The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-14
FIRED A rs IN BROADWAY.
THITE- HAIRED pIRGINIA.. WHIsKEY
MAN IN FUSS.

Watson was Shooting at His Friend Adams
and Hit n Medium sized Plate Glass
window Just Below the broadway
Thentrc-Adams Loaded with Money.
40-calibre pistol. that made noise like
cannon created q commotlon In Broadway Just
above the Broadway Theatre at 1913 o'clock
lnst night 1t was fred by the fiery James r.
Watson. % years old who says no is q whiskey
salesman OF Pulaski. Va. He was looked
up on a charge OF felonious assault.
The man assaulted who refused to make
complaint. ana was himself held
as suspicious person. described himself a.
William Adams. 50 years old. u biiardroom
keeper. living at the Martin House. The
police version IL that the two men
had been eating together In the
Broadway restaurant OF the Martin House and
TINT In the course Of a conversation. Adams
called Watson a liar. The BoutberneR
is big man and Adams IL q small
enc. but he punched Watson. Adams
struck back and cut Watson's ear. The two
got out on to Broadway. and Watson struck
Adams second time with light cane. break
| Ing 1t over Adamss head.
Bystunders interfered and were drawing
| Adams away from Watson. with whom he had
| cnched. when Watson drew the big gun and.
holding 1t close against his own body. fred AT
Adams. then several feet away. He hit med.
ium sized plateglass window In an unoccupied
store next to the theatre. The report OF the
| pistol was heard for two blocks. Police
man Lawless. who was on the block above.
| Police Captain Price.who was less than block
away. and three or four Central ONCE detec-
| tves ran up Law'ess was the n rst to reach Wat.
| son who stood In the centre OF a cleared space
brandishinR the revolver. Lawless grabbed
him and had Just taken the revolver from HIM
when Capt. Price arrived In the meantime
Adams had gone down Forty-frst street to
| the side entrance OF the Broadway Theatre.
| where he sat down in the shadow Of the door.
| Capt Price went after him and as he turned
| tho corner ran into the arms OF central once
! detective. The two clinched. but broke away
| when they recognized each other. Adams was
| taken to the police station. where an ambu.
| lance surgeon dressed a scalp wound and 3
, scratch on his cheek.
At the station house Watson refused to make
any statement about tho shooting. without
| consulting lawyer. He was perfectly cool
and except for the fact that he corrected him.
self two or three times in giving his
pedigree" he appeared to be unconcerned
about what had happened. He is a large man,
| OF rather imposing appearance. with white
hair and moustache. He was carefully dress
ed in a white waistcoat. black cutaway coat
and soft white hat.
Adams said that he was unwilling to make
any charge against Watson. Capt. Price
picked up Watson's big revolver and holding
it out In front OF him said. There is some rea-
son for this business and intend to find out
all about It. What's the matter? Are you
afraid to make q complaint"
| Among Adams's effects were an envelope
full Of Bank Of England notes and a roll Of
II American money which Capt. Price este
mated to contain between $1,000 and
$4,000 and about $500 respectively. He
talked jokingly with Adams as he looked these
over. but the prisoner said nothing. Cart.
Price then found a receipted bill from The
Grand Hotel. Liverpool.
DO you come from London ?" he asked.
Il have been In England recently" replied
the prisoner.
Il see you stopped at the same hotel did,"
said Capt. Price. and that they stuck you for
it the same as they stuck me. Search this
man." continued the Captain. and see II he
has got any Calling guns like this nbo 1t lin"
Watson is we'll known at the Gisey House
where he has been stoppinh since Aug. %.
when he returned from trip abroad.
Chief Clerk George Moore said last
night that he had known Col Watson
twelve years. first in Hot Springs and had
also met him at ST. Louis. As far MS he knew.
Col Watson a Southern gentlemen OF
leisure. who was good fellow and gambIed
once in a while. but was never crooked in any
way Watson always carried a revolver. and
considered It as necessary "A part OF his dress
as his suspenders.
The Martin House people denied last night
that the fight had begun in their place. and
said that Adams was not known there.
After midnight James j. Corbett appeared
at the station and furnished bonds for Adam "a
appearance in Jefferson Market Court this
morning.