Minisode 3: Bloody Ed
Image Source: Unsplash @micheleorallo
Accused of murdering Belle Starr, Edgar Artemus Watson went before a judge to face the charges. Ultimately, though, the charges were dismissed and the murder never solved. Little did the judge know, Edgar had already murdered at least twice before, and he would murder again and again.
Growing up with an abusive father likely shaped Edgar into the man he became. Despite the efforts of his mother to take him and his sister away from that violence, Edgar would become even more violent than his father.
In this episode, we explore how Edgar’s past shaped him as well as what happened after he left his accusers in Arkansas, changing his name to Edgar J. Watson soon after. Listen as we discuss his slave-owning South Carolinian ancestors, his multiple wives, lovers, and children, as well as the number of bodies he left Chokoloskee, Florida.
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Summersode 3: Bloody Ed
Edgar J. Watson
Edgar with sister Minnie and his mother Ellen. The picture was likely painted ca 1877.
This would not be the first nor the last time Edgar would get away with murder, if he indeed did kill Belle Starr.
Source: Daily Arkansas Gazette, 24 Feb 1889
Edgar J. Watson, later in life.
Source: Find a Grave
The Smallwood Store and it’s owner, Ted Smallwood, where Edgar J. Watson met his end.
Not long after Edgar’s murder charges were dropped, he was arrested for horse stealing.
Source: Daily Arkansas Gazette, 19 September 1889
The residence of Edgar J. Watson and his widow, Edna.
Another image of the Watson residence.
A different angle of the Edgar J. Watson homestead.
Source: Tampa Bay Times, 1 September 1968
Edna Katherine Bethea was Edgar’s third legal wife. After he died, she married the man pictured, Mortimer Burkett, who raised her children with Watson as his own.
Source: Find a Grave
Walter Langford, husband of Edgar’s daughter Caroline “Carrie” Watson.
Source: Find a Grave
The Langford/Kingston House was completed one year prior to the death of Walter Langford.
Interesting article on the first home of Carrie Watson Langford and husband Walter Langford.
Source: The River Weekly News, 17 February 2017
After Walter’s death, his widow, Carrie Watson Langford started several businesses, including this one.
Source: News-Press, 24 November 1932
Portrait of Minnie Lucretia Watson, daughter of Edgar by his mistress Josephine Jenkins, . She would change her last name to Roe, the last name of her stepfather.
Minnie Lucretia Roe with her nephew and half-sister Mary Frances “Ada” Sands Daniels. I believe Minnie is on the far right.
Madeline Pearl Watson, another daughter of Edgar and Josephine Jenkins, with her second husband J. Earl Helveston.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DISCLOSURE: Murderous Roots is listener-supported. Some of the links below include Amazon affiliate links that may bring us a small commission to help support the podcast, at no additional cost to you.
Old Money from The First National Bank of Ft. Myers
Killing Mr. Watson by Peter Matthiessen
Lost Man’s River by Peter Matthiessen
Bone by Bone by Peter Mattiessen
SOURCES
The American Revolution in South Carolina: Dean’s Swamp
Wikipedia
We use a multitude of resources when researching a family tree up to an including census records from 1800-1940, marriage records in various states, draft registration cards, newspaper articles, and more. If you would like more specific details on where information was obtained, please email us and we’ll respond in a timely manner.