Morris tribune., 1885-01-21
MUTUAL PROTECTION
AS PRODUCED BYA SECRET SOCIETY
IN FLORIDA.
Its Object the Removal" of Obnoxious
Persons-How 1t Operated in Ono
Case-vigilantes on the Track
Of the Gang.

BRAIDEN Town, Fla, Jan. 19.-While G.
T. 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. Bidsll, a few
days ago, two men stepped out of the estab-
lishment, and one of them raised q gun and
fired both barrels at Mr.. Able, and
killed him instantly. Not word had
been spoken, and as Mr.. Moorehouse
turned in horror to see who had perpetrated
the crime he was ordered to walk on or suffer
similar fate. Moorehouse, being unarmed,
obeyed the command. When he had reached
safe distance he looked back and saw the
two men drag the corpse over the beach and
throw it into small boat and row out to .
sloop, that lay in waiting, which took them
in tow and disappeared down the bay. 1t is
reported that the corpse has not yet been
ecovered. ~ s.
1t was Self-evident that several man were
accomplces 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, and the latter was allowed to fur
nish bail
Thursday night the vigilants made an un-
successful attempt to capture Willard. but
paid DR.. Hunter a call, which resulted in his
making the sensational confession that there
had been for some time past secret organ
cation 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 were
Two judges and captain. It was the duty
Of the judges to pronounce sentence and that
Of the captain to see that it was executed
A. B. Bidwell was one of the judges. Charles
E. Able was declared in debate to be pun
ishable, and sentence of death was passed
upon him some time last April, Bidwell at
that time being one of the judges. For GER
tain pO1L1cdl REASONS eAoCuIlOu was ooAoA oo
until after the election. Hunter further
stated that he had attended no meetings since
August at which time both Mr.. Bidwell and
himself had agreed to withdraw from the
organization. During the time he attended,
meetings were held at various places-one
in the woods, others in an old house on the
beach, some at Affords house, Others at
Yonge's ship-yard, one at BfdwelIs store,
and several at BidweIrs warehouse.
Edmund Bacon and Joseph Anderson
were both members of the organization. Bid
we'll has also been arrested, and others are
expected in day or two at furthest.
All of the accused have been prominent
members Of the community, and are sup
posed to be Of irreproachabie character.
Their arrest naturally causes great sensa-
lion in this part of the state. Mr.. Able was
an extremely popular and wen-to-do citizen
1t is limited political reasons are partly re-
sponsible for the assassination.