Individuals >> McWatters, George S. (1812?-1886)

Police Officer.

Known in the New York journals as "the Literary Policeman," George S. McWatters was a New York City police officer who occasionally visited Pfaff's and there earned the respect of the bar's bohemian patrons (McWatters xix). A.L. Rawson writes, "McWatters was a genial and kind-hearted policeman, and fond of children. When Ada [Clare]'s boy came he named him 'the Prince,' and the title was at once accepted by the coterie. . . . The coterie [at Pfaff's] helped to get him appointed on the 'force,' where he served until retired for long and faithful service" (107).

It was McWatters who led "a committee representing many acquaintances of [Henry] Clapp in New York" in making sure that Clapp's remains were given a proper burial in his hometown of Nantucket ("Current Memoranda" 714). That McWatters would do Clapp this service suggests that a strong relationship had developed between the two during the time they spent together at Pfaff's. McWatters was also the author of a number of books about detective work, including Knots Untied: or, Ways and By-Ways in the Hidden LIfe of American Detectives (1871), Detectives of Europe and America (1877), The Gambler's Wax Finger and Other Startling Detective Experiences (1892), and Forgers and Confidence Men (1892).

Believed to be born in Kilmarnock, Scotland, McWatters was taken at a young age to Northern Ireland, where he was raised and educated. He worked there for a time as a mechanic, before moving to London, continuing his trade and marrying a "most estimable lady" with whom he would have six children (McWatters 22). He and his wife came to America and he studied law in Philadelphia from 1848-1849. He found collecting debts from the poor was not to his liking and he migrated to California, but, disheartened by the lawlessness there, he left for New York City after nine months. Once in New York, he became "associated with Laura Keene, the actress, as her agent in New York and Buffalo"(McWatters 27). He also became a lecturer on California, served as the agent of Lola Montez, the Countess of Lansfeldt, and pursued a career as a private detective.

McWatters entered the Metropolitan Police force in 1858 and served for 12 years until his retirement from the force on October 17, 1870.

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References & Biographical Resources

"Current Memoranda." Potter's American Monthly. Sep. 1875: 710-715. [more about this work]

The article notes that "The remains of the late Henry Clapp, Jr., have been buried at Nantucket, his native place, under the direction of Mr. George S. McWatters, of a committee representing many acquaintances of Mr. Clapp in New York."

George S. McWatters, a New York City police officer, was the author of Knots United: Or, Ways and By-ways in the Hidden Life of American Detectives (Hartford: J. B. Burr and Hyde, 1871).

McWatters is identified as one of "the friends of Henry Clapp in the city of New York," but not necessarily a Pfaffian. [pages: 714]

"Death of George S. M'Watters." New York Times. 8 Apr. 1886: 8. [more about this work]

Reports that McWatters died of pneumonia on April 7, 1886, at the age of 74 and lists a number of his accomplishments.

G. J. M. "Bohemianism: The American Authors Who Met in a Cellar." Brooklyn Eagle. 25 May 1884: 9. [more about this work]

McWatters is credited with contributing towards a granite monument for Clapp's grave site. [pages: 9]

McWatters, George S., ed. Detectives of Europe and America, or Life in the Secret Service. Hartford: J. B. Burr and Hyde, 1879. [more about this work]

Pages 23-70 contain a shortened version of the biography of McWatters found in Knots Untied by "a well known literary gentleman of New York." The remainder of the work contains a number of stories by McWatters about his exploits in addition to those from various European detectives.

McWatters, George S. Knots Untied: or, Ways and By-Ways in the Hidden Life of American Detectives. Hartford: J. B. Burr and Hyde, 1872. [more about this work]

Pages 21-112 contain a biography of McWatters written by "a well known literary gentleman of New York," signed as simply "S." The remainder of the work is written by McWatters himself and recounts his various adventures as a detective.

"One Thing and Another." New York Saturday Press. 3 Sep. 1859: 4. [more about this work]

Rawson, A. L. "A Bygone Bohemia." Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly. 1896. 96-107. [more about this work]

[pages: 107]

Winter, William. [Letter to George S. McWatters]. New York, 1881. [more about this work]