Another Sickles case

From the New York Tribune, Friday.

Last evening a most unhappy affair took place at a respectable boarding house in Prince St. near Mercer street.  About 6 ½ o’clock Mr. Carson called upon his partner in business, Major Watrous, at his boarding house, and while there in the most unceremonious manner shot the Major under the circumstances set forth in his dying deposition before the Coroner.  The alarm was given to the police immediately, and officers were sent to the residence of Mr. Carson, where they found that he arrived before them, and left again.  He resided at No. 30 East Fourteenth street, where two officers were kept on watch all night.  Dr. Quackenbush and Dr. Sands were called in to attend the victim of the deadly assault.  The ball entered the right side of the body, just at the tenth rib and lodged in the liver, where it remains.  Dr. Quackenbush said there could be no hope of his recovery, inasmuch as the internal hemorrhage would continue till he would die from exhaustion.

Carson is said to be worth about $250,000 but has lost considerable amounts in the mining business of the West by recent reverses.  Through the medium of the police telegraph, information was sent to every police station in the city, and a lookout placed at all the steamboat and railroad depots from which there was likely to be any conveyance up to a late hour.  Notwithstanding these efforts, he had not been seen or heard from up to midnight.  It is scarcely probable, however, that he can long elude the police, who have been so early on the alert.  No reason can be assigned for Carson committing the act, except that according to his own statement, having been “drinking hard all day,” he may have become temporarily affected mentally, although such a theory is set aside by the fact of his prompt and successful efforts to get out of the way.

From the N. Y. Herald, Saturday.

The Prince street shooting affair created quite a sensation in domestic circles yesterday, and all sorts of rumors were afloat in relation to the probable cause of the difficulty.  The story of Major Watrous, relative to business losses being the cause of the trouble, is not credited by those who are best acquainted with the parties.  Indeed it is pretty strongly hinted that the affair is nothing more nor less than a second edition of the Sickles tragedy.  The particulars attending the alleged intimacy of Mrs. Carson and Major Watrous have not transpired, but it is presumed the whole thing will be developed in a day or two.  Carson, who, it will be recollected, made his escape at the time of the shooting has not been arrested, but his friends imagine that he will deliver himself up, and save the police any further trouble.  They all unite in saying that Watrous was served right; and should the matter ever come up for investigation they look forward to Mr. Carson’s acquittal.  The condition of the wounded man was unchanged yesterday.  He was reported to be very low last evening, and the physicians are said to entertain very little hope of his recovery.  No persons are allowed to converse with him save the doctor and attending nurses, and then as few words as possible are spoken for fear of bringing on any excitement.  Up to last evening there was no indication of any wandering.  On the contrary the patient appeared quite rational, and talked of his approaching end with unusual calmness.

From the New York Tribune of Monday.

Since Saturday morning, fresh rumors in reference to the tragedy in Prince street, on Thursday evening have been in circulation.  Carson’s friends, who pretend to be in communication with him, are responsible for the story that, previous to the shooting of Major Watrous, a very boisterous conversation took place between the parties in the parlor where the transaction took place; also that Mrs. Carson and the Major had been seen together under very dishonorable circumstances; and that since the affair occurred, Watrous’ counsel had been called upon him and advised him to make no revelations with reference to his intrigues.  Yesterday, Major Watrous was visited by Dr. Bouton, of the Coroner’s office, and one of our reporters, to whom he said that he was getting well, and thought that in a few days he would be all right again.  The rumor that he was largely indebted to Carson he says, is wrong.  He thinks he owes him about $100 – not more.  And in relation to the statement that he and Mrs. Carson had any unlawful or dishonorable acquaintance, he says that is a story got up by Carson’s friends to cover up, if that is possible, the enormity of his crime.  He states that he is utterly astounded at the occurrence and cannot imagine what could have led Mr. Carson to pursue such a course.  Dr. Quackenbush, his attending surgeon, reports that a very favorable change has taken place in the condition of the Major.  Carson remains unarrested, and it was rumored yesterday that both he and his wife sailed for Europe on the steamer Edinburgh, on Saturday.  At all events, he is still at large.

From the Detroit Tribune, Monday.

Mr. James Carson, the gentleman referred to as having shot Major Watrous, formerly resided at Ontonagon, L. S., in this State, and was a member of the well-known firm of Carson and Close of that place.  He is well known as one of the prominent men in the Lake Superior country and has spent a large portion of his time in Detroit for several years.  His wife is a daughter of James Hammer, Esq., of this city.

Major Watrous we knew in former times as a resident of Superior, Wis., at the head of Lake Superior.

The knowledge of this tragedy has brought sorrow to many hearts in the Peninsular Sate.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 31, 1862, p. 2