Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-09
AN OHIO POLITICIANS ARREST.
He Has Been Sending Obnoxious Cir.
cuinrs About the Country.

He Has Been Sending Obnoxious Cir
cninrs About the Country.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
CLEVELAND, Ohio, October 9-Reason
B. WATSON of Wooster. Ohio, treasurer OF
Wayne county from 1887 to 1891, and
prominently mentioned democratic candi-
date for Congress in 1892, will be lodged in
the county Jail today under federal grand
jury indictment for sending obscene ftera-
ture through the mails. Deputy Marshal
Hilands arrested WATSON last evening. The
arrest was made under an indictment found
by the grand jury. In this Indictment 1t
Is alleged that WATSON mailed an obscene
circular at Overton, Ohio, addressed to
Belva lockwood, Washington. D. c., and
dated at WATSON station, August II, 1885.
He is also charged with sending another
circular to the same address on July II.
For the last four years WATSON is alleged
to have flooded the country with the stuff.
1t Is neatly printed on white paper, and
Invariably dated at WATSON station. Pos
tai Inspector Holmes said yesterday that
he has sent the circulars to nearly every
prominent man in public life and to such
women as Mrs. w. X. Vanderbilt, Mrs.
William Mckinley, Mrs. Grover Cleveland
ard scores OF others.
Two years ago he was indicted for the
same offense and released on bail. He
scarcely reached Wooster when he again
began to have the circular printed and
again mailed them all over the country.
His attorneys fled demurrer to the indict-
ment, and it was sustained by the courts.
The matter was dropped for a time, but
while the grand jury was in session Dis
trict Attorney Dodge again presented COM
plants and q true bill was found
SIX or seven years ago WATSON was con-
sidered one of the most level-headed bust
ness men in Wayne county. He was the
owner OF one of the largest and prettisst
farms iii the county; had made great Geal
OF money in western timber lands. and was
cor sidefed rich man, his fortune being
estimated at sl5UOOO He has not lost his
"saitn, and his keen insight into business
affairs leads the federal authorities to be-
heNe that he is not insane, unless 1t be
on the subject OF mailing obscene circulars.
He mas large family.
Mrs. Lockwood Knows Nothing About
Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood was ignorant of
the arrest of WATSON when Star reporter
called at her office this afternoon. For
several years past. according to Mrs. Lock-
wood, she has been receiving letters and
circulars from a man at WATSON station,
Ohio, but paid no attention to them, as it
was her impression the sender was of I'M
sound mind. The communications have
been invariably addressed Hon. BeIva
Lockwood Washington, d. c." and arrived
with such regularity that a young grand
daughter of Mrs. Lockwood contracted the
nablt of watching for the postman daily
and asking for what the child had come to
consider her mail
one OF the circulars, which had arrived
but few days ago, was examined by the
reporter. 1t was printed in a crude man
ner on cheap paper the matter consisting
oil rambling, senseless paragraphs. Nothing
of an obscene or an Objectionable nature
could be discovered
Mrs. Lockwood stated that she never
knew the man heard anything of him.
except through the communications he sent.
After the receipt of the first few she had
either thrown all mail from WATSON sta
ton into her waste basket or turned it over
to the little granddaughter to play with
Mrs lockwood has no charges to prefer
against WATSON.