The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-01-24
BANDED ASSASSINS.
MORE ABOUT THAT FLORIDA ASSAs'
sINATiON SOCIETY.
Another Murder kncwn to HhNe Eeea
Committed by the Members-Efiec-
tive Plan Adopted to Keep Vie
TINS from Telling Tales.

BRAIpENrowN, Fla, Jan. "a The murder
of C. E Able, postmaster and United states
land commissioner at Sal asota. ana the SUP
sequent discovery of the existence OF So
ciety organized for the purpose OF removing
by assisination all persons ob]ectIonaoIe u
the organization continues 70 be the relghifi2
sensation in that part of the state. MI bll
well, the storekeeper, it Is reported, MADE
an unsuccessful attempt to commit suicide
by taking morphine. Charles Willard
who fred the shot which killed Aohe,
after eluding his pursuers for almost
two weeks has finally given bIm-
self up, Icing driven to it by hunger
and suffering He was then taken to Flna
Level jail, where he now is. Willard Is
member of one Of the most influential FAM
lies in the state being brother Of \. t.
Willard, proprietor of the Suwanee house,
Cedar Keys Ii is now known that the muf-
der of a respectable citizen named Riley, OF
Bee Ridge, some six months ago was also
the work Of the assassination society
Riley was condemned to death, and fouI
men were appointed to do the work. He
was shot while riding along the road He
was then dragged from his horse and his
indicate who committed the murder except
thatit was shown that thsre was two assassins
Two roads led from the postotiice to Riley's
house, on one of which was stationed Tom
Drymon and Louis Cato, and on the other
DR.. Hunter and Joe Anderson. Riley tool
the road ON which Drymon and Cato were
stationed, and when their victim approached
they did their work thoroughly, Drymon
shooting him and Cato cutting his throat.
In like manner did Willard and a CON
federate watch for NJ. Able, and it is sup
posed that his throat was also cut after he
was shot, as great clots of blood were found
where he fell
1t is now known that the sacietys pre-
| scribed manner Of death was three loads of
buckshot fired into the victim, and, TO make
| assurance doubly sure, their threats were t.
be cut Persons never u~Iectei have been
found to belong to the gang. Old men
| with gray boards, men i'll their prime
and beardlesS boys have been banded
| together in this fearful organization
| known by the cabalistic initials IS. s
V. c." which, being interpreted, means
Sarasota Vigilance Committee DR..
| Hunters confession has been supplemented
by those of Ed Bacon and Joe Anderson, who
| have revealed more of the secrets of the
gang. Dr. Andrew is shown to have been
| the ringleader. He claimed to his asso
ciateS that he belonged to 8
| similar association out west, where
mercy was shown 70 none, even women
and children having been sacrificed when hus
bands and fathers could be reached no other
way. He approached Mr.. Bidwell and, tina
| gentleman approving, they formed the NJ
| cleus of what seems now 10 be powerful or
ganization spreading to many parts of tht
state. Andrews and Bidwell were ap
pointed judges, and Afford, of Sarasota
| captain. The manner in which they ap
| preached all the members Is not known, bu
the stories Of the two-Dr. Hunter anl
George Tyler-agrae in every particular a.
far as this is concerned. 1t is intimateI tia
the organization has chapters in other place
in the state, and that its members are mel
of good standing. Eight men have been an
rest and are in Manatee jail They ar
DR.. Hunter Mr Bartholomew. JOIN
Fletcher, James Fletcher. Thomas prymon
Louis Cato, John Tppit ami Dr.. Andrew.