Mott Wilson case-1899

WILSON

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 8/31/2009 at 16:43:32

Bellevue Leader, December 14, 1899.

MOTT WATSON CASE

Persons in the Second District interested in the famous Mott Watson case of Jackson County are speculating as to whether the appearance of Judge John R. Sherwin on the Supreme Court bench in January will change the face of the case. Captain George Niles “Watson,” the alleged illegitimate son of the late Mott Watson of Maquoketa, has a petition on file in the Supreme Court for a rehearing on his appeal recently decided against him. The petition will be passed on at the January term. Judges Givens and Granger dissented from the decision against Watson, and Judge Waterman, having taken part in the case below, took no part in the Supreme Court decision. This left Judges Robinson, Deemer and Ladd together. Watson’s attorneys figure that Judge Sherwin’s appearance on the bench may mean a great deal for them, as if he should happen to stand with Given and Granger instead of Deemer and Ladd, the case will go to young Watson, which means a large amount of money in their pockets, besides a great victory.

(Note: The Maquoketa Excelsior of August 30, 1895 states Mott Wilson died having an “immense fortune” and “He left no will and his estate will be disposed of according to law. Only one heir, his nephew Eugene of Baldwin, resides in Jackson County. Another nephew, Leslie, lives at Wyoming. These two were the only relatives who were with him during his last illness.”)