attributed to
him by Caroline Dodson, sister Of tho
dead girl. who told the jury wednes-
day that she heard the accused make
this statement while he was in the
parlor with her sister He did not
remember talking with newspaper re-
portcrs about the shooting on the night
OF his arrest
SENT FOR PISTOL on
AFTERNOON OF TRAGEDY
Characterization by Common
wealth's Attorney Folkes failed 10
shake his story in any material respect
Asked for an explanation of his action
in sending to Bernard Tucker for his
pistol on the evening OF the tragedy.
the accused replied that he had been
in the habit OF carrying a pistol for
several months, and that he had been
led TO believe that he had enemies In
the vicinity. For that reason, he said,
he thought il best TO go armed
Both sides agreed on the instructions
with little delay. and made their final
appeals 70 the jury. Commemorative
Attorney Folkes and Attorney Smith
each spoke for about an hour. Their
addresses TO the jury were noticeably
free of bitterness or undue feeling.
Counsel for the defense laid en-
phasis on the history of insanity run
ming through the accused's family, and
upon the absence of n motive for the
killing. 1t was unthinkablc, he said.
that the youth before the court; de-
voted TO the girl as he was. could have
sent her 10 her death except in fl,
of mental alteration.
commemorative Attorney Folkes
asked for verdict against the pris-
omcr. although he refrained from sug-
gcsting the exact degree of guilt The
motive for the crime, he held, was
found in the jealous rage, arising from
the lovers quarrel which drove the
prisoner TO use against his sweetheart
the weapon with which he had prcvi-
ously provided himself He dwelt
sharply on the fact that Watkins sent
after his revolver few hours before.
the tragedy. although the weapon had
for some time been in tho possession
OF friend.
The jury took the case at 2:45 o'clock
and. failing 10 reach an agreement by
3:l5 o'clock, was adjourned at that
hour by the court to meet again at
o'clock. II resumed consideration of
tho case at the last-named hour and
reported its verdict at $50 o'clock
\ sister and the mother and aunt
Of the prisoner sat by him through
the Proceedings and accompan MED him
after sentence had been pronounced, 10
the prisoners waiting room. There was
no demonstration. The young man
smiled at them encouragingly as the
door shut him from view. Only then
did the mother. deeply yelled in black
put her handkerchief TO her eyes The
other two placed their arms about her.
The three bowed their heads together
while the courtroom crowd filed out