New-York tribune., 1885-02-05
4 POLITICAL ASSASSINATION.
POSTMASTER ABBE KILLED BECAUSE HE WAS
REPUBLICAN.


The numerous friends at the North OF Charles
T. Abbe Postmaster and United States Land Comihls
soror o Sarasota Fla who was assassinated by an or
ranized band of Southern Democrats account OF MS
political opinions about n month ago. arc sun ihuch Ca
cited about the arOcious crime. Mr. ADDe Is
spoken of as Christian gentleman, educated ana pehe'
olent. whose only offence to those who mnr-
dered him was that he was an ardent
and outspoken Republican Ie had written ana ooiic
much in behalf of the State which he had taken up MS
abode and deserved the gratitude OF those among "o
he lived There is not a mitigating circumstance con-
nected with the cowardly attack that resulted III HIS
death.
Go was shot down in cold blood and given not the
slightest chance to defend himself Accompanied by
friend named Moorehouse he was passing the
store of A. B. Bidwel in Sarasota, when sud
denly two men stepped out from pehihu
IL and one Of them, taking deliberate
aim at him with a shot gum discharged both DarIeis
killing him instantly Mr. Moorehouse was ordered 10
move on without stopping he would meet the same
fate He did 20 but looking back the murGerers cut
Mr. Abbes throat from ear to ear and then drag tue
body along the beach rowbOat In which they car
red it to sloop that waiting in the harbor which
towed the small boat down the bay. IL Is sup
posed that the corpse was thrown overheard 10 pa Tue
sharks that abound thereahout.
Mr. Abbo's friend recognized Charles Willard
as the man who did the shooting An effort
was made by sherifs posse TO arrest
willard at night but he heard Of their coming and
taking refuge the underbrush in his night clothes,
escaped Three other were arrested but we're dis.
charged for want OF sufficient evidence against
them. Three other men named Edmund Bacon,
Joseph Anderson and Or. Hunter Unit u,H,rp wfre
was released on ball. and subsequently confessed that
there ha xisied Sarasota for some time secret or
ganization eighteen twenty members whose object
was "mntual protection and the punishment OF those
wmo Ho o. a pSr!cns lie said two judges
and a captain the officers of this band The duty
Of the judges was to pronounce teaehSe anu ,n"
one OF the judges A. B. Bidwel In front OF whose
debating the ease OF Abbe it resolved to remove
him. and sentence OF dcata pronounced on him In
Of Cleveland it was decided defer the execution OF the
sentence until after the election The assasslns hel
an an m Qua ou 81 r named AlfonI others at Youoge's
warehouse Dr Hunter said that Bacon and Andofson %
not attended any meetings since August last. when ne
ana Bidwe had agreed 20 withdraw from membership
are regarded as persons Of "hiEh stand
ing" n the community IT, Iao MSn9nHksG' 1sG
knew Mr. Abbe Intimately speaks % MN IN We highest
terms. He said to TEihrNE reporter: " lie lie was q
scholar and man who would bless those VINO Ici-r-
cuted him. had the pleasure Of several years ne
qualnlance win nm, ana ne ana MS VIC & kiSc" ny ~,
being Postmaster. United states Land Commissioner
and Republican The very earth OF Florida amt every tree
aud running brook shond ery out Tor justice ana tha me
atrociy should be avenged or months OF each year and
for years he has spent MS tine hud money cAlb-
ing the products OF Florida through state and sister
States. and encouraging Immigration TO ms enciglcsls
largely OF the country IN which he was
cruelty assassinaed l trust the people will not lose
sight Of this matter until the band OF nurderers rbi
have received the punishment they deserve, though
DO not believe they be convicted aud punished
where the murder was committcdE Esome Northern
friends OF Mr. Abbe visited lin not long and ms
there hotel In Sarasota lac entertained them at
his house. For this he was arrested on charge OF keep
ing a hotel without license. When the Sheriff
about to conduct him to jail word was received that men
were waiting kill the prisoner at point where two
| M
route"