The news and herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1876-1881, 1879-07-02
FIVE THO US<fND IND LyEE


The following story is told Of John
Watts, once Il noted gambler on the
Mlississippi, who died recently in
Although Watts profcsscd to be q
man OF honor-although Sunnblcr-
nc was by no means Of the very best Of
morals, and he did not object to take
advantage of his fellow man in this
way. For instance: With his friend
and accomplice he would board at
the boat at Louisville, and, scanning
the passenger list, pick out for his
victims some old carl-playcrs of
wealth wit whom he was personally
acquainted: TO these people he would
go very quietly and say. Of his own
"I.N'nPiiv0, 'rliv,v is Il man WHO
pays high, and we can beat him; YOU
JON with me md wcll do it," The
victim agrees, the purity is made up,
put watts always succeeded in regulat-
ing success the wrong way for his
victim, and thus tho would-bc bitter
was often bitten. ~
One time he was accused of swind.
ling in that way, the charge being
made in the heat Of play by man FROM
whom WATTS accomplice had just won
Hlo,0oO. "Is that your opinion2" he
qliictly asked. eyes, sir; that's What
Think" roarcd the loser; "you swim
died me, and I stigmatizc you as q
scoundrel." The hour was late, and
only the watchman and the party cn-
gagged in playing heard the charge, but
all Of them drew back and held their
breath, for they were sure Jack would
take life to wipe out the insult. 1t is
said that he has done that thing.
IL will give YOU $4,000 right here if
you will not make thatopinion public"
said Watts, drawing forth his pocket
book. "No, sirj do not want the
money; you can not btty my silence
with money" Then Watts smiled in
his wicked way and held pistol in
one hand and the money in the other,
and said quietly, as before: "My
friend, for the suppression Of Your
opinion 1 offered YOU $4,000.
You refused. Now L offer you that
amount OF money and your life. DO
you accept?" The man looked Into
Jacks coldJ steel efGy eye, and what
he Read there was convincing. He
took the money and his life and kept
silent. During his career Watts was
said to have made and lost q million
dollars by gambling.
Zach Chandler, the Washington
correspondent Ola Cincinnati paper,
in moment of thoughtlessncss Which
he will regret, has allowed himself to
discover a Presidential candidate who
is not an Ohio man. The information
is given with uncommon solcmnity
that tho Senator's friends are actively
looking over tho ground and some
work has already been done, both in
the national committee and out of it,
and il jeff Davis can be kept alive till
the next Republican National Convcn-
ton they havo the greatest hopes of
getting Chandler on tho ticket. They
claim for their candidate that he would
make strong government and httvc
no earthly need of repeated applica-
tiOns Of secondhand backbone to keep
him in the party. Some day it may
get out, however, that this corrcspoii-
don't was writing bctwcon drinks
Ihitatletphia Times.
THIS YEARS ELECrI0Ns.- Elections
take place in several States this year,
in the following order: Kentucky
on the fourth Of August elects gov
ornor and Legislature. California on
the third Of September, elects all off
u Legislature which wifi elect 4
successor to Senator Booth. Maine
follows OH the ninth Of September,
clectinga governor and Legislature.
Ohio on tho fourteenth of October
elects q governor and Legislaturc-the
latter to chooses o senator to fill Mr..
NINYp Dr., = r.