Watts Jail

While the exact date of the Watts Jail construction has yet to be determined, based on recorded stories one can whittle it down to possibly being built sometime between 1915-1920.

The Westvile Record January 19, 1917 – “Faded” His 22 With A 38

Just as a son must give up his chair to his father, so much a 22 caliber pistol give way before the muzzle of a 38 caliber gun, and this is perhaps all that prevented a killing when Ed Jones, alias Ed Allen, was arrested at Pindall, Arkansas last Friday a year after he broke jail at Watts, OK.

According to the officers Jones when arrested, broke away from the officer and drew a 22 pistol. A fraction of a second later the officer had the man covered with his 38 caliber pistol and when he ordered Jones to put up his small gun the prisoner complied, glancing ruefully at his own weapon and then at that in the hands of the officer.

Jones was arrested at Watts a year ago by local authorities on the charge of raising a money order from 75 cents to $25.75 and attempting to cash it at Watts. He was confided in the Watts jail, from which he made his escape.

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Another record depicts fearless Cherokee Deputies. They wore side arms of impressive caliber but it seemed that some of them never burdened themselves with iron handcuffs. Unruly lawbreakers were tied hand and foot with a lariat, tossed into a wagon box and hauled to the Watts jail.

Gallery Below of Watts Jail

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