Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-31
CHARLES F0ULK'S NERVE.
INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A
DESPERATE 'GENTLEMA AN"

-Confessing the Crime After Being
Cleared by the Court-Head of a Gang
of Firemen W no Were Also Inoendia-
ries-Usipg Dynamite for Revenge
The Tragic End of Fouik at Hot
Springs.
From TIE Kansas City Times.
"The career of Charlie Foulk, gambler,
was an interesting one, but have never
seen it written up. In some respects, it
is unequaled in the history of gam blers,"
remarked a gentleman from Pennsylva-
MIA, to group OF friends in the rotunda
of the st. James Hotel q few evenings
ago.
"Who was he, and what was there re-
markable in his career" 2sked one Of
the group.
Il will answer the questions in their
ORDER" replied the first speaker.
"Charlie Foulk was the real name of
| Charles Watson, who was shot and killed
/ at Hot Springs in the fall OF 1885 by ne
| gro policem an. He was hacker of the
| Doran gang. which shot into hack occu-
pied by the Flynn brothers, on the streets
! of Hot Springs, in 1884, and killed John
| and William Flynn and the hack driver.
| Later he had shooting scrape with
| Max A. Harris. editor of the Horseshoe,
now detunct. You will remember these
| incidents, which were published in every
| paper in the country at the time, which
gave FOulk, or Watson, as he was then
called, some prominence; but the mostin-
| teresting incidents OF his career nap
! pened in q small town IN Penns ylvania.
"Foulk. | think, was born in Carlisle,
| Pa, a small town of about 10000 inhab-
itants. When / first knew him, which
was shortly after the war, be was run
ming a gambling hGusss. in Carlisle, which
was then about as RAPID little place as
| you can find almost anywhere in the
West now. Foulk was then a gambler of
the Doc Slater type. He was tall and
handsome, cool as an icicle, dressed in eX-
quisIte taste. and his manner aud CONVEX
sation were every inch the elegant. re
| fined gentleman. His friends lauded his
| bravery, while his enemies asserted that
he was only brave when he had the DROP
At any rate, there were few who ever in
vited his Ill Will.
''At the time 1 speak of the barracks at
| Carlisle, where the Indian school now is,
were occupied as an artillery post, aud
| the soldiers and the students from the
South, who were attending Dickinson,
made things pretty lively, and helped the
gamblers to live.
| Zone morning a soldier was found with
a bullet through his heart, on a bridge
|
| barracks to the town. Foulk and fell
low gambler, whose name | have forgot
ten, were arrested and tried for the MUIR
der, and IL was in the course OF the trial
| of bis fellow gam bier that Foulk was the
cause OF one of the most sensational in
cidents that ever happened in an Ameri-
can courtroom. The men were given
separate trials, and FoulK was tried first,
and acquitted on an undoubted alibi. By
the way, Foulk was firm believer in the
Tony Weller doctrine, and in all the
scrapes in which he was concerned he
never failed to prove an abb. The evil
dence in the trial of Foulk's supposed ac-
complete was damaging the prisoner at
the bar. One lady, who lived near the
scene of the shooting, identified the pris-
Oner, and swOre that she heard pistol
shot, ran to the door, saw him running
hatless from the scene of the murder. She
was certain that it was the accused man,
because there was a lighted gas lamp
near her door, which enabled her to get q
good view of his features. Other evi.
dence equally strong was introduced by
the State, and conviction seemed as.
sured.
"When the defense opened no one be-
lieved that the case made by the State
could be shaken. Foulk was the first wit.
ness for the defense, and as it was known
that he was to testify the courtroom was
crowded TO sutfocation. AS he was sworn
and took the stand there was perfect
quiet. Every one had an idea that there
was something coming, but no one was
prepared tor what happened. AS FOulk
took his seat on the witness stand be
turned to the stern, gray-haired Judge
and in clear, calm voice that could be
heard in every part of the room, said:
Judge, before | testify in the case |
want to ask you question. Can l ever
be tried again for the killing of that sol.
dier!"
''For moment the silence was almost
painful. People in the rear of tn room
placed their hands back OF their heads in
order to near better, but no one but the
venerable Judge seemed to have guessed
what was coming. He evidently did, for
he replied, IN solemn, severe tones, that
were rendered all the more impressive by
the deathly stiffness:
$50 far as human law is concerned
| Dir. Foulk. you are a free man, No
earthly tribunal can try you again. For
any part you may have taken in this
murder you will have to answer only TO
the great Judge before whom we must all
be arraigned. Between you and your
| Maker this case now rests"
~ heard those words, and / shall never
! forget them. Foulk was the only person
in the room who was not affected. As
| cOOIiN as II Nv Was ldihlDS 10 a Circle oil
friends he replied:
"'Thank YOU, Judge. You are a man
OF honor and know the law, and believe
you. l visa Co solemnlv swear, then, th at
killed that soldier. You have acquitted
the wrong man,
"The effect OF this cool, deliberate state
ment, made in a voice that never trem.
bled and could be heard by every one in
the court room, may be imagined. At
once the silence was broken by exclama-
tions of surprise and indignation, which,
however. were quickly suppressed by the
! Judge. Then, as cOolly as he had made
the confession, Foulk told the story of the
murder. He said that as he was crossing
the bridge he met the soldier
going in an opposite direc-
ton. They were old enemies, and
had recently had quarrel over the green
cloth. Foulk said tnat as soon as the SOL
der saw him be drew mis- sabre and start
ed for him. Not wishing to xii! him.
Foulk continued, Il drew a little old.
fashioned pepper-box revolver and shot at
him four times, but as he still Kept com.
ing at me jumped of the bridge. drew
| my As, and killed him. | did il in self
defense. II mad not killed him he would
have killed me-
"The evidence OF the lady who swore
that she saw the prisoner at the bar run
ming hatless past her door was easily ex-
planned, and furnished another instance