American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-06-10
MARSHAL WATTS BOUND OVER
Held to District Court on Charge Of
Assault With Deadly Weapon.

bound over to the district court charg-
ed with assault with a deadly weapon
when the case came up for prelimi-
nary hearing before Juatice r. o.
Jones Wednesday morning at ten
o'clock. Marshal Watts shot one
M. d. Davis, colored man who has
been here several months, over the
left ear the 31st day of May as he was
taking him to jail for disturbing the
peace. Mr.. Watts was arrested last
Thursday for assault with a deadly
weapon. Prosecuting Attorney g. l..
Baird and r. 8. Anderson are appear
ing for the state and Attorney o. r.
Baum represents the defendant. The
case will probably come up before the
district court when 1t sits the 14th of
June. The colored man, Davis has
been here since last October. He came
from Idaho Falls and has been doing
job work in gardens about town and
any other work at hand. At present
he is working on the sewer construc-
ton. Marshall Watts received sever
al complaints about him during the
day previous to the shooting and was
watching him closely. Davis was
aware that he was being followed and
stopped Watts Just west of the Mayer
auto repair shop Monday, May 81, and
demanded an exclamation. Words fol-
togo to go to i jaii. r. Davis hesitated, and, ac-
cording to the allegation OF MT Watts'
advanced toward him in threatening
| manner. When within a few feet OF
him Watts pulled his gun and shot'
the bullet breaking the skin over the
| lobe of the left ear causing 1t to bleed
profusely. Davis then marched TO the
iail and DR.. Starr was called to dress
the injury. Davis was later released
4 Considerable comment followed th'
shooting and last Thursday prosecut
ing attorney. s. L. Baird filed com
n,aint charging Mr.. Watts with assault
with deadly weapon and he was ar
rested and later released under bon'
of one thousand dollars.
In explaining the shooting MI
Watts said: Several people have com
= nlained about this fellow Davis an
asked me to keep my eye on Mn
+, They have complained that he Is
: the habit of following little girls
. the outskirts of town and also maj
y r,ed women and / felt 1t my duty
:, watch him pretty close. i was 10
lowing him near the Mayer garae
when he stopped me and wah'eo
:. rnow nv business. He kept comm
!. toward me IN a threatening maih'
y and ! told him to go to jail he kel
.. an toward me and when within a te
=, foot of me | shot to protect myse
~ Further than that have nothing
te say" u,.
a. Davis. though apparently bright
:, unable to read and cannot write !
M own name. For this reason ne y"
Of unable TO attach his signature 10
ho comn,aint. A witness signed lot u
,r and when the complaint was exaElh
or at the preliminary hearing. Attorn
he parr, for the defence endeaVoreh
he have the case dismissed on tne srou
that the witness had no legal rignt
siqn for the negro His contention
,e- that Davis should have made his cr
an on the line for his signature ana
M IL sworn to by witnesses VIII u
the signatures. Justice r. o. Jones ru
.en that the signature was legal Ine
,ho ,ence refused to plead and on the
NJ dence of two witnesses Mr.. Watts
uy hound over TO the district court.