The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-09-23
FATE OF WATKINS NOW
In HANDS OF THE JURY


answered. your imagination will Kill
you
Attorney Bachman: Did Fannie
Letzkus ever Indicate to you that she
was married?"
Watkins: she did not"
Prosecuting Attorney ID. A. Mckee
/ cross-examined Watkins until APO
o'clock. In that time, he was not able
10 bring forth a single admission from
him as TO the real crime at the Hide
brand home. September :. 1915.
Admissions Not Admitted.
| An EFFORT was made 10 introduce The
admissions of Watkins made on the
evening following the shooting. to Mr..
Mckee and Mr.. O'Brien at the jail
Attorney Baehman objected and had
stricken out such admissions, with
the exception OF the record so far as
II was used TO testify the eredibility Of
the witness
Watkins told of his going 10 Bridge
port purchasing the revolver. coming
back TO the Letzk1s- Hid ebrand home.
eating his breakfast. and admitting
his escape from the house, and the
places where he went-but be did not
admit that he shot Mrs. Fannie Bond
Hildebrand, or her husband. Edward
p. Hidebrand.
lie told the prosecuting attorney
he reached a determination on Mon
day night. after IL o'clock.
Mr.. McKee-"E'or what purpose did
you 90 to Bridgeport"
Watkins had no general pur-
pose. l went into the Men hardware
company store and asked the man II
he kept guns. I bought a gun. but
didn't know what kind IL was"
From stenographic record
taken the night OF his arrest. Il was
learned that he stated on that occas-
ion that he paid 81 for that, and 20
cents for cartridges.
McKee-"were you overpowered to
such an extent Tuesday morning that
you killed herr"
Objection Of Bachman. sustained
Mckee-"Did you shoot here"
Objection, sustained
Then in a general way, Watkins
went over the testimony OF the wi
nesses and said that Hildebrand, Ber-
tina Haglock, John Mueller. and the
gun salesman had lied on the stand
he further stated in answer to ques-
tons of Mr.. Mckee that he had never
had any trouble with any one.
The cross examination finished at
Ace. and Attorney Bachman an
nouneed that the defense rested
The stcte called Miss Mayme Letzkus
In rebuttaL She stated that Watkins
had stayed az their home during the win
ter. last, and that he had not paid any
woman had never been known as the
Or. Plant on sanity.
flied a. an insanity expert. lie said h.,
had qualified as such an expert In Mar
shall county, Allegheny county. Pa. Bel
Mr. McKee-"Now. doctor. YOU have
been here to-day observing this defend
ant. from his questions. and his general
the morning OF September -" ObJec-
ton. sustained.
that the witness has testified as 10 tho
feelings that prcyed upon his mind be
iore september T. and on the night OF
the 9Th had little sleep. that he arose on
the morning Of the 7th. went to Bridge
port. purchased revolver. shot II sew
cral times upon has return. then after
wards tried TO escape. through Moods
dale, are those acts those OF an insane
person. Objections a. 10 form OF hypo-
lions taken.
Dr. Plaintiffs answers show a pre-
preparedness there. reason. chance to
escape. which couic only be reasoned out
BY a sane person. ! might say further
% was planned, n was the plan OF sane
Hsrson; Lhere y no no question IN my mind
that he b. sane now"
Attorney Bachman made every effort
60 shake the doctor In his testimony.
even To limiting that he came preiudiccd
to the state 10 hang his tEachman's
CLIENT but he failed.
state and defense rested at $40
O'Clock. and the arguments on the IN
structiouS were made To the court Ad-
tournment was hen taken until 1880.
Morning Session.
Tho morning session was featured by
the testimony OF Watkins when he was
placed ou tho stand. Hc related all de-
tails OF his love for Fannie Bond Hl-
debrand. and accused her u iusincerlty
and OF leading him or. During all the
time Watkins was on the stand the state
and the defense fought bitterly. Obiec-
tious came thick and fast.
Louis LogOmarcino. deputy sheriff
made "A sensation when he stated that
be- had known Watkins TO be a iitti-
OFF, bu had not thought 10 necessary
Co arrest him. Captain Frohmo testified
TO securing the revolver from Hide
brand home. Me- Albert HagloCk. cous-
lu OF murdered g4ri told Of hearing
shooting and Identified the clothes OF
the dead girl
Miss Wayne Letzkus told OF hearing
shots and of running in ana hitting
watkins over the head with q skillet.