Testimony During John Gray's Murder Trial, March 1, 1926

Four Persons Are Given Hearing in The Watkins Case. . . . Carl Sweat, Mrs. Sweat, Tom Drake and John Gray Given Hearings During the Day. . . Drake Arrested in This City. . . It Is Charged That Watkins Was Killed and His Body Burned in an Old Barn Near Albemarle

Albemarle, March 1 (AP)—Three men and a woman today were being given preliminary hearings in connection with the alleged murder of “Dad” Watkins, aged man who disappeared several weeks ago and whose charred body was believed found in the ruins of a burned barn.

The body was found in the debris with the arms, legs and head cut off.

Gray was returned from Dillon, S.C., about 10 days ago, and placed in jail here while the other arrests followed later. Drake was arrested in Concord.

Deputy Sheriff Pussor testified today that he overheard Gray telling his wife that he knew all about “the murder, and would tell at the proper time.”

The deputy sheriff further testified that Gray and Carl Sweat and Drake took “Dad” Watkins up the Salisbury road on the night of the alleged slaying and got back about 10 o’clock without him. According to the story of the sheriff, he said he heard the torso of the man was placed first in the Gray home, but later removed.

Robbery has been the only motive advanced for the slaying of Watkins.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Monday, March 1, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-03-01/ed-1/seq-1/