Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-15

Charles IL. FIIdes-A s1DevIl,' In
His YOuth-An Editor In His
Teens.
| TALLAHAssER, FLA, February 14-In the
Senate to-day the following bills were in
! troduced:
By Mr.. Niblack-Relative to the custody
OF persons charged with or convicted of
! crime.
By Mr.. McKinne-AmendIng the act con-
cerning forcible entry and detainer.
By Mr.. Thompson-Designating holidays
to be observed, and in regard to the pay
ment Of checks and notes on the same; also,
relating to commercial paper; also, requiring
the trustees OF the internal improvement
fund to paw interest on money refunded in
certain cases.
The Committee on E E.ucatiou made q
| statement with reference to the adoption OF
q series of school books.
By Mr. Speer-Rspealing tho act pre-
serfbIng uniform rates OF fare on railroads.
By Mr.. McKay-For quetiDg titles to
lands sold for taxes.
In the Assembly, Mr. Beville offered
resolution amending the constitution.
BY Mr.. Bryan-A resolution authorizing
the Srate's attorneys to compromise certain
claims.
Mr.. Howeren-A bill regulating the rate
of interest.
Mr. stringer-A bill providing for the
drawing OF jurors. and prescribing the
qualifications OF grand jurors.
Mr. Piummer, bill repeating the act
prohibiting the attachment OF wages of
| laborers.
TIE following confrmations were made:
j. II D,ches, to be Sheriff of Sumter coun-
/ ty; J. B. Anderson, to be Collector, and II.
B. Grace Assessor OF jackson county, and
w. B. Mcleod Assessor Of Walton county.
! TALLAHASSEE, February 13-I had a chat
! yesterday with Captain Mosely. Sheriff Of this
/ county. and also the commander of the Gov
ernor's Guards, one of the first companies that
reached Madison after the late difficulty.
| Captain Mosely states that from intelligence
previously received, he fully expected, on
reaching Madison, to find a large body of
armed men. When near Madison party OF,
say twenty-five armed negroes, were seen at a
railroad crossing.
! On reacl ing the town, the two companies,
his own and the Monticello Guards, marched
up 10 the town and stacked arms in front of
the jail.
| There were small squads Of armed negroes
| lettering about in several directions No armed
whites were visible, except the military Dur
log The night piekets were thrown out. and
some five negroes were arrested and confined
| until the morning.
The next morning the Sheriff, with a posse
OF soldiers and citizens went to Eagan'S house
| TO arrest that individual. The person in
charge refused admission. As the officer was
about to leave he was invited to enter, and
| made an Intellectual search, Quite a number
OF armed negroes were around the premises.
All Of the white citizens, as we'll as the
troops, were under the control of the Sheriff.
and acted according to his direction.
After Tuesday night there was comparative
ly little excitement and very few persons came
in from the country.
Thursday Captain Mosely took squad of
men and went to Live Oak. expecting to ar
rest Eagan. On returning to Madison he found
but very small gathering at the DEPOT
| Captain Mosely very strongly and positively
disavows any intention on the part of the peo-
pie OF Madison to interfere with the
sion. There was no such purpose or
desire, and the deplorable murder that broke
UP the proceedings was altogether unexpected
and originated in a personal altercation be-
tween the parties concerned. But for the ex
citement that temporarily ensued, the exam;na-
tion could have progressed without any inter
ruption.
Any construction that may be attempted to
be put upon this unfortunate affair by the
Radicals, going to show that it was organ
lied splan to break up the proceedings, is ut
terry and willfully false and unwarranted
An acquaintance, VINO has seen the murderer
Savage since his arrest, says that he has tn
tireiy lost his arrogance aud bravado. He
admits that he deserves DEATH and expresses
the hope that he will be allowed reasonable
time for repentance
MIR. Patterson's body was pierced by two
halls. both lnflicting mortal wounds, third
cutting eff the thumb Of one of his hands He
lived but short time after the reception of
the injuries.
1t is thought now that the two negroes in
jail at Madison will be removed to some other
prison for security Should this be done, mat
ters In that town will soon resume their usual
serenity.
at present detachment of fifteen men from
the Jacksonville Light Infantry, and similar
force from the Lake City company are on
guard in Madison. Parties from that town
this morning represent affairs as perfectly
quiet
Ice formed here this morning and the
weather is clear and delightful.
Some parties are here from the Northern
States Tor the purpose OF hunting. Small
game is abundant in the vicinity, and q good
shot can score heavy bag Of partridges in a
morning.
Wild ducks are numerous in the many lakes,
while more ambitious Nimrods can find deer
4
at no very remote distance
Chas. L. Fildes. member of the Assembly
from Alachua county, was born in Madison,
Fla, in 1856, being not yet twenty-five years OF
age. He has resided in the State ever SINCE |
except a few years spent in Georgia during his |
early youth. lie intuitively took to the print
OF his father, who desired that on
reaching the age of maturity his
son should enter one of the professions Il |
was finally evident however, that Charles was |
determined DplDU a md Of
age of 13, he entered his fathers Office as an |
apprentice. faring as other devils.n No
Of disgusting him with his chosen vocation. un-
usually heavy tasks were forced upon him. He |
bore it manfully, however, and in the course |
of three years was the foreman in a printing |
establishment over men who had served at |
the trade for a quarter of a century In the !
natural course of events, with one so infatu- |
ated with his vocation, young Fildes soon de-
veloped a talent for writing. and before he |
was eighteen, occupied the position of asso- |
ciate editor of the Monticello Constitution. |
which place he held three or four years. writ
ing with vigor and discretion far exceeding |
his years. and doing valiant service for the |
cause OF Democracy which at that time Law |
prostrate under the iron heel of carpetbag
Radlcallsm. Acting upon the axiom, "a |
prophet is not without honor save In his own |
country" in the fail of '7S he moved |
to Ocaia, in Marion county, purchasing
an interest in the Banner, published at that /
place. During his residence there he was I
elected reading clerk Of the last Assembly and |
as such gave universal satisfaction. Feeling |
that his abilities merited a broader journal
istic field, in the fall of '79 he removed TO
Gainesville, and established there the Bee. This |
venture was in opposition to the advice Of
older and more mature minds, but he
ing a young man of indomitabIe en-
ergy. and being possessed Of a sufficient
amount of self-reliance to carry
him through the world. he acted on his own
judgment and succeeded in establishing a
paper which proved very popular and remu-
nerative to the publisher. Mr.. Fildes' opposi-
ton in Gainesville was strong, having to con-
tend against very able journal the Sital edited
by Messrs. Myers and McCook. AS TO his
success in Journalism in Gainesville, /
have only to mention that he is now at
the head of the only paper published
there. the Sun and Bee. He made friends
rapidly in Alachua county, as Is evidenced by
the fact that he had resided there only eight
months when the Democracy of that county
called on him to serve as one OF their standard |
bearers in the last political contest and he is
at present o member Of the first Democratic
delegation sent from Alachua county to the
Legislature since the war. believe, however
that he is prouder of the mastery of ''the art
preseryative Of all arts than OF any distinc-
ton he has gained as a journalist.
Charley is one of the promising young mem
bers Of the fourth estate, and will win fame /
AA. - HA...