Watkins Discharged

CRONK, WATKINS

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 11/9/2007 at 13:53:16

Maquoketa Excelsior, December 2, 1869:

DISCHARGED- Our readers will remember that the whole community was startled by the finding of the murdered body of Samuel Cronk, by the roadside, near Cottonville, in January, 1867. Soon after the finding of the body, Samuel P. Watkins, Calvin Nelson and John Bucklin were arrested for the crime and held for trial. Watkins was tried first, convicted and sentenced to be hanged. Nelson and Bucklin got a change of venue to Clinton County, where they were acquitted.
The case of Watkins was appealed to the Supreme Court and a new trial was granted, with change of venue to Clinton County. The case was called at the Clinton Court last week and District Attorney Ellis entered a nolle prosequi for want of testimony sufficient to warrant the probability of conviction and Watkins was discharged fom our County Jail, where he had been confined more than two years. We understand that he proposes to attend school at Iowa City, this winter.