The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-04-10
HON. TOM WATSON PLACED I'm.
DER BOND

Hon. Tam Watson-Tom Watson
Of Georgia, lawyer. editor. politician
statesman, and one of Dade countv's
foremost winter residents, was arrest
ed last night at his home at Fort I.au.
derdale on two charges. one of them
being a peace proceeding and the 9th.
er the criminal Offense of assault
Mr.. Watson promptly gave bond in
both cases, 500 on the first and
$1,000 on the latter. the last being for
his appearance for trial at the next
term of the criminal court. Nessrs
Reed A. Bryan, n. p. Bryan and E. T
King became bOndsmen for Mr. Wat.
son. The complaints were made nv
one Waldo p. Clement. a yachtsmap
and the details of the little differ
ence" in which he engaged with Mr.
Watson, as related by Mr.. King. are
interesting and somewhat amusing
furnishing food, if need be. for an ar
ticle under the caption, THE Bluff
That Didn't Work" He Didn't Know
His Man" or "A Case of Mistaken
Identity" either one of which would
fit it well.
About three years ago Mr.. Watson
purchased his Fort Lauderdale home
from the wealthy Adams estate. It is
one of the finest winter homes and
properties in the county, and has a
water frontage, the control of which
Mr.. Watson claims by riparian rights.
He allows no one to use it for fishing
purposes
Tuesday, so the story goes, a yacht
anchored near the Watson place. and
Mr.. Watson soon noticed one of its
boat tenders containing a man and a
lady fishing on the forbidden proper
ty. He went to the landing and in
dignified and gentlemanly manner ap-
prised the occupants of the boat that
they were on private property and he
would be pleased to have them move.
as he allowed no one to fish there.
The request was Obeyed. but later
on Mr.. Watson noticed the same boat.
with three male occupants. trespass-
ing. Again he went to the landing
and asked them 10 desist The men
objected, and il was not untiF Mr..
Watson commanded Steve. a faithful
darkey attendant TO go to the house
and bring him his shotgun, and Steve
had done as hidden. that they did 90.
One of them. presumably the COM
plainant, was evidently not satisfied,
and after going to the yacht, it is
claimed. he secured a rife, and for
the third time went to the forbidden
ground, and for a like number of
times Mr.. Watson went TO the landing
and ordered him away. Imbued with
the idea that he didn't have to-" the
stranger refused. and Mr.. Watson re-
summoned Steve and his shotgun.
But their presence did not lend suff-
Gent influence and persuasion TO the
Watson end Of the argument. and it
resolved down TO a case Of whose
bluff" would be called.
Mr.. Watson had a rowboat lying
close by and getting into it he had his
darkey attendant furnish the power
10 propel the craft alongside the
strangers boat During the voyage
from the shore TO the boat the shot
gun nestled conspicuously and handi
ly in Mr.. watson's lap. When he and
the stranger were close enough to
have shaken hands and patched it up
Mr.. Watson reached over in the boat
and without asking permission took
possession of the rife that lay on a
thwart.
Thus shorn Of the principal factor ;
In his bluff" the stranger fastened |
to heed the command to move away, |
doing so with the remark that Mr.. .
Watson had taken advantage Of him,
10 which it is related that Mr.. Wat
son replied: 'No, had it all the
time" tapping his shotgun most gent
y and assuringly.
This, Of course, is one side Of the
story; that of the stranger could not
be gotten, but sufficient is known that
he came to Miami yesterday in a
very aggrieved state of mind. He
consulted the legal firm of Hudson &
3oggs. retaining them as counsel, and
causing Mr. Watson's arrest on the
lbove charges. Deputy Sheriff Gore
vas sent up to Fort Lauderdale last
light to serve the papers on MI
Natson.-Miami Metropolis.
A man robbed a gas meter in Tam