The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-14
YOUNG HAN KILLED UNCLE
CORONER'S JURY CHARGE JAKE
WATTS WITH CRIME
G0Nan Watts Talks of Decd-Both
Father and Son Are in Jail Follow
ing Death of Adam Watts at Swan
sea.

Lexington Aug. S.-With his shirt
bloodstained as if coming off a bat
tleheld, with a wound on the top
of the head just above the right
temple and with the sign Of deep
worry and loss of sleep depicted in
his countenance, Govan Watts. aged
~ years, was lodged in the Lexing-
ton county Jail this morning. The
charge was that he killed his uncle
Adam Watts. aged rs years, es;erday
afternoon about 4 o'clock, the weapon
used being a small knife with which
he cut the old mans throat from ear
10 ear, and slashed him in a number
Of other places, it is said.
The crime occurred at the home of
Adam Watts, about three and one
half miles east Of Swansea. in the
presence Of the members of the Ad
am Watts family. When seen at the
Jail today, Govan Watts talked freely,
and claimed that he had it to do;
that the old man and two of the wo-
men We're on top of him, pounding
him with a stick and choking him."
He says that when he had been
choked almost into Inconsistencies
he drew a small knife from his pock-
ct and commenced to cut right and
left with all the power that he pos
sessed and that when he was able
to arise the old man had been cut to
death. Besides the wound on his
head the young man displayed a large
lump on his wrist, which he says was
caused by q blow from the old mans
stick. His throat, however, does not
show any signs of the severe chok-
ing which he says he was subjected
to.
When told that the coroner's jury
had placed the crime on his father.
Jake Watts. the young man said that
it was all q mistake; that he had kill
ed his uncle himself. and that his
father did not arrive upon th,. scene
until it was all about over. He clings
firmly to this in spite Of the fact that
the witnesses who saw the deed, say
that Jake Watts used the knife.
He said that they all jumped on
him and he had to fight his way out.
Information is hard to obtain as to
the cause of the terrible tragedy.
which has shocked the entire Swan.
sea section. but it is generally be-
lieved that whiskey played its part in
the crime. In fact, it is stated that
Jake Watts and his son. Govan, went
to the home of Adam Watts under the
.n0nsnrc Of whis<ev and that a gem
e!"l family TOW started resulting in
loe old mar heins Hped
Coroner i - Clarke and Sheriff
Miller went r. t,e scene ol ,he trag-
edy last night, but the inquest was
not held until this morning. The
coroner, being in the county cam
paign, did not return to Lexington,
making it impossible to secure the
story as it was told at the inquest
Sheriff Miller returned to Swansea
tonight TO bring Jake Watts to Jail
the verdict of the jury placing the
crime on his hands.
Adam Watts and Jacob Watts are
brothers. and according to Govan
Watts statement, they lived only
about a half mile apart. Adam
Watts has the reputation Of being a
peaceable citizen. according to the re-
ports from Swansea, while the repu-
tation Of Jake Watts is not so good.
GoVan Watts. the young man who
says he did the killing. has never
been in trouble before and his rep
utatiOn is said to be good
The burial Of Adam Watts will
take place tomorrow.