Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1916-07-14


One of the worst men / ever ar
rested was Wess Watts, notorious
outlaw of Pennsylvania, thief, "yegg-
man." reported 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 1855 1 was chief
special agent for the Allegheny VAL
ley railroad. One morning was called
IN Brookville, Pa, to investigate the
burglary Of the company's office at
that point during the preceding night.
On arriving in the little town found
the office of the company almost a
wreck, the safe having been blown to
pieces with dynamite, and its con-
tents, including a fairly large sum of
money and number of Centennial
Exposition and railroad tickets, stol-
en-. After some work came to the
conclusion that the job had been done
by the notorious Watts gang, which
had originally consisted of eight mem
beers, and had long terrorized the citi-
gems of Jefferson, Clarion, Forest and
Elk counties.
Watts had gained immense reputa-
ton among the criminal element by
an achievement of earlier date. He
was wanted on a charge of criminal
assault, and the sheriff and posse of
seventeen men, armed with rifles,
shotguns and pistols, went to his home
and surrounded the house. The sher-
iff and one of his aides raped 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, 81
counted your men as they surrounded
the house. There are eighteen of
you, and / want to say to you that
have got twenty-four shots right here.
! know all of you fellows, and you
know as well as your men know that
! never miss a mark that / shoot at.
Now, / am going to leave this place
at once, and I will not bother Brook
vile again, unless you or any of your
men attempt to stop me. If you do
win kill every man of you and will
still have shots left"
With that he brushed the sheriff
aside, sprang forward. ran to a gate
in front of the house, opened it
crossed the road, leaped a high raj
fence and disappeared into the tim
her, while not shot was fired tc
stop him.
Such was the man whom I set ou
70 put under arrest. There had never
Sbeen any question as to his courage
he had been a gunsmith in BrookvillC
and was known as the crack shot o
that portion of Pennsylvania. One o
his favorite tricks was to shoot al
apple from his brothers head at dis
lance of twenty PAGES with either ;
gun or a revolver.
My first act was to visit the West
ern penitentiary at Allegheny City
where a former member of tn
Watts gang, who had been captured
was serving a ten years sentence
This mans name was Lafayette EG
wards; he had a younger brothe
named Horace, who had also bee
connected with the gang, but ha
changed his manner of living. Fror
Lafayette, having promised to take n
action against his brother, l learne
that Horace was employed as farr
hand near Vermilion, Ill. The young
er brother was duly located there b
me. He had established a good repr
tation, had joined the church and wa
respected by all who knew him.
frankly told him the purpose Of m
Journey and proposed that he retur
30 Pennsylvania with me at my e.
pense, promising that / would kee
him quietly in a small town nea
Brookyille, where he would not b
known, until the remainder of tn
gang had been apprehended, and the
pay his fare back 20 Illinois.
I'm a church member now" q