Individuals >> McWatters, George S. (circa 1815-)

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 the 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]

"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]