The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1869-10-09
A SONS Vengeance.


the killing of James Watson, alias 'Ethe
Knife" which event occurred in June
or July last, at Fort Benton, on the
head waters of the Missouri river. 1t
says:
AS far back in our city's history as
1912, flourished then young scoundrel
of fifteen years, known as "the Knife" to
those who know of him and of his habit
of invariably drawing a knife upon any
body that happened to, in any way,
offend him. His name was James Wat
son, but among the companions of his
earlier days he was scarcely known by it,
'sthe Knife" having taken its place ever
since. When he was fourteen years of
age he had badly cut a young playmate
upon whom he had failed to force cheat
ing bargain. ''The Knife" became known
to the watch as professionally dishonest,
when, in 1915, he was caught, with two
other burglars, in the act of robbing a
jewelry store on the landing. He man
aged to wriggle out of this case, shortly
after which he left the city and went to
Pittsburg, Cleveland and Buffalo, and
even further East, committing many
crimes, and almost invariably escaping
detection.
In fact, it was not until he became
well known to the authorities at Buffalo,
and was at length detected in steam
boat robbery at that point. in 1850, that
he was convicted and forced to serve five
years. Returning to Buffalo in 1856,
and thence to Cleveland and Chicago,
Watson in drunken brawl, in saloon
in the last named city, drew knife upon
VIM. Webb, the captain of the schooner
North Star, and cut him in such man
ner that he died from his wounds. Wat
son escaped the immediate vengeance
that even this crime should have brought
upon him. In fact, his identity was not
fully established, and the police had no
clue along which to follow his arrest
However, shortly after his fathers death,
the son, John Webb, young man of
twenty years, learned from one of Wat
sons former associates of Chicago who it
was that had made him fatherless OBJ
tanning minute description of his per-
son, including note of scar across his
forehead that could not be easily forgot
ten, he took every step in his power to
have him brought to justice. But all
efforts to this end proved fruitless, as
Watson had gone far south-to Texas, it
was supposed.
In the years that followed each other,
John Webb went to the bad, under the
influences of Chicago life, becoming al
most as desperate a character as his
fathers murderer
When the war broke out, he enlisted
IN an Illinois regiment, and served seve-
raj years, known always as a reckless,
desperate soldier, fighting bravcly, but
always in trouble on account of his in
subordination. When he was finally dis
charged he went West, and for several
years led wandering life, until at Fort
Benton, a few weeks since, he met this
Watson in a gambling saloon, recognized
him, threw glass of whisky into his
face, and then very coolly shot him six
times with revolver, letting his life out
through at least six mortal wounds. It
appears that they were sitting side by
side at faro spread, both betting white
chips on the same cards. Hearing Wat
sons name called by the dealer, Webb
examined his face closely, and finding in
it every mark of the old description, in
troduced conversation, and managed to
learn from Watson that he was in Chica-
go in March of 1865, the time of the
murder.
This settled it with Webb. He didn't |
wait for the evidence of witnesses, or
think of appealing to law, very scarce |
article in that part of the world. While |
taking drink Of whisky he carelessly
took up some of Watson's chips, as if
making a mistake in shifting a bet.
Watson cursed the mistake and its author,
announcing that those were his chips.
Webb shifted the glass to his left hand
and said he 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, blinded him for an
instant, and theu, as Watson came at
him, commenced shooting, and without
going into the heroics, or even exclaim-
ing, "My fathers murderer" proceeded
to settle old scores He then walked out
of the-saloon, and without much trouble
made his escape.
VINO CAN BEAT IT?-Mr Philip
Ralt;more. who owns a fine farm about