The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-20
Postof1ce Inspector William Wat
kins, Jr., Expired at an Early
Hour Yesterday.
One of the Best Men In the Service
of tho United States
Government.
His Long Chase After q Highwnyman
Who Held Up u Northern Pacific
Train in Dakota.

william Watkins. Jr., ono OF the post
office inspectors for the Helena division.
died at ~. Peters hospital At half past two
O'Clock yesterday morning, OF perisonit's.
Mr.. Watkins had been In poor health Tor
over . year. but ii was not until about two
weeks ago that his condition became such
that IL vas doomed best to have him re-
moved 10 the hospital for treatment. He
grew rapidly worse during the past week.
and was unconscious most of the time.
The end came while in that state and was
free from pain. The funeral will take
plaoe this afternoon, services being held in
the chapel OF the hospital At half past "
O'Clock by Rev. 7. 4. Webb. of st. Peters
Episcopal church. The burial will be in
the new cemetery. Mr.. Watkins leaves a
widow and ono child-a girl--and a host Of
warm personal friends.
Through the death OF Mr.. Watkins the
postofacs inspectors department has lost
ono of it, most valuable men. Tha chief
of the service at Washington recognized
Mr.. Watkins usefulness and Efficiency
whom q short time ago his transfer was or
dsred to the California division. in the
hope that the change might p,ove benef-
cial to his health. The actual transfer did
not take place. however, 40 MI. Watkins
was then undergoing treatment at the hos
pitsl in the hope OF gaining strength TO
make the journey. In his last illness no
had the devoted attention OF his wife and
daughter, his brother. David Watkins. aud
Judge r. s. Bedell, the chief Of the divis-
ion, and the careful nursing Of the hospital
people.
William Watkins was born in Woodbury..
N. j., in 1859, and was therefore but 81
years OF age at the time of his death. He
WIS engaged in the treasury department At
Washington when, in 1883. he was APP
pointed postofioe inspector and assigned to
the Chicago division. In November. 1880.
he was 81 ansferrsd TO the Helena division,
and had remained in this section OF the
country ever since. It was Just previous to
his ohange from Chicago to Helena that he
was engaged on the case of the men who
held up the North Pacific sxpress in North
Dakota and rified the mail pouchss. IL
was through the active work of Inspector
Watkins that Newbsrry and Bailey, tho
men engaged in the holdup, were sent to
the penitentiary for eight years each. One
OF them. Bailey. was captured, soon after
the hiehwaymen down. The other, New.
berry, managed to elude Justice for quite
awhile, but was finally run down ana ar
re0t6O Dy inspector W0tAiu0s wiz NAV
followed his trail for months in this
country and Canada. When at last
captured Newbsrry had gotten to Virginia,
with the evident intention of going to his
people, who live in that state, for conceal
mont. The trial at Fargo was q long one.
and % Nswberry had wealthy n infusn-
tial relatives. it was a bitter struggle be-
tween the lawyers for the defense and those
for the prosecution. 1t was Inspector Wat
kins' testimony which secured Nswbsrry'a
conviction, and the strongest evidence Wal
= package Of gems sent by registered mail
from Helena. and found in the prisoners
possession at tho time of his capture. Fo
his good work on the Newberry and Bailey
cases Inspector Watkins was highly COM
p%limented by the authorities in Washing
ton. There are numerous other cases
known az depreciation casea" that were
worked up by Inspector Watkins. the last
being the arrest of Clarity, the Butte ex-
press messenger. for rubbing tho through
express MALE, and the apprehension OF hii
confederates.
In all his work. which was principally In
the line of depreciation work." Inspector
Watkins was thorough and exact. He wat
an elegant penman. and his reports to the
department were among the best received
there.