The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-06
A JEALOUS "vIDOQ.n
Oscar Springer, Who Would Be
Great, Comes to Grief.
HELD FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER.
John Watson, One OF His suspects,
Thumps Him Good-was Too AM
bilious for . Clue.

second Nioo4 were cut snort ScstefuAS W
Justice McElwain. who bound him over to
the superior court for attempting 10 XIII
John Watson. and fixed his bond at 500.
which he is endeayoring TO furnish
Springer Is an eccentric young German,
who. before he became possessed OF the
idea. or Authorization, that he was nat
ural born thief catcher, piled his vocation
as a cigarmaker. II may be said with all
fairness that he was much better at the
latter business and undoubtedly would
have Jared better had he stuck to II. but
his ambition to become famous took pos
session OF him and for nights he poured
over the works of ''old Sleuth' and Lynx
Eyed Dave" and studied the methods ppr-
sued by the steel-nerved heroes OF these
standard" works He watched for An
opportunity to strike, and was in the sew
enth heaven OF delight when the news
spread that the famous Tom Blanck had
escaped from the county jail and was loose
in the hills about Seattle. Buckiing on his
armor and loading his Winchester. for he
Is an excellent shot, he sailed forth Inn
his home in the suburbs Of the city near
the end of the Beacon hill car line and was
given a position as deputy by Sheriff Van
de Vanter. AT last the long-looked-for
moment had arrived, and out he started
with the intention of bringing the famous
desperate back to the city, victim of his
unerring aim. But here again the uncer-
tainties of life asserted themselves. and he
was many miles from the scene of the bat
tie. and had been during the entire chase.
although on several occasions he told his
friends that he was on his track" and
would run him Ito his lair" before another
day.
When Blanck was captured Springer lost
his job, but the love of the exciting life
had fastened on him and he forever for
SOCK the cigar shop and hung out his shin
gle as private detective. associating him.
self, as he says. with George Cave. About
this time he made the acquaintance of Mrs.
Watson and her daughter. and discovered
that the husband worked In the mines in
British Columbia. According to the neigh
bors, he made frequent visits to the Wat
SON home. being there very often as many
as four times day. At last the husband
came home, and. according to rumor. his
home was not as happy as formerly. and
about the middle of last month the couple
separated. Watson going to Everett. As
the story goes, Springer succeeded In
learning that the oldest child, crippled
daughter of 10, was born before the mother
was married 20 Watson. and this gave rise
TO suspicion in his mind. so he forthwith
sent to the town in the East in which the
couple was married and secured a copy of
the marriage license. He failed to dis
cover one important point, however. and
that was that Mrs Watson was a widow
when she married the last time.
The people Of the neighborhood say that
Springer poisoned the woman's mind and
that she intended bringing action against
her husband for incest. In the meantime
Springer had communicated with some one
In Everett and kept track of Watson. One
day last week Mrs. Watson rushed into the
prosecuting attorneys office for a warrant
for her husbands arrest for incest with
the oldest girl. Deputy Wiltshire question
ed her closely and learned that the girl
was not Watson's child. and also that she
was over Is when the alleged crime was
committed. Under these circumstances
the crime could not be incest, or criminal
assault, as the girl was over the age limit,
SO he told her the best thing she could do
was to drop it.
Last Sunday Watson came down from
Everett for the purpose, he says, Of effect
ing reconciliation, and while sitting in
the dining room a knock came to the door
and he heard Springer say to his wife: II
got a telegram from Everett this morning
that Watson is In town" Upon hearing
this, Watson said. he cried out, Yes, I
am here. What do you want" when
Springer walked in and putting his hand
on his pistol, said: Il want you, you in
cest fiend.'
"oh. you do. do your" said Watson. who
-
he jumped up and catching Springer about
the neck with his left hand. thumped him
in the face and on the head with his right
hand. During the scuffle Springer got out
his gun. but forgot all about using ii. Wat
son backed him towfrd the back door.
keeping up the tattoo, and with a final ef-
fort pushed him out He slammed the
door and placed his shoulder against II.
and second afterward a report rang ont
and Watson jumped from the door. say
ing. Il am shot" Springer did not wait to
see IL he had brought his man down. but
made for his home as fast as his legs would
carry him.
Everything about the house was In COM
motion, and to add TO the scene, Mrs. Wat
son tainted. When quiet was restored and
Watsons wound. which was a slight one In
the shoulder. was dressed. he came to the
city and got warrant for SprInger's ar
rest. which followed on Monday
when the hearing came up before Jus
tice MeElwaln yesterday the whole neigh
borhoot was present. Deputy Prosecut-
ing Attorney Wiltshire represented the
state and young lawyer named OMEN
represented Springer. Watson was nla~As
on the stand and told his story much the
same as related above. and from his hon
est appearance and the manner in which
ne told II. created favorable impression
lie was corToaorated by n man named
CAr4stianson. who was In the house arr
ing the trouble. Mrs. Watson was nlaced
on The stand. and in her story evidently
tried To favor Springer Her vounpes.
daughter. child OF about eight. also tes,t-
fed, but from her tone II was evident ma.
she had besn told what TO say Once
Naeh she hes tatea her father said
Speak M and tell the truth. daughter.
Al this point springers attorney arass
anu stated TO the court that they STOOD
aiene, having no witnesses 10 corrobo-ata
tnefr testimony, and placed Springer an
me stand He said while he was passing
tne sfson house on Sunday morning ire
htus Eir! came running out and said her
papa was home and her mamma was
AFRAID OF MN. and fearing that the hus
band would do violence. he went In. war.
son was sitting, ana he w,Ir
ed u3 to him and said: ~
want You. You incest aend." A.
TINS, he says. Watson drew a b,ckho-n
KNIFE and made for him. Fearing thar I,
misat De knife that opened with spriny
ne pulled his gun. but Watson baked him
cut OF the house. and "a he wen, os,,
OF the ocor ne slipped and felI TO tha
ground lighting on his shoulder. canslny
the pistol to explode He then got DO ara
prosecuting attorney. '''e
II would have been much better 20, b,,,
had he not, for Wiltshire ssrceesies, n, ,y-
Ing him up badly. He made him aarn;,
that he was never connected uith the r.
Ice department OF the city and vas nnIv
hired as a deputy BIZ the sheriff xh.1
Bianck escaped: that h was IN the bust
ness on hts own account and that he neve-
succeeded In capturing sny one
Why did yea want TO capture Watson.
asked wiltshire. Because he was an In