Thomas was editor of the "Mascot" newspaper and a mill operator on Third Creek. In what appears to be the first issue of the "Landmark" newspaper, dated Saturday June 19, 1874, Volume 1, No. 1 comes the following announcement of the 2 candidates running for Sheriff of Iredell County, "Sheriff Wasson had declined to run for re-election." The 2 candidates were Thomas A. Watts and James A. F. Watts.
Thomas Watts was elected with a lead of 1,290 votes over his opponent, but the new Sheriff was smart enough to keep James A.F. Watts aboard since he had been a deputy and had experience. It is not known if these 2 candidates were related. Watts was 1 of at least 2 early Iredell men who would serve as Sheriff who had close connections to the Civil War.
The approach of Union troops was first spotted by Thomas A. Watts and J.S. Miller who had been scouting down the road toward Salisbury. They "rid like madmen" through the streets of Statesville alerting the town according to reports in the "Landmark" newspaper.
During the terms of Sheriff Watts, he was involved with the execution of Bill Mecimore, who was hanged for the murder of his mother-in-law. Mecimore was a resident of Rowan County where the crime took place. For the sake of safety, the trial was conducted in Iredell County. Mecimore killed Mrs. Helig with a bludgeon and he threw her body in a well. Even in those early days, the Sheriff sought evidence and clues to crimes. During his search he found a convincing clue; tracking from the scene of the crime proved that a club-footed man committed the murder. Bill Mecimore was club-footed. Other evidence found by the officers convicted him of the crime without any doubt. After the conviction, after he realized that he would have to pay for his crime, Mecimore confessed his guilt. Sheriff T.A. Watts led him to the gallows.
Thomas Watts was elected with a lead of 1,290 votes over his opponent, but the new Sheriff was smart enough to keep James A.F. Watts aboard since he had been a deputy and had experience. It is not known if these 2 candidates were related. Watts was 1 of at least 2 early Iredell men who would serve as Sheriff who had close connections to the Civil War.
The approach of Union troops was first spotted by Thomas A. Watts and J.S. Miller who had been scouting down the road toward Salisbury. They "rid like madmen" through the streets of Statesville alerting the town according to reports in the "Landmark" newspaper.
During the terms of Sheriff Watts, he was involved with the execution of Bill Mecimore, who was hanged for the murder of his mother-in-law. Mecimore was a resident of Rowan County where the crime took place. For the sake of safety, the trial was conducted in Iredell County. Mecimore killed Mrs. Helig with a bludgeon and he threw her body in a well. Even in those early days, the Sheriff sought evidence and clues to crimes. During his search he found a convincing clue; tracking from the scene of the crime proved that a club-footed man committed the murder. Bill Mecimore was club-footed. Other evidence found by the officers convicted him of the crime without any doubt. After the conviction, after he realized that he would have to pay for his crime, Mecimore confessed his guilt. Sheriff T.A. Watts led him to the gallows.
Thomas was editor of the "Mascot" newspaper and a mill operator on Third Creek. In what appears to be the first issue of the "Landmark" newspaper, dated Saturday June 19, 1874, Volume 1, No. 1 comes the following announcement of the 2 candidates running for Sheriff of Iredell County, "Sheriff Wasson had declined to run for re-election." The 2 candidates were Thomas A. Watts and James A. F. Watts.
Thomas Watts was elected with a lead of 1,290 votes over his opponent, but the new Sheriff was smart enough to keep James A.F. Watts aboard since he had been a deputy and had experience. It is not known if these 2 candidates were related. Watts was 1 of at least 2 early Iredell men who would serve as Sheriff who had close connections to the Civil War.
The approach of Union troops was first spotted by Thomas A. Watts and J.S. Miller who had been scouting down the road toward Salisbury. They "rid like madmen" through the streets of Statesville alerting the town according to reports in the "Landmark" newspaper.
During the terms of Sheriff Watts, he was involved with the execution of Bill Mecimore, who was hanged for the murder of his mother-in-law. Mecimore was a resident of Rowan County where the crime took place. For the sake of safety, the trial was conducted in Iredell County. Mecimore killed Mrs. Helig with a bludgeon and he threw her body in a well. Even in those early days, the Sheriff sought evidence and clues to crimes. During his search he found a convincing clue; tracking from the scene of the crime proved that a club-footed man committed the murder. Bill Mecimore was club-footed. Other evidence found by the officers convicted him of the crime without any doubt. After the conviction, after he realized that he would have to pay for his crime, Mecimore confessed his guilt. Sheriff T.A. Watts led him to the gallows.
Thomas Watts was elected with a lead of 1,290 votes over his opponent, but the new Sheriff was smart enough to keep James A.F. Watts aboard since he had been a deputy and had experience. It is not known if these 2 candidates were related. Watts was 1 of at least 2 early Iredell men who would serve as Sheriff who had close connections to the Civil War.
The approach of Union troops was first spotted by Thomas A. Watts and J.S. Miller who had been scouting down the road toward Salisbury. They "rid like madmen" through the streets of Statesville alerting the town according to reports in the "Landmark" newspaper.
During the terms of Sheriff Watts, he was involved with the execution of Bill Mecimore, who was hanged for the murder of his mother-in-law. Mecimore was a resident of Rowan County where the crime took place. For the sake of safety, the trial was conducted in Iredell County. Mecimore killed Mrs. Helig with a bludgeon and he threw her body in a well. Even in those early days, the Sheriff sought evidence and clues to crimes. During his search he found a convincing clue; tracking from the scene of the crime proved that a club-footed man committed the murder. Bill Mecimore was club-footed. Other evidence found by the officers convicted him of the crime without any doubt. After the conviction, after he realized that he would have to pay for his crime, Mecimore confessed his guilt. Sheriff T.A. Watts led him to the gallows.
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Sheriff of Iredell County 10 yrs 1874 - 1884
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