Providence Daily Advertiser

Case of Watkins—It will be seen, by the letter from the attentive correspondent of the N. Y. Commercial, that a verdict has been rendered in this protracted case, but that even this, naturally the termination of law trials, is likely to lead to further discussion. The probability is, that Watkins will escape the consequences of a criminal conviction, but as a private individual, the result must be ruinous.

Washington, July 18.

On no occasion have I seen our court room so thronged with anxious auditors, as it was to day, in consequence of the general understanding that the issue of the trial of Mr. Watkins would be known before the rising of the court. It was about half past nine o'clock when Mr. Key took the floor to close the argument, and he continued to speak for nearly two hours, discussing the various points of law which had been laid down by the opposite counsel. A portion of Mr. Key's remarks had a political bearing, and caused the judges to interrupt him, and to admonish him that they wished to keep subjects of that kind out of court. Some of his observations were construed by the counsel of Dr. Watkins as impugning their motives, and called up Mr. Jones, who, with some severity, commented upon such a breach of that amity and courtesy, which, by common consent, were observed in argument by members of the bar. Good taste, he said; if good feeling did not, ought to have dictated a different course to the gentleman. He then repelled those points in the argument, which he considered as liable to especial exception, and which were afterwards disclaimed by Mr. Key. Mr. Jones, in his argument of yesterday, had likened Mr. Watkins to the scathed oak. Mr. Key, in concluding his remarks, endeavored to improve the figure. He said that the accused had been beautifully described by his able and faithful counsel, as a lonely pine in the mountains,—as the branching oak which was scathed by the tempest which had passed over it. He hoped that the accused might have some redeeming germs left, and that he would bear in mind that there is a power which lifts up the most desolate, and raises the most degraded; and although this blasted tree could never again put forth leaf nor blossom on earth, it might be transplanted to a sphere, hereafter, where no rude storms, should rifle its verdure, nor scatter its foliage. That was the only hope which now remained to this unfortunate individual.

The Jury left the court about half past eleven, and returned into court about a quarter past one, bringing in a verdict in the following words—“The Jury in the case of the United States against Tobias Watkins, find him guilty of obtaining 750 dollars, in his official capacity, and applying the same to his own private use.”

No sooner had the verdict been rendered, than there was a prodigious excitement—the Counsel for the United States objecting to its being received, and contending that it was no verdict at all; while the counsel for the accused insisted upon the verdict being received.

After the Court had taken some time in looking into the various authorities on the subject, and in listening to a few observations from the counsel for the accused, in which the latter contended that the Jury had a right to return a verdict in part, and if the verdict now returned was sufficient to enable the Court to render up their judgment, it was an efficient verdict, the Court called in the Jury, and stated that they had doubts if, under the verdict which had been given in, they could give judgment either for or against the defendant, because the Jury had not stated if the money was received with a fraudulent intent, or if it was the money of the United States, and if the Jury desired, they might retire, and consider of these points.

The Jury then retired a second time, and after deliberation, came again into Court, with the verdict thus amended—“The Jurors in the case of the United States against Tobias Watkins, find him guilty of obtaining 750 dollars, money of the United States, in his official capacity, and applying the same to his own private use.”

The Court will on Monday deliver their judgment. Should it be against the defendant, his counsel, who consider the verdict as tantamount to an acquittal, will probably be ready to arrest the judgment. Should it be for the defendant, here terminates the first case. The second trial, in the indictment for the $5000 dollars, is expected to come on immediately. It is understood that the Jury considered the declaration in Dr. Watkins' letter to Mr. Southard submitted by the U. States Counsel that he intended to return the money, as proof that he had no fraudulent purpose.