Cornelius Clarkson Watts
(Simms) Watts, lived in Amherst until the beginning of the Civil War, when they removed to Albemarle County, Virginia.He was nominated and elected by the Democratic party, in 1880, as Attorney General for West Virginia, and served his term of four years.In this litigation the State was successful, and besides gaining for itself and the counties through which the road runs, some $200,000, it established the right to forever tax, not only this railway, but all railroads now or hereafter to be built in West Virginia.However, after the election of 1888, which resulted in Mr. Cleveland's defeat, Watts began such a vigorous prosecution of the "Election Fraud Cases," that on March 9, 1889, Attorney General William H. H. Miller, by direction of President Benjamin Harrison, telegraphed U.S.Attorney Watts requesting his resignation.I know of no act of mine, either official or otherwise, which, in the absence of cause being assigned, would, under existing circumstances, justify me in tendering my resignation.