The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-23

Police Take This Step With
View to Clearing Up Mys-
terry of Watts's Death.
HAD QUARREL WITH WATTS.
Admits This, Bit Denies Being
in Any Way Responsible for
His Death.
special to The Times .ptspatoh.

Especial to The Times .Dispatch.l
CHARLOTTESVILLE VA. July 22.--
Will Faris. young married man. was
taken into custody last night at his
home about a .half-mile south of the
pumping station, charged With murder.
The warrant issued Saturday afternoon
by Magistrate Dunn upon Information
furnished by Emmett Harriet, Ct Hick.
Dry HILL charges Faria with the MUIR
der of j. b. Watts.
Deputy Sheriff Thomas and Police
man 1-ubarks made the arrest and
found Faris asleep In his bed al home.
tIe denied any participation in the in
cidents leading to Wattss injuries, and
came quietly, without the least show
of resistance.
Faris has q wife and four little chill
dt en-. He stands SIX feet .wo and Is
thirty three years old. He has been
IT. the employ Of the city or, several
occasions for short intervals. and at
the time Of his arrest was engaged IN
laying pipe on the new rescrvoirNpipe
line Els tremendous physique and
strength made him an excellent hand
at any heavy work, and on this ac-
count he is held in high regard by his
fellow workmen. Faris has never had
the reputation of being q quarrelsomo
the people of his iglburnood who
have known him all his life
Friends Say HE'S Innocent.
Faris's friends ;l.tge thae his arrest
lis merely the outcome Of family rows
and a friction between neighbors in
his immediate section; that an inves-
LEGATION will show a peculiar condition
of affairs and further will compile tely
eXonerate him from any connection
With the death of j. B. Watts.
The scene OF the alleged murder is
about one mile south of Fry's Spring.
on the Southern Railway Tie wife of
Watts lives in a small stone building
near the road, which runs parable, with
the railroad and is on the Granger
place
Faris lives with his wife and family
a mile from Hickory Hill, which is
the next station on the Southern. He
had difficulty with Watts on the
night the latter received the blow
which resulted in his death. Taris
does not deny this, and 1t is under
stood told several persons on the day
following that he struck Watts and
drove him away from his (Faris's)
house on Saturday night
He said that Watts came to his
house and Knocked on the door, and
wanted to make trouble with him. He
told him to leave. and upon his failure
to do so he slapped him over. Watts
got to his feet and went away down
the railroad track. This was the last
he ever saw OF the man. He returned
to his room. Hetsaid he did not, follow
Watts to the bridge, as reported but
! went to bed and remained there until
the next day.
Captain Woods Takes Hand.
Captain Micajah Woods has returned
to the city. and this morning, in an
i interview, said that information of
/ Wattss death did not reach him until
nearly a week after it had occurred.
In the meantime the body had been
| turned over to relatives from Earlys-
willie, and been taken there for burial
/ The Commemorative attorney ai1la d
Mrs. Watts at his office and heard her
/ statement He was not convinced that
there had been foul play, but had been
/ making an investigation since the af-
! fair was reported to him as presenting
some ugly phases. The information
was brought to his Office BY some OF
4 the most prominent men of the COM
munity. and he would see that the
case was thoroughly aired.
| Magistrate Dunn Tomorrow afternoon
at o'clock, and in the meantime an
4 endeavor is being made to locate one
OF the men who has disappeared from
the pipe laying force, and who is con.
| nected by rumor with the incidents
4 leading to the alleged murder.