The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-07-29
Jacksonville Times Union.l
E'OPE'S BUBBLE RDRHGKED.
Leading Republican. will Not sup
port Him.

CAector Elgan Rrcit,rs ,Popt's Rtc0rd-IntpreM
ing Episodrs IF q fnndidntes Past Litr Mr.
Chfney's Iie'rs7 The (oLored Toters
The attitude. Of Republican leaders in the State
| toward the called Independent movement and
the candidacy Of Mr. F. w. Pope having become
IL matter ot considerable interest, IA reporter of
the Times Num- was Yesterday given list of
names ot gentlemen To be interviewed upon this
subject
The reporter called first upon Hon. Dennis
Eagan without doubt one of the foremost Re
rnhhcan leaders of the State To him the re-
pnrirr said:
Mr.. Eagan, have you any objection to stating
nI publication your position towards the Inde-
lrn,lrni movement and the candidac, of MIR
Pnp"?"
9" have moi" replied Mr.. Eagan, adding by
.Nav nl emphasis - none whatever"
The reporter took II char prntfered him and
Hr. Eagtn cnntlnuri
II Am oppos..r the Independent ticket, be
tat>r | could not cOnScentOIsly vote iur PolA
under any circumstances, ami cannot See how
any Republican can do without stultitying
himself"
"Whv :" inquired the reporter.
Because Mr.. Pope has mnde u record for
himself which man Republican can en-
lotsc."
" Bal HE local Independent paper the F1OrMn
,Journni SAYS that Mr. Pope is a Christian gen
l.man, suggested the scheming pencil pusher
Mr.. Eagan replied:
a do not know what the JournaFs standard
may he either for "A Christian or gentleman, but
il that sentiment is fair indication, then it is
certainly different from mine. judge man by
his acis, and, in my opinion, Mr.. Pope's record
moi such rs should entitle him to the character
.he JournM would give him"
What is Mr.. Pope's record far as you
know il ,?
" h.c.me a citizeu nf Mad,son nountv re
pied Mr. Eagan in 1868 A year or two prior
| to that Pope, then a very young man. had found
il advisable to flee the country in order to escape
| The consequences OF youthful indiscretiOn-
shooting his school teacher, l believe. He re-
| turned after Diews election during the winter
| oI 1867 In 1873 he took prominent part in
| The election of thai year as Democratic leader,
| and particularly distinguished for his bitter
and INSCRIPTIONS parilsanship. AT that cleo
| ton the most outrageous frauds were committed
| hy ihc Democrats Tissue ballots were used
and The returns talsitied, in consequence of which
the returns were thrown out by the Stale Can
| vassing Bn,id and the Republican Senator and
| members nf the Assembly, who were legally
rl,-rd, did not secure their seats in the LegislA-
| ure until near the end of the sessiOn-ater Bis
h.c, wh" had also been counted out through
| frauds in this county, had, through the courts,
| compelled q new trial
| AT the election of 1880 Pope was again an
| ,clI,. Democratic leader, and the same frauds
were rrI"'ated. Pope and other Democrats being
| prrs..n, Al the polls armed with rifles. Pope aud
"A number oi Others in Madison county were in
| ,u,cd IN the United States Court for completely
in Ihc~.. frauds. The principal witnesses against
| Them were Savage and James, aud after the
| murder al these witnesses the government was
| obliged To abandon the prosecution. II wa
| these frauds which led to the killing OF Frank
| Patterson, who was partner nf Frank Pope s
| to the murder nf Savage and James, and the
l 4 vii fNf hnn6PAAC nf NnOFp0
| people ol Madison county
Pope was Mayor Of Madison tor some time,
continued Mr.. Etgan, and used his position "a
persecuie Republicans and to protect his lawless
associates. A. sample, take the case OF Gus
Crosby Crosby was one Of the most promising
Young cooIrd men in the county; was AN in
spector AT one OF the polls in Madison in 1890
and was summoned ~ u witness before the Uni
ted States grand jury at Jacksonville. On his
return to Madison he was assaulted on the street
by a man named FORESTER one OF POpe's assO
ciates, and shot through the shoulder Both
were arrested and taken before Pope, as Mayor
| who fined Forester. who did the shooting, %
and Crosby, who got shot, $50 and costs. Crosby
| WAS forced to leave the county and is now il
this city, cripple for life While the Republi
| cans of the State were raising money for the de
fence oi Savage and James, Pope volunteered
his services to prosecute them. and made Tho
most violent speeches during the trial at Jasper
calculated TO nciie the mob TO violence in cas-
the prisoners should be acquitted
"fn 1882 Pope, in view ot his services to thu
party, claimed the Democratic nomination TO th'
State Senate. Theodore Willard was his oppO
neu,. and after the primary elections had beer
held Pope found that Willard would secure thu
nomination. He thereupon wrote q letter ad
dressed 10 himself but purportlng to come from
others. asking him TO become an Independen
candidate, TO which he proceeded to give hi
consent He then went 70 the Republicans O
the county and said in substance: You hav
been counted out in the past and will be thi
time unless you endorse me- Under this thfea
the Republicans agreed 70 take One place On th
ticket and support Pope"
"How do you regard the Independent plai
formf'
THAT ia as objectionable a. the candidate, 8
far as the Republican party 10 concerned. ! al
) not prepared to place brand upon myself an
) marty 6y endorsing what the platform untruth
fnlly asserts when It declares that, the Republ
can rnle Of eight years In this State was incou
petent and corrupt"