The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-09-22
DEFENSE rs APPARENTLY TRYING
TO PROVE FORM OF INSANITY
Testimony Submitted Yesterday. How
ever, Tended to Disprove This
claim-Seene Of Crime Viewed.

ever. Tended TO Disprove This
Clainn-Scene Of Crime Viewed.
All during the gruelling eNamina-
tons OF witnesses in the trial of VIII
liam watkins. slayer of Fannie Bond
! Hlldeorand. yesterday. the state scored
heavily IL was seemingly the at
tempt OF Attorney Carl Bachman. for
tue defendant. TO prove that Watkins
was suffering from form OF insanity
! at the time OF the murder. No wit
ness on the stand yesterday. however.
tesuned to anything but that Watkins
was rational, even after the deed had
been done. Two witnesses for the
state gave testimony which would tend
TO prove that Watkins had been plan
ning desperate action as much as 4
week prior to the crime
The afternoon session opened with
Edward Hildebrand resuminR the
stand for continued cross examination.
After testifying that Watkins had al
ways had the appearance OF gentle
man. Hildebrand was re-cross examin-
ed by Prosecutor Mckee. In this il
was brought out that Hildebrand had
spent four months of two year sen
tence in the penitentiary for altering
the books OF the Harpers Ferry bank.
$500 being the extent of the altera-
ton. He said that he had changed
the figures to shield a friend. When
asked why he left Dr. Rau's employ he
gave heavy drinking as the cause The
scar on his left cheek was explained
by Mr.. Hildebrand as having been re-
ceived during a night in GAINESVILLE.
when he walked about in a drunken
stupor. He explained his living with
Mrs. Lucas. saying she cared for him
when he was in.
Attorney Bachman. on re-cross ex-
animation. asked the witness why he
altered the books in the bank. The
prosecution objected. but witness was
allowed 10 answer. TO cover over
drafts he said.
John Mueller. grocer Of Glenwood.
was the states next witness. He told
OF Watkins having come into his store
the sunday one week before the muir
der and asking about guns. According
to the testimony. Watkins wanted 20
know If Mueller had two revolvers.
No" replied Mueller. Il only have
one. But what de you want with a
gun Watkins is said TO have mum
bled something about some fellows up
at Greggsville" and TO have gone out
of. the store Mueller declared that
Watkins did not seem TO be acting
peculiarly.
Buys Revolver.
William J. Holler. employed at the
Bridgeport Hardware store, was next
called. He testified that Watkins
came into the store az o'clock on the
I morning of Monday. September 6. and
asked for a revolver. Holler says he
sold him one for 81. and II cartridges.
The revolver supposed to have been
used TO kill Mrs. Hildebrand, was
brought out and the witness identified
IL to the best of his knowledge as the
one ne sold Watkins Holler also iden-
tilted the blank cartridges as ones OF
the same kind he had sold Watkins.
William Forshey. in the ice business
az Fulton. was called by the State. He
testified that he saw Watkins about
O'Clock on the morning of the seventh
OF September at Fulton. Watkins
stopped him and asked for a cigarette.
az the same time saying that he (Wat-
! kinsl was going over 20 town. For
shey. when questioned. declared that
Watkins did not seem 10 be excited or
10 be acting peculiarly.
William A. Henry. employee in the
Mueller grocery. next testified that he
met Watkins on the morning of the
seventh Tell John ] got that that
u was looking after are the words
Watkins said 10 Mr.. Henry. The wit.
ness said that Watkins was not acting
peculiarly but that he seemed TO have
been up all night. his eyes being
heavy.
Plans Deed.
! Ray Woods. plumber az Fulton. was
called and be gave testimony for the
State TO prove that the deed was pre-
meditated. Woods. according 10 tesu-
mony. saw Watkins early on the morn
ing OF the seventh in front Of the Dan
/ Woods pool room.
II a man did a great wrong TO you,
wouldn't you kill him3" asked Wat
b kins OF Woods Woods says that he
answered that Il would have to be a
very great wrong and then added
But YOU are foolish TO even consider
lit Watkins showed his revolver and
Woods advised him TO pat e away or
I be arrested The attorneys engaged
I in a little side battle when Bachman
asked the witness n he hadn't a. much
as advised Watkins 10 kill the man.
W. p Steel dairyman. next testified
that he saw Watkins shooting at a
mark az the lower end OF seventh
street. Fulton. eanly on the morning
OF the crime
Shots Heard.
Edward Fondrcw. Of Glenwood. told
Of having heard four shots fred around
= o'clock on the morning of tho crime.
and OF having seen Watkins running
away from the Letzkus home Follow
ing the shots Fondrow heard screams
and ran 10 tho scene 81 the murder.
Mrs Charles Uiu of near the Letz.
kus home. heard four shots fred that
morning. about SEQ. and saw Wat.
sins running by her house
Mrs MARY NJ Richard. of Thcdah
Place. testified that she saw Watkins
run NO the creek back OF her house
about Q go that morning She told Of
his crossing The creek and coming
near her house. Mrs Kickard was
standing in window at tho Time
Watkins saw her. and hesitatrd mo.