The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-09-22
STATE SCORES HEAVILY
IN WATKINS MURDER CASE

4.
Mr.. Hildebrsnd. saying L meant to
Kill him"
As the car was nearing the jail Wat
kins again told Graner TO put up his
gun. 1T makes me look like q crimi-
nal said Watkins. BY God, you
are" answered Graner. Graner tes-
tiled that Watkins seemed TO be ra-
uonal and calm.
Louis Walters, court reporter. was
next called. He was asked about the
gun on exhibition. and about the cor
oner's inquest. but did not get far
until Bachman objected on the ground
that the revolver had not vet been
properly entered by the State.
Here adjournment came until 3
O'Clock this morning.
Morning Session.
In the morning Attorney Bachman
surprised the prosecution by bringing
out testimony from Hildebrand. him
self. that he had served part of a two
year term in Moundsville penitentiary
for bank embezzlement. Before the
session the jury was taken to the
scene OF the crime and shown every
detail by Prosecutor Mckee. Watkins
was along and aided in pointing out
the scene. Almost two weeks TO the
minute after he had shot and killed
Mrs. Hildebrand. Watkins stood at the
basement furnace door. facing the
blood marks on the floor. and pointed
out various details to the jury. All
during the ordeal Watkins seemed I'M
moved.
At the opening OF the case Mckee
outlined the crime and was then fol-
lowed by Attorney Bachman. Bach
man urged the jury TO watch the testi-
mony closely for reason for the
crime. Bachman left the impression
with the jury that Watkins would I'M
claim the unwritten law as a defense
that the Letzkus girl had been en-
gagged to him before her marriage to
Hildebrand.
Coroner Gala Mitchell was the first
witness called. He identified a fat
ened bullet as the one taken from the
dead woman's body.
DIR. +. b. Plant. coroner's physician.
then told of finding the bullet in the
brain of Mrs Hildebrand. and that
this was the only cause OF death. The
autopsy notes were read and Dr. 7. p.
Birney and DR.. A. b. Barnett testified.
Victims Husband Testifies.
Edward Hildebrand then took the
stand. After telling OF his employ
ment as clerk at the Hazel Atlas glass
plant, and OF his marriage to the Lett
kus girl in Cleveland. August IS, the
witness told OF the morning OF Septem-
Der Z.
He said: Il was called 20 breakfast
by my wife and sat at the table with
Watkins about S:45 O'Clock. We did
not speak a word. nor did he speak TO
the women OF the house. My wife
he Ia az 100
little. leaving the table to go to
small shed. My wife's sister went hur-
riedly 10 the store.
When ! next heard Watkins heard
him say:
Fannie I would like to speak to
you a moment, please. Mrs. Hide
brand left the table. went to the fur
mace room where he was. I heard
my wife: % Doc calling me. / ran
10 her and as / entered the cellar door
heard two shots and saw my wife
fall TO the floor. Watkins turned the
gun at me and fired twice. both bull
lets hit me in the head. grabbed
his arm directing the gun away from
me and in the scunle he fred again
and fell 10 the floor
Just at that time Wayne Letzkus
struck him as she rushed into the
room ana ne dropped the gun. / tried
again TO get him. but he rushed out OF
the house. went back 10 my wife
and found her unconscious on the
floor. In a few minutes neighbors
came and two mel carried my wife
upstairs. a physician was called, but
when DIT Birney arrived she was dy-
ing and passed away in a very few
minutes Hildebrand said Watkins
had been out OF the house very early
in the morning.
In Prison.
Attorney Bachman took up the cross
examination and brought out that
Hildebrand had been arrested in
Harper's Ferry for altering bank
books and had spent four months in
the Moundsville penitentiary as re-
suit
When questioned Hildebrand denied
that he knew Watkins-was engaged to
Fannie Letzkus at the time OF the
marriage. Hildebrand said he never
told Mrs. Hildebrand not TO tell Wat
kins OF the marriage. The court ad-
journed al noon with cross examina-
ton incomplete