Evening star., 1933-06-12
WATTS FACES JURY
IN GARRISON DEATH
Officer Testifes Murdered Man
Reprimanded Jailer for At
tentions to Niece.
BY STAFF Correspondent of The Star.

6y q Ctdf COIT6SpOnQeLJ OI me 0tdT.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, June 12.-An ar
gument over the alleged attentions Lee
c. Watts, 56-year-old former Hyatts-
vile jailer had been paying to a Is
year-old girl led to the shooting Of
Thomas Vernon Garrison, son of Chief
Deputy Sheriff Thomas H. Garrison, in
the Hyattsville lookup last November,
a Circuit Court jury was told here to-
day as Watts went on trial for murder.
Sergt Ralph Brown of the Prince
Georges County police force, the first
witness called by the State. declared
Garrison visited the HyattSville lookup
and started to reprimand Watts for pay
ing attention to his 15-year-old niece.
Climaxing, an argument which fol-
lowed, Brown said, Watts fired two
shots, one of which killed Garrison.
The shooting occurred on the steps OF
the lookup while Brown had his hand
on Garrison'S shoulder, according to
the testimony.
Brown produced the pistol used by
Watts and a bloody lumber jacket
which Garrison was wearing when shot.
He declared Garrison was unarmed and
was on his way out of the lookup when
shot.
Unexpected difficulty in selection OF
Jury delayed the start of the testi-
mony. The regular panel was exhausted
when the defense exercised dozen
challenges and the State three, making
1t necessary to summon a second panel.
Members Of the jury are John Gerst-
ner, foreman; Royal w. Wrigley, Jo-
seph Burley, colored; Harry A. Schrey-
er, Vernon Phelps, James H. Croggon,
Charles Bernstein, Frederick w. Carl
son. William E. Tucker, John M. Lockett,
Nicholas Rosatti and Harry L. Meredith.
Tho nY1f hnro q chance
of venue. Nearly score Of Prince
Georges County residents were in the
court room to hear the evidence in one
of the most sensational Shootings In
the history of Hyattsville.
The State claims the shooting was
unprovoked-that Garrison was leav-
ing the Hyattsville jail when Watts
fired. Watts is expected to plead self
defense, contending Garrison threat
ened him several times.
Watts shot young Garrison on the
steps Of the Hyattsville lookup. Novem-
ber Z, 1882. There had been i'll feeling
between the two for some time.
Although about Is witnesses have
been summoned for the trial, it is hoped
to finish it in single day.
Sergt. Ralph Brown of the Prince
Georges County police force will be the
star witness for the State. He was an
eyewitness to the shooting. Other State
witnesses include Louis Haynes of the
Bladensburg rescue squad, and DR.
Leonard Hayes.
Defense witnesses include Dr. H. T.
Willis, mayor of Hyattsville, who heard
Watts and Garrison arguing prior to the
shooting Joe Harrison and Nathaniel
Christian, who were prisoners in the
lookup and also heard the shooting,
and Robert w Mccullough, corporation
counsel Of Cheverly who visited the
lookup about the time the shooting oc-
Cured. The defense also plans to call
a number of Hyattsville business men
as character witnesses.
States Attorneys Alan Bowie of Prince
Georges County and Theodore Brady OF
Anne Arundel County are handling the
prosecution. Watts is being defended
by Attorneys John S. White and George
B. Woelfel. Judge Nicholas Green Is
presiding alone on the bench.