The Washington times., 1920-05-16

thef scfehHs lor nelp. tholr dyihB
supplieations for mercy found no re
action In his mind. The mental pic
lures OF these heartrending scenes
never even rise TO torture him"
Perhaps there Is no more revealing
picture OF this composite Caliban and
Borgia than was given by District Al
torpey Thomas Lee Woolvpne.
II is not an alienist's analysis, and
for that reason Is perhaps more un'
derstandable and convincing 70 the
nontechnical mind. No persons came
so frequently or intimately into con-
tact with Watson Tor Gillam) as MT
Woolwine.
Weeps over Others Woes.
His regret that Watson could not
have been sentenced TO hang had
been immeasurably intensified by MS
knowledge OF the red and ruthless
record of this most colossal murderer.
Mr.. Woolwine said:
81 have profound conviction thol
so far as the legal requirements are
| concerned, Watson did not know the
difference between right and wrong.
He did. however, know the nature ana
| consequences OF his acts and knew
that they were crimes"
"The suffering OF children affected
| Watson keenly. He could not bear TO
! home TO Canada from the front He
| even wept over his own story or his
| stepfather's cruelty to himself.
| "When ] first saw Watson In tho
| county hospital. his appearance was
| that OF a wild animal driven 10 pay
| He was physically weak. owing 10 ms
two attempts at suicide, but appar-
| entity keeniy alive to his unfortunate
| situation.
THE impression was forced upon
me that his will and courage were
| not by any means entirely broEen'
but that he was weighing al! The
| possibilities, OF the situation and
meant to see to il that he would yield
| only In so far as might be necessary
| to accomplish his purpose, that OF
saving his life,
His keeu Fight Fer Life.
| For days previous to this visit, ]
had faint suspicion that perhaps
outside of possible bigamous mar
| riaEes, the rumor that he had slain
one or more women was fictitious.
"He requested that / talk with him
| confid e ntially. which | refused to do,
telling him ] made it a rule never t.
receive confidence from any orc
suspected OF crime. For an hour he
talked with me in presence of others
1
all the time intimating .hat he might
tell most astounding story il ]
| would agree to recommend tfs I'M
| prisCnment on a plea of guilty.
During these conversations he
said nothing as to the whereabouts
OF any of his wives. His attitude and
language simply conveyed the i'm
preston that he had been guilty of
some capital crime.
| 70 LotS
an exhaustive investigation by
skilled detectives had failed to dis
| close any evidence on which even
TO begin a prosecution for murder.
! The prisoner had been held in the
county hospital until his attorney
| had gotten out a writ OF habe as
corpus. which compelled me to nlc a
complaint charging bigamy.
But the hope OF a successful
prosecution was extremely doubtful.
Under Nervous Tensis.-
| This was the situation at the time
of my visit to Watson.
The prisoner however. WAS in the
unhappy situation of not knowing
how much the officers knew. or how
little.
"As l sat by his bedside he looked
me in the eye unwaveringly. His
glance did not shift.
| His choice OF words was quite as
tonishing in view of what he after
ward related to me as to his lack
| OF education. i finally told him
| would take his statement. and il 1t
impressed me as being truthful and
appeared to be . full and fair con-
fession, / would agree to recommend
| a life sentence.
| "With his understanding a short
1 h,o A.I
started to make his statement. His
entire attitude and the almost unbc-
lievable details of his story rs he told
| of marrying wife after wife and then
| killing them, produced in my mind
| amazement adherence of the indi-
| vidual and then disbelief in his mar
rative.
wept Over Own SUFFERING.
Watson related the story OF his
| murders without the culver of an
eyelid. On the other hand, in describ-
ing cruelties he received at the hands
of his step-father, tears would start
| and his voice would break. In tell
| ing of some kindness done him in his
| boyhood his face showed an. apparent
gratitude and he would be again
| moved to tears.
we have been at a loss to really
| dence indicates that his motives were
| meroenary in some cases. but we are
! again confronted by the fact that
many of the women slain were prac-
tically psnniless-
"on being asked time and time
| again why he killed them, he an
swered, Il don't know; something
| would say to me. Go to it," and
this command would ring in my ears
| for months
"A fierce battle would then ensue
In his own mind" he said, ''and finally
he could not resist. the impulses any
longer and would carefully make his
plans and slsy his victim. after which
he experienced feeling of satisfac-
tion and infinite relief
Calmly Identifies victfn-
when Watson was taken to I'm
perfal county to point out the grave
Of Nina Lee Deloney, one Of his wives,
] thought no human being could bear
II