The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1883-07-10

Mr.. {. a. Miller telegraphs to the
Times fuion the subjoined condensed
narrative of the crime of Archibald New
ton, and his trial at Orlando, which was
over month in duration before the case
was given to the jury. This account
omlts the sensation of the trial." which
occurred when the witness who had been
brought over from England was intro
duced. The prisoner ed his wife did
not know that she wax in America, and
were overwhelmed with confusion when
she appeared in court to give her damag-
ing testimony.
The trial of Archibald Newton, for the killing
OF Sam'l Mcmillan near Sanford in October last
closed here to day, July It'll The case was given
IL the jury l:20 O'Clock this afternoon, and at 500
+. NJ they came into the court with verdict of
guilty of murder IN the first degree as charged
IN The indictment.
The crime was one of the most sensational in
lis circumstances that has ever occurred in this
section Of Florida. Near Crystal Lake, few
miles from Sanford, on a fine orange grove there
lived Il man named Samuel Mcmillan, who had
the reputation of being a miser and Of carving
large sums of money about his person. Close by
lived an Englishman named Archibald Newton,
whose uncle, Il stock holder in the Sanford Com
pany, had bought him place and given him an
income OF 81 900 per annum, payable in monthly
installmentS. Mcmillan was last seen alive on
The evening of Saturday, September Both 1892
walking in company with Newton toward New
tons house. After Il few days the neighbors
becoming alarmed at his mysterious disappear
Ancc, Instituted search and on October 18th
his hcadlcss body was found in Crystal Lake,
large part OF the flesh having been eaten off by
fish and alligators. Around the waist II pot of
nails was tied with rope. The head was also
found in the lake Il lew DAYS afterwards with
bullet in the back of the skull
Before the finding Of the body suspicion had
been directed to Newton by his lavish display Of
money. Previous to October he had been known
To b. hard up" Immediately after McMillan's
disappearance, Newton paid off all his debts,
took trip to jacksonville for the purpose of
gambling, deposited $430 in the bank bought q
buggy and furniture, while his wife purchased
new dresses, etc. When the dead body was
found, the rope, pot and nails We're found TO be
Newton's property. Both Newton and his wife
we're thereupon arrested, and at the preliminary
trial it was proved that Newton had borrowed a
rcyolveG from neighbour and on the morning
alter the murder returned it with the explanation
that he fired one shot from it at an alligator the
night before. The bullet found in McMillan's
head exactly fitted the borrowed pistol
This evidence appeared to be conclusive
tiINl view ION was HclQ, ana Wncn the Granu
Jury met he was promptly indicted and put on
trial. Newton's English relatives made strenu-
Gus efforts to save him, and money was spent
literally in his defense. His counsel were the
Hon. f. X. Foster, General Hodge and Messrs
Scott and Thrasher, and they made a vigorous
tight for him throughout.
The prosecution was conducted with great
ability by Major st. Clair Abrams States Attor-
ncy OF this Circuit, who has greatly enhanced
his reputation as a lawyer by his mastery hand
ing OF the evidence and his eloquent and con-
vlncing arguments. One feature of his manage
mcnt that he insisted upon putting in his
evidence in chronological order 80 that the story
OF the crime was told consecutvely by the vari-
ons witnesses. Major Abrams was ably assisted
by Thomas +. Wilson as junior counsel
The defense was that Newton was the victim
OF Il conspiracy, some one else having committed
The murder and carefully arranged matters so as
10 make all the circumstances point to him as
The guilty party. The sudden acquisition of
money by Newton and his wife was attempted
to be accounted for by the claim that Mrs New
tons brother had furnished money which she
had brought with her from England the year
previous. To rebut this the prosecution brought
over from England Mrs Jones, who testified
that Mrs Newton was poor working girl in
London, and had come to America with money
sent to her for that purpose by Newton
The evidence for the defense was weaker than
had been supposed, and the verdict of the Jury
accords with popular sentiment The counsel
for The defense have made numerous exceptions,
and will no doubt move for new trial