The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-01-19
MUTUAL PROTECTION
AS PRODUCED BYA SECRET SOCIETY
IN FLORIDA.
Its Object the Renewal" of 0bnoxiout
persons-How 1t Operated in One
Case-V igilantes on the Track
of the Gang.

BRAIDEN Town, Fla, Jan. l9.-While c.
Z. Able, postmaster and United States land
commissioner at Sarasota, not far from this
village, in company with Mr.. MoorehouSe,
was passing the store Of A. B. Bidell, a few
days ago, two men stepped out of the estab-
lisament and one of them raised a gun and
fired both barrels at Mr. Able, and
killed him Instantly. Not word had
been spoken, and as Mr.. Moorehouse
turnsl In horror TO SEQ who had perpetrated
the crime he was ordered to walk On or suffer
a similar fate MoorehouSe, being unarmed,
obevel the command. When he hal reached
a safe distance ne looked back and saw the
two men drag the corpse over the beach and
throw it into small boat and row out to a
sl9op, that lay in waiting, which took them
in tow and disappeared down the bay. 1t is
reported that the corpse has not yet been
recovered.
1t was self-evident that several men were
Gccomplices to the crime Mr. Moorehouse
said that Charles Willard was the man who
did the shooting An indignation meeting
Of citizens was followed by the organization
of posse of mounted men, who at night
arrested four men suspected of completely in
the crime, one Of whom was believed to be
from the mysterious sloop. Willard
escaped the vigilantes by fleeing from
his house by back door in a semi-nude
condition, and gained the underbrush. AT
the preliminary examination the evidence
was deemed insufficient to hold the prisoners,
and they were discharged, each being fur.
niShed strong guard to protect them from
an expected attempt at lynching. New de-
velopments however, resulted in the rearrest
of Edmund Bacon. Joseph Anderson and DR..
Hunter, ami the latter was allowed to fur.
nish bail
Thursday night the vigilauts male an I'm,
successful attempt TO capture Willard. but
paid Dr. Hunter call, which resulted in his
making the sensational confession that there
had been for some time past a secret organ
ization at Sarasota having eighteen or
twenty members, the object of which was
mutual protection and the punishment OF
those whom the law could not reach-ir
other words, the removal of all obnoxious
persons. The prominent officers wert
two judges and a captain. 1t was the duty
of the judges to pronounce sentence and thai
Of the captain to see that it was executed
a. B Bidweu was one of the judges. Charlie!
iShable, and sentence of death was passed
upon him some time last April, Bidwell a
that time being one Of the judges. For Ger
tain political reasons execution was deferred
until after the election. Hunter further
stated that he bad attended no meetings since
August at which time both Mr. Bidweil anC
himself had agreed to withdraw from The
organization During the time he ATTENDED,
NEE tings were held at various places-onI
in the woods others in an old house on the
beach, soma at Affords house, others at
Yonges ship-yard, one at BidwelIs store
and several at Bidwell's warehouse.
Edmund Bacon and Joseph Anderson
were both members of the organization. Bid
well has also been arrested, and Others are
expected in a day or two at furthest
Al Of the accused have been prominent
members Of the community, and are sup
posed to lie of irreproachabls character
Their arrest naturally causes a great sansa
ton in this part of the state. Mr. Able was
an extremely popular and well-to-do citizen
1t is limited political reasons are partly re
splnsible for the assassination.