The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-31
Louisville broke" a lesser to the tune

Louisville broke" lesser to the tune
of $1,000
Watts was one Of the first bookmait-
ers in the West He opened in ST
Louis some time in the seventies His
book was the only one on the track,
ard when 1t was found that he would
take bets on airy horse. the Sports
Of the Mound City thOu@ht they could
make their fortunes. When the meet
ing closed Watts went away with a
roll Of s89,0G0. Coming back here he
f0urded TIE Turf Exchange in 1878, the
first poOIrCom in Louisville and the
most sIIcc"seful. His partners were
MAZE" Ed Hughes and Bob Cdthcart
The income from the Turf Exchange
was $4,000 to $4,000 a,year. but Cath
cart died. Hughes quit. and Watts sold
out in order to open al magnificent
gambling establishments in the heart of
the city.
Always popular in politics, he was a
member of the general eouno Gil. and for a
while was q nower. But he was too open in
he of living. Concerning this char
arteristic anecdote is told by Aid. Patterson
who served in the general council with Wat S:
Il rFcclIfct when the loySr hoard was about
to eXDel him for running q gambling house.
He rada speech in which he said if he was
expelled the eonucii would be turning out the
best qualified member of the board. He said
he made money enough not to be liable 10
had no business which ccouffctcd with his
duties. He was Independent al the corpora
items and hev could not Influence him"
But the storm rising. Public sentiment
was directed against gambling houses and the
newspapers were making war on them. Watts
arose on the floor of the council one night
and said L had been stated that the owner Of
the CrcckfOrd corld not be aSrortainPd He
announced that he was the q eer and in
terdTd 70 continue to the place. At the
saTe time 2 cry was raised for more light
on he gambling Dlaces." Watts had the front
OF the Crockfcrd fitted out with electric Iiqhts
which made Jefferson street as light as dav
Now ] sunnOse thew have light enough on
the CroCkfard" he said
1t was his defiant spirit that led 70 the
Going of his place well as all other gam
bl ng establishments in Louisville The Law
and Order league was formed. All the nlaces
We're raided nightly. II was in the middle of
winter. hut Watts determined to continue
He world sperd nights on guard before mis-
game when the weather was bitter cold In
this way he contracted rheumatism which
madH him slightly crippled He also contem-
platCd starting another game next door in
what was intended to be the finest gambling
house in he country. With this object in
view he built the house where the English
Kitchen is now located. in the center of the
retail district 1t was to be called the Palais
F9yai but there was much talk about il
that the crusade against gamblers was pushed
with increased vigor and all the houses were
closed
That wps the end Of his prosperity For a
VIII H. fingered around thinking the clamCr
would s''NS:de and ire attempts to enforce the
laws would cease. hUt he was mistaken Whom
ne fonnd that gambling houses would no more
be tolerated he declared re would obey the
Jaw am would make living in some other
way This was fifteen wears ago He found
the honest life hard one Several little
business enterprises proved uriprofit BILE and
at last he was without capital lat this iunc-
lure the Republican DostHfs ster Lof Louisville
onered MIN little clerkship which he ac-
cepted and for the next four Years he drew
a small salary for faithful work in sub
ordinate capacity. Then 6ffDemocrst was an
pointed and the ex-gambiPr was discharged
An election for county cticerst was coming
ON and Dick announced himself as a candi-
date for jailer. The Republicans were not
thought TO have apv- chance. So he got the
nomination. He had justzs14 sbut he n
spent nickel in the campaign except fcr
car fare. and when election day was over he
he'd $50 left and had been chosen by big
majority. All of his old friends rallied around
him in his canvass. When he, entered a sa :
loon the proprietor world treat the crowd
for him. Nobody would hermit him to
spend a cent. A remarkable feature Of the
campatgn was the organiZationsof club OF
4,GO Democrats. oil of whom 3were pledged
TO vote and worl, for him and great was
their rejoicing when he was Ntriumphantly
chosen. 1t was tribute TO kindness of heart
watts was not good jailpr. He too
lnduisent to prisoners and guards. The
guards neglected their duties and escapes
were numerous. But Watts was determined
to do bis hest in the office. and usually had
the escaped prisoners Ietnptured by Offering
big rewards which he paid out OF his own
pocket. Still his official record was so ba ?
The manner in which he stood By his
friends IS shown Nv the case OF q turnkey and
detective who hilled q man they he'd gone
to arrest in Indiana 1t was thought they
ming q Denitentary sentence WIS considered
inevitable. But Watts secured the best law