Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-07-09
A PLUM FOR BEN WATSON.
He Has Been Appointed United
States District Attorney.

He Did Not Work for Higgins In the seus-
torial Flight, But He Helped to KNOCK
Out Massey, and That Was just as Good
His Political Carcer--An ONCE holder
In Both Parties.
WASHINGTON, July 3.--The President
to-day appointed Beniah Watson of Della
ware to be United States attorney for the
district of Delaware, to succeed Alexander
u. Cooper, whose term Of office has ex-
pired.
THE NEW DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
Beniah Watson, the new United States
district attorney for Delaware, is a son Of
Curtis s. Watson, and was born at Milford,
Delaware, December Both, 1871. He was
educated in his youth at Huntsville, Pa,
and at Willistpn's Seminary, East Hamp-
ton, Mass, and then spent three years at
Yale College, He entered upon the study
OF law with Hon. Daniel NJ. Bates, in this
city,in 1s63,and was admitted the bar DC
tober 2sth, 1865, in the summer Of which
year he was graduated at Harvard Law
school, having entered that institution
while a law student.
Mr.. Watson was Democrat during his
early manhood and in 1869 was elected
clerk of the House of Representatives by
the Democratic members OF that body. In
the State campaign of 1870 he Joined the
famous Polly McNatt' movement, COM
posed of dissatisfied Democrats who united
with the Republicans in an effort to defeat
the Kent county Democratic ticket and
also TO defeat Cove Salisbury, Democratic
candidate for governor. From the Repub-
lican associations thus formed Mr.. Watson
has never broken away, but has been an
active. working Republican ever since On
February 2lst, 1885, he was appointed by
President Arthur collector Of Internal
revenue for the district Of Delaware, which
mos hf,I aalA "a fJD
when he was succeeded by Hon. John w.
Caisey, appointed by President Cleveland.
Although Mr.. Watson adopted the pro-
fcssion Of the law, he was more conspicu-
Gus in the paths of politics For years he
has been wheel horse of the Kent county
Republicans and rendered invaluable aid
in getting the negroes assessed and quail
flying them for voting. His most promi-
nent appearance in court was as attorney
for Young and Proctor, the two negroes
who were hanged in Dover for numbering
an aged colored man few months ago.
lie raised the question of dis
elimination against negroes on the
jury, the same objection as Senator
Higgins employed to save the neck of
William Neal, the negro ravisher, but was
not so, successful, and his clients were
hanged The new district attorney is like
wise conspicuous for having been one of
the first men to avail himself of Delawares
commutation law, by which the State paid
two-thirds Of the requisite money for her
drafted citizens to escape military duty in
the late war by purchasing substitutes.
lie then became sort Of notorious by de-
nouncing in political meeting the Demo-
cratic party for passing the law which
enabled him to Keep away from the odor
of burning powder and noise of whisting
bullets during the late unpleasantness.
In the senatorial contest of 1859 Mr..
Watson did not work for Higgins, but he
lid the next best thing in working for n.
u. Smithers, who, coming from the same
town, was serious stumbling block in the
way of George v. Massey's success and in
cidcntally help to Higgins. He has since
been faithful henchman Of the senator's
and now gets his reward.
The new district attorney, Beniah Wat
son, was sworn in by Judge Wales at noon
Monday.