Supt. William G. Wattson
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SUPT. WATTSON'S DEATH.
HE DIED IN ROOSEVELT HOSPITAL TUESDAY MORNING The Children Were Taken Down from Havers!raw Monday to See Their Dying Father. William G. Wattson, of Haverstraw, Superintendent of the West Shore Railroad, who was shot last Thursday at his office in Weehawken by Edmund Clifford, formerly one of the road's detectives, died in Roosevelt Hospital at 5 o'clock on Tuesday. His wife and family were present, his children having been taken to the hospital from Haverstraw Monday afternoon, in order that they might see their father be fore he died. Mr. Wattson was in a critical condition all day Monday, and Coroner Dobbs took his ante-mortem statement. In that statement Mr. Wattson said : "Clifford came into my office, where my stenographer and I were seated. Clifford said : ' Mr. Wattson, I have been notified in writing by Mr. Lodge, the station master, that I have been discharged. You have always been against me.' I replied : ' I am not against any man who attends to his business. Two years ago I had cause to discharge yon, but through influential friends you were reinstated, and about three weeks ago a report was made to me by one of the stockholders that you were a disgrace to the position you held, owing to your spending the greater part of your time in saloons. I found the facts to be as represented, and reported to my superior officer, who ordered me to discharge you. Instead of being a personal enemy of yours, I have tried to be your friend, for you know I have talked to you several times about your failure to make the necessary reports of service to me.' " At this he jumped to his feet and said : 'This is my report !' Pulling a pistol from his pocket, he attempted to fire. It missed fire, and I grappled with him. He pulled the trigger again and I was shot in the abdomen and later in the shoulder." Mr. Wattson will be greatly missed from Haverstraw, where he and his family have resided for two years past, having but recently occupied their new house near Supervisor Felter's, on lower Hudson Avenue. Mr. and Mrs Wattson were both active workers in St. Luke's Episcopal Church, and took an active interest in local affairs generally. Arrangements were made to take the remains to Haverstraw.
HE DIED IN ROOSEVELT HOSPITAL TUESDAY MORNING The Children Were Taken Down from Havers!raw Monday to See Their Dying Father. William G. Wattson, of Haverstraw, Superintendent of the West Shore Railroad, who was shot last Thursday at his office in Weehawken by Edmund Clifford, formerly one of the road's detectives, died in Roosevelt Hospital at 5 o'clock on Tuesday. His wife and family were present, his children having been taken to the hospital from Haverstraw Monday afternoon, in order that they might see their father be fore he died. Mr. Wattson was in a critical condition all day Monday, and Coroner Dobbs took his ante-mortem statement. In that statement Mr. Wattson said : "Clifford came into my office, where my stenographer and I were seated. Clifford said : ' Mr. Wattson, I have been notified in writing by Mr. Lodge, the station master, that I have been discharged. You have always been against me.' I replied : ' I am not against any man who attends to his business. Two years ago I had cause to discharge yon, but through influential friends you were reinstated, and about three weeks ago a report was made to me by one of the stockholders that you were a disgrace to the position you held, owing to your spending the greater part of your time in saloons. I found the facts to be as represented, and reported to my superior officer, who ordered me to discharge you. Instead of being a personal enemy of yours, I have tried to be your friend, for you know I have talked to you several times about your failure to make the necessary reports of service to me.' " At this he jumped to his feet and said : 'This is my report !' Pulling a pistol from his pocket, he attempted to fire. It missed fire, and I grappled with him. He pulled the trigger again and I was shot in the abdomen and later in the shoulder." Mr. Wattson will be greatly missed from Haverstraw, where he and his family have resided for two years past, having but recently occupied their new house near Supervisor Felter's, on lower Hudson Avenue. Mr. and Mrs Wattson were both active workers in St. Luke's Episcopal Church, and took an active interest in local affairs generally. Arrangements were made to take the remains to Haverstraw.
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“Supt. William G. Wattson,” accessed May 17, 2024, https://rocklandroom.omeka.net/items/show/15793.