Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-09-01
Financier Charged With Plotting for
the Murder Of His Former wife,
Mrs. Julia Watt.
is PLACED UNDER ARREST
Case Causes a Wave Of Horror to
Sweep Over the Countrywide
Evidence Outlined.

.. u
liza Watt, has caused wave of horror
throughout England. This feeling was
intensified today when Detective Mar.
shall in police court testified that
Watt had actually offered him bride
of $4,000 if he would entice Mrs.
Watt to the apartments of her divorc-
ed husband, where he would kill her
with chloroform and destroy the odor
OF the drug by the use of peppermint.
Detectives who searched Watts
rooms found both chloroform and pep
permint. The accused man was re-
manded for trial in $4,000 bail.
The accusation against Watt is the
climax of his troubles, which involv-
ed two divorce suits and innumerable
lawsuits with the woman he is now
charged with plotting to kill, and has
dragged into the courts one OF the
Oldest and noblest families in Great
Britain, that of Sir Reginald William
Proctor Beauchamp, Bart, Of Lang
lev Park. Norfolk, whose divorced
wife, Lady Violet Beauchamp, daugh-
ter of the late Lord and Lady Roden,
is now the wife of Hugh Watt
The financier, who obtained bail late
today, would not discuss the case.
Widely Known Man.
Mr.. Watt four years ago was one
of the best known and most highly
respected men in Great Britain. He
is of Scotch blood. and in the parlia-
ment represented the Camlayche di-
vision of Glasgow His attentions to
Lady Violet Beauchamp even before
his term in parliament had expired,
were the cause of great gossip. The
prominence of Lady Beauchamp and
the fact that she welcomed the adj
miration of the noted Scot caused So
ciety to ring the stories that reached
the ears of Lord Beauchamp.
Even the royal family was interest
ed in this famous case, for Lord Beau
champ is a near neighbor of the king.
Langley Park his country seat, is
near Sandringham. and the king while
here often visited Lord Beauchamp in
the most informal manner 1t was
not until the stories concerning his
wife had reached such a pitch that
he could no longer ignore them that
Lord Beauchamp in 1901 sued for an
annulment of the marriage. which
had occurred with much pomp q years
before
Mr.. Watt was named in this annul-
ment suit and the letters which Lord
Beauchamp had written to his wife
after she had left Langley Park for
the last time, begging her to return
and to be forgiven, as well as some
very tOrr.i love letters Lady Beau
champ had written to Mr.. Watt, were
read in court.
Watt had previously been sued by
his wife for divorce in 1896 and she
had won the suit. Mrs. Watt had
also named Lady Violet in her suit.
In addition to his suit for an an
nullment. Lord Beauchamp demand
ed $4,000 from Watt as damages for
the alienation of Lady Violet's affec-
tions. This he was granted, and by
his direction it was paid over to the
wife whom he divorced.
The scandal which is now being dis
cussed in all its details throughout
Great Britain and even in the most
exclusive circles. was revived in force
a year after the decision for Lord
Beauchamp by suit brought by Mrs.
Watt against Lady Violet for the ali
enation of her husbands affections.
Damages in the sum of $4,000 were
granted by the court
In this suit Lady Violet heard the
discarded wife testify that she had
fondled Mr. Watts hands in her pres
ence and had caressed him. Lady VIC
let only smiled at this testimony. She
heard with smile, curling her lips,
Mrs. Watt tell how she secured a let
ter in which Lady Violet had said of
the financier's former wife: II look
upon her as a real devil and criminal
in human form. We must make the
most of the future and to be with
you will be happiness. and would do
all you wish. In fact l would bend
and be your slave, and you would
never regret the step"
In the suit also was read letter
which Watt had written to Mrs. Watts
solicitor. In it he stated that he had
found 20 or 80 packages of most viru,
lent poison left by Mrs. Watt in the
pantry.
Will Push It to the Limit.
This letter. it is declared, will be
introduced in the present trial against
Watt, which his former wife will push
to the limit. The prosecution will en-
deavor to show that for two years
at least, Watt. who has been entangled
in a dozen lawsuits brought by his
wife over property interests since the
famous damage suit against Lady Vic
let. has plotted to rid himself forever
of the woman who has so persistent
ly pursued him.
1t is less than two weeks ago that
Mr.. Watt had his former wife arraign
ed in a police court, charging her with
attacking him at her home and hav
ing him thrown into the street wher
he went there to try to compromise
their business troubles. Mrs. Watt
was not held at that time.
Detectives, it is said, will trace all
of Mr. Watts movements during the
last two years. The search of his
rooms today was conducted while he
was still in a cell awaiting a bonds
man. Some of his papers and letters
it is declared, were removed by de
tectives, and an action will be begun
by Watts attorneys to have them re
turned
Lady Violet, now Mrs. Watt. did
not appear in the court proceedings
today. She is said to be at the coun
try home of the Watts near Glasgow
She has been quoted as saying that