The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-08-26
IieAth Or a CInclnaall desperate "A

DDNhA vs. - SA4NAA4A-A+~t
D. sons Vengeance.
As lar back In Clnclnnall's history as
1872, aourished q then young scoundrel
olalxtesn years, known as "Ihe knife"
10 those who knew oil him and OF his
habit Of invariably drawing 4 knife
u pom anybody that happened to in any
way offend him. His name was James
Watson, but among the companions Of
his earlier days he was scarcely known
by 1t, 1.-THE Knife" having taken lis
place ever since. When he was four
teen years OF age he had badly cut a
O younger playmate upon whom he had
failed 10 force q cheating bargain. 1.-THE
knife" trst became known to the
watch 20 professionally dIshonest when,
In 1915, he was caught, with two other
burglars, in the act Of robblng q Jewell
ry store on the Landing. he managed
10 wIssle out OF this case, shortly after
which he left the city and went to
Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Buffalo, and
even farther East, committing many
crimes, and almost invariably escaping
detection. s,,...,,'.. ...
In fact, ii was not until he had DO.
came well known 10 the authorities OF
Bnftalo, and was at length detected 10
q steamboat robbery Rt that point, In
1850, that he was convicted and forced
to serve dvA years. Returning to Buf.
faIo IN 1855, and thence 10 Cleveland
and Chicago, Watson, In q drunken
broll In q drinking saloon ut tie last
named city, drew q knife upon William
webb, The captain OF the schooner
North Star, and cut bin In such o
manner that he died Of his wounds.
Watson escaped the Immediate ven:
geance that even this crime should
have brought upon him. In fact, his
Identity was not really established, and
the police had no clue along which to
follow 10 his arrest. However, shortly
AFTER his fathers death, the son, John
Webb, q young man Of twenty years,
learned HON one OF Watson's former
associates Of Chicago who 1t was that
made him fatherless. Obtaining min.
ute description OF his person, including q
note Of scar across his forehead that
could not be easily forgotten, he took
every step In his power to have him
brought to Justice. But oil Efforts to
this end proved irRitlesg, as Watson
had gone fat Sonth-to Texas it was
III the years that followed each other,
John Webb went to the bad, under the
influences Of Chicago life, becoming al
most as desperate Q character as his
fathet,s murderer.
When the war broke out he enlisted
In an Illinois regiment, and served sew.
erRl years, known always as areckless,
desperate soldier, fighting braYely, but
always In trouble on account Of his in>
subordlnation. When he was finally
discharged he went West, and for sew
eral years led q wandering life, until at
Fort Benton, q few weeks since, he met
this Watson In Q gambling saloon, re.
coguIzed him, threw glass OF whiskey
into his face, and then very cooily shot
him six times with revolver, letting
his life out through at least three NOR.
tai wounds. Il appears they were sit
ting side by side at faro spread, both
betting white chips on the same cards.
Hearing Watson's name called by the
dealer. Webb examined his face close.
~, and finding ID II every mark OF the
old time description, intsca9ced q con-
veraatiop, and managed to leaan from
Watson, that he was In Chicago In
March OF 1856, the time Of the murder,
This settled 1t With Webb. he didn't
walt for the evidence ,of. witnesses, or
think Of appealing to law, very scarce
arllcleln that part OF the world. While
taking drink OF whisky, he carelessly
took up some Of Watson's chips, as Il
making mistake In shifting bet.
Watson cursed the mistake and Its au-
thor, announcing that those were his
chips. Webb shifted the glass to his
left hand and reckoned not, at the same
time cooking "a revolver In his pocket
with his right, Watson jumped up and
pulled his knife. webb dashed the
whisky into his face, binding him for
an instant, and them, as Watson came
at him, commenced shooting, and with.
out going into the heroIca or even ex-
claiming, My fathers murderer pro-
ceeded 10 settle old scores. He then
walked ont OF the saloon, aud without
much trouble made his escape.