The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-15

D5U7YYy1 torious outlaw of Pennsyl- kBH&dD vania, thief, "yeggman," re- ported murderer of his own father, and universally feared by all who knew his name, in the manner described in the following record.
 During the years 1s75-76. I was chief special agent for the Allegheny Val ley railroad. One morning I was called to Brookville, Pa, to investigate the burglary of the companys office at that point during the preceding night On arriving in the little town, I found the office of the company almost a wreck, the safe having been blown to pieces with dynamite, and it's contents, including a fairly large sum of money and a number of Centennial exposition and railroad tickets, stolen. After some work l came to the conclusion that the job had been done by the mo- torious Watts gang, which had origi- nally consisted of eight members, and had long terrorized the citizens of Jef- ferson. Clarion, Forest and Elk cuonties.
 Watts had gained immense reputa- tion among the criminal element by an achievement of earlier date He was wanted on a charge of criminal assault, and the sheriff and a posse of IT men. armed with rifles, shotguns. and pistols vent to his home and sur rounded the house. The sheriff and one of his aides rapped on the door, which was opened by Watts mother. of whom the sheriff made the demand that Watts surrender.
 Before she could answer Watts ap- peared in the doorway with a Colt navy revolver in either hand and two more in his belt.
 Bill" he said to the sheriff, T counted your men as they surrounded the house. There are IS of you, and I want to say to you that l have got 24 shots right here. I know all of you fellows and you know as well as your men know that l never miss mark that l shoot at. Now, I am going to leave this place at once, and I will not bother Brookville again, unless you or any ot your men attempt to stop me. If you do I will kill every man Of you and will still have shots left"
 With that he brushed the sheriff aside, sprang forward. ran to gate in front of the house. opened it. crossed the road, leaped a high rail fence and disappeared into the timber, while not shot was fired to stop him.
 Such was the man whom I set out to put under arrest. There had meyer been any question as to his courage; he had been a gunsmith in Brool<ville and was known as the crack shot of that portion of Pennsylvania One of HIS laNoIltc HICKS was to shoot an apple from his brothers head al a dis tance of 12 paces with either a gun or revolver.
 My first act was oVisit the Western penitentiary at Allegheny City. where a former mecber of the Watts cang, who had been captured. was serving f( years sentence. Iris mans name Was Lafayette Edwards he had T younger brother named Horace, who had also beer connected with the gang, hut had chansed his ,ranner of living. From Iafayette having pr Jmised to take no action against his brother, I learnfd that Horace vas employed as a farm land near Yer million, TIL The younger brother was duly lpcate, there by my. He had established :. good reputation, had joined the church and was respected by all who knew him ! frankly told him the purpose of rny tourney and proposed that he return to I'ennsylvania with ma at my expense promising that I would keep him auietl1 in small town near Brookville where he ould not be known. until the remain. Ger of the gang had been apprehended and then pay his fare back to Illinois.
 I'm a church member now" an. swered Horace, land I will do all in ms power to help you''
 Telling his employer that the man wa: wanted as a witness in an important case took Horace Edwards hack to Penn.