The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-06

street. Lynchburg.
There were q couple OF Iettess s IN.
II. B. Osyood. one dated from als,iss..
vile. All. another from Boston, pota
4 ,,.rts,en 3 d1,riu. the recent war sttn
spain, and both on the letter head OK
The once OF the Purchasing and I'spos
Commissary. U. s. -,
There was another letter written On
October Z. 1899. from NO. l,So do 81. us
street. Philadelphia was ie Ton. ...a
name was signed. In it she reveaisd
the fact that Watts had confessed 20 neg
that he was a morphine fend. re ma
toId her that he had given up the Saois.
and she told him that she shoe'ssHe nlolo
OF him for the confession she ssatd siis
knew he would keep his pieces 20 ~. sisy
up the habit, if he would only to2i psl'sN
on che six years of torture he had peen
through The writer concluded by say
ing that she was willing 70 bs ms iri s
| net thing. more. 1t seemed from .ths so''s
of the letter. that the g:-i HAD bs.e. en-
| gagged to the man 1t vas q istiise'1
letter.
In tbs pocket was found note book
containing the addresses OF g'ris fioI1
New Dreams to Montreal
There was pawn ticket. n1ae cut IN
the name of ". ]. Burfa-,i. for u par
of pants, pawned at Denhy no
amount was s1.I5-
Several nights ago two pair OF SHOES
| were stolen from Thomas MassieH. mer..
|: chant One OF those pairs vas sod I"
Denny's boy by this maa Wnen n
rested. he had on new pair. iney
were Identified by Mr.. Marsdsn.
The crime for which w. ". watts.
who, when arrested sar:e the mime OF
B. & Watts paid so dearly. was co.!-
nlitted yesterday afternoon apo 1t
O'Clock sNIrs. Simpson had given the
man something to eat upon one or two
occasions Yesterday he went there os-
tensibTy to thank her MIR. Simpson was
at the ship yard. where he works as
shp-joiner. Mrs. Simpsons little niece
the only other person in the house. was
down town. Watts followed Mrs. Sinp
son into the kitchen, caught her and
choking her, showed her into the parior.
| where the assault occurred.
Leaving the house, he Went TO the de-
rot and purchased q ticket for Lynch
burg AS the train was pulling out.
he was seen on the platform of one OF
the cars by the officers who were looS-
ing for him. Tom Sally, a boy. who was
with the officers, caught the train, swung
himself off the rear of one OF Mr.. Hunt
ington's private coaches, was admitted.
passed through to the passenger coach.
and with the assistance of j. y. Madi-
son, brother to Representative Madi-
son, of this district, placed the man IN
der arrest and brought him back to this
city from Oriana-
Mrs r NJ Simpson IS the daughter OF
George W. Bland. of Portsmouth,. and n
sister of Hon Charles T. Bland. delegate
to the Legislature from that city.
PUBLIC OPINION.
While every one in this city seems 10
think that the unfortunate man got his
deserts. all good citizens deplore the
tfr1,
either by the county or city grand jury,
or by both.
The Evening Telegram this afternoon
Says editor.luy:
THE first iynching IN the. history. of
Newport News occurred this morning.
and while the crime of the criminal. who
eNpiated his folly with his life. was OF
sucn a revolving nature as TO place SUI
nrer1e test upon the patience of those
AGAINST whom he had transgressed. we
cannot find in this sufficient Justification
for the cold-blooded manner IN which the
prisoner was put out OF the way.
NO doubt some persons Will feel IN
cllned to criticise the police department
because the prisoner was delivered up to
such Il small mob. Under the ciccum-
stances, however, we can readily see how
seven men would be more dangerous than
g. thousand. The intent and desire of the
larger force would be apparent in time
TO warn the authorities and permit them
to make preparations to circumvent the
mob. The secret actions OF the smaller
number. their GGtckneSS and mobility
made their errand unknown until the
house sergeant was overpowered and their
purpose practically accomplished.
THE mistake lay in permitting the
prisoner to remain IN such an exposed
position without taking some extra pre-
caution
$50 far as he is concerned. most persons
will agree that he received his just de-
serts. The most unfortunate and most
deplorabe part OF the whole affair is that
the lawlessness of the lynchers will re-
fleet upon the good name of the city and
Will cast reproach upon those who have
no sympathy with mob methods. We also
believe the affair was unnecessary. In
gard to this matter the law in Virginia
is explicit. and we are firmly convinced
that the properly constituted authorities
might have been trusted TO administer
the same punishment meted out by the
avengers.