Obituary of HUNT WATSON, alias JIMMY YARRELL, LaSalle Parish, Louisiana

Copied and Submitted by: Doug McBroom, 15520 Swan Lake Blvd., Gulfport, MS, 
39503

From The Jena Times - Olla Tullos Signal; Jena, LaSalle Parish, La. Microfilm
at the LaSalle Parish Library, Located in Jena, LaSalle Parish, La.

Many Thanks to The Times - Signal and to the LaSalle Parish Library for 
allowing the following to be added to the Archives.





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Date:  Sep 14, 1933, Thursday

Headline:  Jimmy Yarrell is Killed at Pen as Escape Fails

Sub-Headline: Noted Bank Robber Ends Career at Point of Guard's Gun

Hunt Watson, alias "Jimmy Yarrell" will rob no more banks in Louisiana or in 
any other state.  He was killed on last Thursday when he attempted to escape 
a third time from the Louisiana State penal farm at Angola.  It is claimed 
that he was shot by Arnold Davis, a guard at the institution.

Wade Long, warden at the penitentiary stated, "He tried to get away by 
breaking out of the line and was shot.  That's all there was to it."

Watson, originally from Beaumont, Texas, was known as one of the most 
desperate men in the penitentiary.  He was sentenced to 9 to 14 years for a 
Union Parish bank robbery in 1931 and escaped April 17, 1932.  While a 
fugitive he is alleged to have robbed the Bank of LeCompte and Olla State 
Bank and to have been implicated in several other robberies throughout the 
state and in other sections.

After the second robbery of the Olla Bank, which occurred on August 19, 1932, 
Yarrell was apprehended in Indianapolis and Deputies Enterkin and Davis, of 
the LaSalle sheriff's office, went to the Indiana city and returned him to 
the local jail where he was confined until his trial, which culminated on 
October 25, 1932.  Judge F. E. Jones sentenced him to the state penitentiary 
for a period of from 14 to 28 years.  In February, he escaped a second time, 
but was later apprehended.

The penitentiary officials had made arrangements to bury Watson at Angola, 
but it is understood that a sister residing in Texas ordered the body sent 
there for interment.  She claimed she had not been advised of Watson's death, 
but this was explained by the officials on the grounds that when Watson 
entered the pen he gave his wife's name as the person to be notified in case 
of illness or death and her whereabouts could not be located.