Louis Watkins, 1926 March 19

Disse, subsequently executed, in an effort to prove that Watkins had |
sold Disse cocaine on the day in which he murdered three persons.
Watkins' confession, which he had repudiated, was used against him at
his trial and several eyewitnesses, all black, testified that they
had seen him fire the fatal shot, The biggest mystery was what had
happened to Watkins' weapon which was never found, Police believed
that a friend of his who was with him at the time had picked up the
weapon and the man was held as a material witness for some time but
he denied any knowledge of the weapon's whereabout, Following his
conviction, he was granted a stay of execution so that his counsel
might file a writ of errof with the Supreme Court which was unsuccess=
ful and he was electrocuted at the Virginia State Prison on March 19,

1926, He maintained his innocence until the end,

RIGIMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, Richmond, Vae, August 10, 1925; August 11,
1925; March 20, 1925; March 18, 1925.

Disse, subsequently executed, in an effort to prove that Watkins had
sold Disse cocaine on the day in which he murdered three persons.
Watkins' confession, which he had repudiated, was used against him at
his trial and several eyewitnesses, all black, testified that they
had seen him fire the fatal shot. The biggest mystery was what had
happened to Watkins! weapon which was never found. Police believed
that a friend of his who was with him at the time had picked up the
weapon and the man was held as a material witness for some time but
he denied any knowledge of the weapon's whereabout, Following his
conviction, he was granted a stay of execution so that his counsel
might file a writ of errof with the Supreme Court which was unsuccess-
ful and he was electrocuted at the Virginia State Prison on March 19,

1926, He maintained his innocence until the end.

RIGIMOND TIMES=DISPATCH, Richmond, Vae, August 10, 1925; August ll,
19253 March 20, 1925; March 18, 1925.

Disse, subsequently executed, in an effort to prove that Watkins had
sold Disse cocaine on the day in which he murdered three persons.
Watkins! confession, which he had repudiated, was used against him at
his trial and several eyewitnesses, all black, testified that they
had seen him fire the fatal shot. The biggest mystery was what had
happened to Vatkins' weapon which was never found, Police believed
that a friend of his who was with him at the time had picked up the
weapon and the,man was held as a material witness for some time but
he denied any knowledge of the weapon's whereabout. Following his
conviction, he was granted a stay of execution eo that his counsel
might file a writ of errof with the Suprene Court wich was unsuccess-|
ful and he was electrocuted at the Virginia State Prison on March 19,
1926, He maintained his innocence until the end,

RIGIMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, Richmond, Va, August 10, 19253 August 11,
19253 March 20, 1925; March 18, 1925.

Disp aaoch #9) 1255 Mech By Bese g

WATKINS, Louis March 19, 1926

Watkins, alias Polly Francis and known to the police as "fhe Black
Nigger," was a 28-yeareold black resident of Richmond, Va., who had
served a one-year sentence in the Virginia State Prison for selling
cocaine. Late on the afternoon of Apgust 9, 1925, he got into an
argument with a black woman, Rath Glenn, im at 1006 Bacon St, and
shot her inflicting a critical though not fatal wound. When police
officers, including Detective Sergeant Louis Bertucci arrived, he
had already fled and, after they were unable to locate him, they re-
_ turned to the station, Around 8:30 that evening, Bertucci received
a tip that Watkins was back at 1006 Bacon Street and boasting of
having shot Miss Glenn, Bertucci, alone, drove to the address in his
patrol car and when it stopped Watkins, his gun stuck in his trousers,
approaced and asked:"Is you looking for me," He went for his gun

and Bertucci shot him in the abdomen, Watkins returned the fire,
hitting the detective in the head and killing him instantly. As Ber-
tucci's hand fell, his revolver fired a second time but the bullet
went wild, Watkins ran up an alley where he dropped unconscious and
when other officers arrived and took him into custody, he was taken
to a hespital, The next morning, believing that he was dying from

his wound, Watkins made a complete confession, Two days after his
arrest, he was summoned:as a defense witness in the trial of Rudolph

WATKINS, Louis March 19, 1926

Watkins, alias Polly Francis and known to the police as "Bhe Black
Nigger," was a 28-year-old black resident of Richmond, Va., who had
served a one-year sentence in the Virginia State Prison for selling
cocaine, Late on the afternoon of Apgust 9, 1925, he got into an
argument with a black woman, Rith Glenn, im at 1006 Bacon St. and
shot her inflicting a critical though not fatal wound. When police
officers, including Detective Sergeant Louis Bertucci arrived, he
had already fled and, after they were unable to locate him, they re-
turned to the station, Around 8:30 that evening, Bertucci received
a tip that Watkins was back at 1006 Bacon Street and boasting of
having shot Miss Glenn, Bertucci, alone, drove to the address in his
patrol car and when it stopped Watkins, his gun stuck in his trousers,
approaced and asked:"Is you looking for me." He went for his gun
and Bertucci shot him in the abdomen, Watkins returned the fire,
hitting the detective in the head and killing him instantly. As Ber-
tucci's hand fell, his revolver fired a second time but the bullet
went wild, Watkins ran up an alley where he dropped unconscious and
when other officers arrived and took him into custody, he was taken
to a hespital, The next morning, believing that he was dying from
his wound, Watkins made a complete confession, Two days after his
arrest, he was summoned-as a defense witness in the trial of Rudolph

WATKINS, Louis March 19, 1926

Watkins, alias Polly Francis and known te the police as "fhe Black
Nigger," was a 28-year-old black resident of Richmond, Va., who had
served a one-year sentence in the Virginia state Prison for selling
cocaine, Late on the afternoon of Aggust 9, 1925, he got into an
argument with a black woman, Rhth Glenn, im at 1006 Bacon St. and
shot her inflicting a critical though not fatal wound, ‘hen police
officers, including Detective Sergeant Louis Bertucci arrived, he
had already fled and, after they were unable to locate him, they re-
turned to the station, Around 8:30 that evening, Bertucci received
a tip that atkins was back at 1006 Bacon Street and boasting of
having shot Miss Glenn, Bertucci, alone, drove to the address in his
patrol car and when it stopped Watkins, his gun stuck in his trousers,
approaced and asked:"Is you looking for me," He went for his gun
and Bertucci shot him in the abdomen, Vatkins returned the fire,
hitting the detective in the head and killing him instantly. As Ber-
tucci's hand fell, his revolver fired a second time but the bullet
went wild, Watkins ran up an alley where he dropped unconscious and
when other officers arrived and took him into custody, he was taken
to a hespital, The next morning, believing that he ees ying from

i d, Watkins made a complete confession, Two er his
Enrett, he was sumoned-as a defense witness in the trial of Rudolph

Toute Merch 19, 1926.

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