Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-01-08
A Distinguished Gathering.
Large Company Of Guests at the
Watts Banquet City and Comfy
officials There--Wit and hum0r
Of the Highest Order from States
mon and Scholars.

No official of Staunton or August'
county has in recent years retire'
from Office with such public acclaim
OF, we'll done, as has the late Sheriff N
lC. Watts. After rs years of service b
voluntarily lays down the office ant
steps aside to engage more fully in thu
commercial duties and enterprises
which in recent years be has 40 sue
cessfully promoted and managed.
On the last night Of the year Dec
81, the close of his term as sheriff, Wal
celebrated by a banquet at the Palmer
House, rendered by him to the mem
beers of the Staunton Bar, the city ant
county officials with whom his dutie,
had thrown him, members of the CITY
press, and large company OF othel
friends. Covers we're laid for TX
guests. and large number than thai
we're present. Probably no other thai
the popular ex sheriff could have
brought together such "a distinguished
and representative body of meu- There
were guests from both the STATE aud
national capital and representative
men from every district of the county,
Many who could not attend by reason
of other engagements sent letters OF
regret, coucned in terms OF highest
personal esteem and praise.
Among the guests were such distin-
guished persUnages as U 8. Senator
| Thos 8 Martin. Congressman Flood
Lieut.. Governor Willard, Hon. A. q.
Braxton, Hon. John w. Churcnman
and many public men Of the county
and city. With such brilliant array
Wit and humOr of The highest order.
were assured in the after dinner talks
or toasts, which were given IN the best
of taste and were rs entertaining as
they were choice in rhetoric. Mr..
Watts Was cOmpllmented and cOngrat.
ulated in all of these till he sat almost
abashed before those who SO publicly
declared his officia excellence aud pro-
flciency. But in nothing was he to
be- more congratulated on that occa-
sion, than the happy selection of the
toastmaster Mr.. Joseph A. Glasgow.
He with admirable ease and grace lead
the company into f1ow of good spir-
its that throughout the evening appre.
clatively responded to his spontaneous
wit and good humor which fttingly
rose to every emergency.
Among the speakers we're Judge
Henry w. Holt of the Corporation
Court; Richard s. Ker, Common
wealth's Attorney; Capt. James Bum
gardner, Hon. A. G. Braxton. Mr..
WIN. Patrick, Hon. H. D. Flood, Sen
ator Thos. 8. Martin, and Lieutenant
Governor Jos. E Willard.
In addition to appropriate and anus
ing remarks, Mr.. Braxton read a
number of letters of regret, many of
them from distinguished men in the
public eye, who not only regretted
their inability to be present, but took
the occasion to speak of their wouldbe
host in terms of the highest personal
esteem and admiration Such letters
were more complimentary, at least
more publicly so, than would have
been the presence of the writer's. The
letters of most practical value proba-
bly, were those from the Clerks of the
Circuit, City and County Courts, in
testimony of Mr.. Watts clean official
record and the strict fidelity with
which he had administered every pub
lie trust and the excellent ability with
which he had managed the business
affairs OF his office The ears of the
dapper little Sheriff must have burned
intensely while he listened to such
showers of personal praise; unless per-
chance they were made Of asbestos. a
need which may apply to the rest of
his person, if the assertion contained
in Judge Letcher's letter be warranted
in fact-"that no sheriff hsd ever pass
ed the golden gates to heaven"
In the unstinted praise and regret
expressed at the retirement of Mr..
w ats, sight was not lost Of his most
worty successor, whom many took oc-
casion to assert would maintain the
reputation aud the good record of the
Office Mr.. w. Arthur Wilson, who
bad previously been sworn into office
as the new sheriff, was preient and re-
ceived his share of graduation. He has
served in many positions OF rnblic
trust and having proved himself faith
full and eminently mpetent In all,
his administration with ability, Of this
yet greater trust, is confidently an
ticipated by all. Am ong the large
company of guests were many repre-
sentative men from the various dis
| tricts Ell the county. Among them:
From South River. F. Temple
ton, Elijah Coiner, J. j. Harner, E. D.
Peale. E. P. Wayland. G. Nj. Patrick,
s. d. Dalhonse and d. A. Bell.
Middle River-R N. Page. Samuel
Byers and John G.. Fulton.
Pastures-D. F. Hoover and Geo.
F. Smith.
iverheads-Thomas M. Smiley and
W. T. Mckee.
| North Rlver-M. Bruce Whftmore
and w. T. Mills.
Beverly Manor-Jos. 8. Cochran and
81. e. Eichelberger.
Persons from a distance besides
those previously mentioned, were
Walter G Swltzer and J. q. Sibert Of
Harrisonburg; John P. East. attorney
at law, New York; w. b. Adkins, At
t,oo&o 40 iobp Snroul and IA nj,