Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-14
TALLAHASSEE LETTER.
THE LATE MADISON TRAGEDY.
Statement of Mr.. Dennis Eagan--
Bill 10 Remove the Capital-NEr.
BRYAN, OF Orange-Pencil Sketches
Local option Liquor Bill.

TALLAHASSEE, February t2-The bill intro
duced by Senator Dell to change the seat of
government, is as follows;
THAT the seat of government be changed
from Tallahassee in Leon county, to Gainesville
or such other place in this State which ma
jority Of the registered voters of the State
shall select.
THAT the Secretary of State be and Is hereby
instructed to issue a proclamation In accord
ance with law, that an election will be held at
the time Of holding the next general election
for members of the Legislature, to determine
whether the seat Of government shall be
changed as provided for in the first section of
this act''
1t will be observed that the bill simply con-
fers upon the voters the privilege Of express
ing their preference. As there will be numerous
places contending for the capital, the struggle
will be interesting.
Mr.. ]. M. Bryan. member of the Assembly
from Orange county. was born in Hamilton
county in 1888. His family originally came
from North Carolina, and his grandfather,
Philemon Bryan, was one of the first settlers
of Hamilton. When about twenty years Of
age Mr.. Bryan removed to Orange. He served
during the entire war in the Confederate
army. After It's termination he engaged in
farming and orange culture. In which pursuits
be has been successful. He is now a member
Of the firm OF G. f. Smith & Co., of Fort
Mason.
When In the Legislature of 49, 5 he assisted in
the election of Hon. c. W. Jones
lie was re elected in 1878 and 1880 He holds
the position of Chairman of the committees on
Immigration, Temperance and Constitutional
Amendments, and is on the committees of
Railroads and Canals. Finance and Taxation,
and others. Scrupulously attentive to his
duties, he Is one Of the most valuable mem
character In the splendid county
which he represents, and looks well and closely
to the interests of Florida and of his imme-
dlaCe constituency. AS an evidence Of the ap-
preclatlon in which he is held at home, he Is
one Of the six members Of the former Assem-
bly, who was sent back to Tallahassee. He
can justly claim many friends, who honor the
good qualities of head and heart possessed by
the subject of this brief sketch.
The local option liquor bill, which has Just
passed the Senate, provides:
THAT when thirty legal voters of a voting
preclnct, other than one embracing q munich
pal corporation, shall petition to the Board of
County Commissioners to submit to the legal
voters OF such voting precinct the question
whether the sale OF Intoxicating LIQUORS
therein shall be licensed by Law, it shall
be the duty OF the said Board Of County
measures as they may deem expcdient, to
ascertain the sense Of the legal voters Of said
voting precinct on said question, and if the
majority of the voters of such voting Drecinct
shall be opposed to the sale of such LIQUORS
therein, fact of which such board shall make
record, then no license for the sale Of such
liquor In said voting precinct shall be issued,
and any person selling such liquors therein
shall be liable to all the penalties prescribed
by law for selling liquors without license"
This bill has passed the Senate. Should it
go through the Assembly its provisions will
doubtless be adopted in many portions Of the
State. II is hoped and believed that its opera
tions will have happy effect In checking the
vice at which it is aimed
had an interview last night with Mr. Dem
mis- Eagan, in the county Jail, and obtained
from him the following statement of the diff
Guilty that resulted in the death of Mr. Patter-
son. The language employed is just what fell
from his lips
"We had commenced taking testimony. l.
acting as Commissioner, had just sworn
witness, and was engaged in writing dow his
evidence. My attention was attracted by a
noise, and on looking up l saw Savage and
Patterson scufding. They were at the further
end of the court room, forty feet distant In
an instant saw Savage tear himself loose
from Patterson, fall back few feet, and the
shooting commenced. Three or four shots
of Savage. Saw none in Patterson's hand.
Saw Patterson stagger and fall. All this oc-
CURED in an instaut's time. / saw no other
person except Savage shoot at Patterson, |
HI ard and ma5e no remarks whatever up to
this tune. Several young white men in the
room drew pistols and presented them at Saw
age, who, with his pistol pointed at them,
fell back to where / was standing
with Mr. Finley and General jenkins
He said he would not be arrested
/ demonstrated with him, and told him to sur
render. At this moment the door Of the court
house was closed, and soon after the Sheriff
arrived, with several armed men, who pre- !
sented their muskets at me and Savage |
again urged Savage to submit to arrest, and |
said to the officer that it was his duty to see |
that he was protected He and James, another |
negro, were then taken into CUSTODY |
then said to Mr.. Finley that it was |
idle to continue taking testimony there, and |
that would adjourn to my house. two miles |
distant gathered my papers, and with Gen. |
jenkins, walked leisurely through town, stop
ping and talking with several parties. and went |
home. l reached home at IL m, where re- |
mained until p. M, when 1 heard that a |
warrant had been issued for my arrest |
Upon the advice Of friends and politi- |
1 remained secreted in the woods that night
and the whole of the next day. Wednesday |
night drove across to Quitman. hoping to
IT; reach Jacksonvtlle. Reached Quitman a. m.
train to Jacksonville until late that night but |
there was train going West at a. m Re- |
manned at depot till train arrived. |
Then took train for Albany. Ca, hoping |
to take train there for Brunswick, and |
thence for Jacksonville. Reached Albany |
10 a. M. and then learned would have to re- |
main for Brunswick train till evening. Took |
bus and went to hotel, where registered |
About on hour afterwards an officer, Mr.. |
%estbrook, City Marshal, asked il my name |
was Eagan, to which replied yes He said |
he ARE ted me in consequence Of a telegram |
from the Sheriff of Madison county. |
I took the cars at 4 p. m. in |
custody of the officer. We got of ct
ThomaGyille, and took private conveyance to
Tallahassee. apbreperding danger II went
farther by rail- Reached Tallahassee al o'clock
this morning. Marshal Westbrook showed
me every possible eeuFtesy, and was kind and
considerate. My intention tp leaving Madison
was simply to avoid arrest whilS the excite
rnent ran so high, and not to escape altogether.
desired to keep out Of the way for a few |
days. until quiet was restored, having jack
sonville as my objective point. In the course
took was guided by the advice Of political |
opponents as well as personal friends.n
Mr.. Eagan will probably be kept In conhne>
ment here in Tallahassee to answer bis exami- |
nation.
The Assemblg was not In session to-day, the |
members being engaged on committee work.
The Senate disposed of a number ef bills.
A joint resolution has been adopted that the |
LEGISLATURE adjourn Friday, March 4th. at |