New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-07
TWO CONFESS Staying
THEIR LIFE PARTNERS
Murder of Wealthy Louisiana
Mill Owner Cleared Up by
Wife and Her Lover.
OLD HOMICIDE REVEALED
Woman Poisoned in Texas by
Man Who Aided in Putting
Out Of Way Husband Of
Her He Would Wed.


Shreveport La. Sept G.-Love was as
signed as the cause OF one OF the most re-
markable double murders recorded in the
South for many years. Three months ago
in Texas the husband Of one victim and
the wife Of the other made up their minds
that life apart from each other would be
unbearable They resolved 10 get rid or
the partners whom they had taken Tor
lifc-not through the courts. but by pol
son. Tonight. written confessions Sc
cured by Sheriff Flournoy OF Shreveport
resulted In charges Of murder In the first
degree being preferred against Mrs. c. C..
Bailey and A. L. Watson.
Mrs. Bailey according To th" confess
sion which the Sheriff produced. admitted
that she killed her husband. a wealthy
mill owner Watson. too. confessed that
he killed his wife in order that he might
wed Mrs. Bailey.
The woman prisoner broke down and
wept pitifully when she was locked up
p,nding trial. She had Just been con
fronted with Watson. who was guarded
by two armed deputies. Watson. at hrst
stood scowlng at the Sheriff and his
guards The woman fell at his knees.
moaning: "Oh. my God, II is all true. ]
killed him. had to do II. Come, dar-
ling let us now die together
Watson raised her and kissed her To-
ge,her they stood, the woman nesting her
head against her accompices breast
while her confession was read over by the
sheriff. Watson kissed her again be
fore ne admitted she had told the truth
Then he told his own story.
According to the Sheriff. Watson admit
ted killing his wife in Texas city two
months ago Then he came To Metcalf
Ia where Bailey owned n lumber mill
lie asked for work and Bailey gave him
an opening Mrs. Bailey and Watson met
by stealth at first after dusk In lonely
snot some distance from the mill. Wat
son wormed his way into the confidence
Of the lumber man. He WAS taken into
the Bailey home and treated as member
Of the family.
ON Friday last Mrs. Bailey and watson
set the stage for the Staying OF the mill
owner while he was absent from tho
house. Mrs. Bailey was To lure her has
hand 10 rear cellar. deep under TIE
ground where the cries of the doomed
man could not penetrate TO those who
might be In or near the Bailey home
THE plan was followed out on Monday
night of this week. Mrs. Bailey got her
husband TO 20 TO the cellar on the pre-
tcxt that she needed oil for lamp
Bailey went his wife cautiously following
him and closing the cellar door behind
him. Watson. waiting in the cellar.
struck down the lumberman as he en-
tered without suspicion.
..\Vheu | raised that axe" Watson is
quoted az saying. Ito strike that man. /
said TO myself. This will send your soul
,o hell That's where / belong, and the
soo,or I'm hanged the better | will be-
satisfied"
The nair agreed three months ago, in
r.xas the sheriff says, that Watson was
a. noisop his wife and Mrs. Bailey her
,,shard Watson fulfilled his part OF the
oo,rnoc, Mrs. Bailey tried. but failed,
owing to her ignorance of polsons and
Oh. surest way of administering them TO
Tn She wrote to Watson. and he came
=, N Metcalf when they decided 1t
,,,o,,,a he hest to use the axe and try TO
.hro,, suspicion upon some other person.
rh.y were TO await reasonable time
80. .ho crime and then get married.
~. po;,ev il a native OF Shreveport
where she has been well liked She IL
,wen,y-seven. good looking and has two
cbiIdren. Watson Is forty-fiye years old
md has three dauxhters-