Milford chronicle., 1885-01-30
AhkEGRb AssAsslNs.
Horrible stories Of a Murder Society
said 70 Exist in Florida.

The discovery Of the existence at Sarasota, fiai
Of an organized assassination society was iol-
lowed at the examination BY sensational deFel-
opments. The discovery Of the society was IN
cident to the murder OF G. Il. AbOe, fost-
master and United States Land Commissioner.
As he was passing A. @. Bidwelfs store
In eompanv with a friend named Moore
house two men stepped from behind the
building, one Of whom shot Able dead without
warning and ordered Moorehouse to walk on or
share a similar fate. Moorehouse saw the
corpse dragged across the beach, placed IN
boat and carried down the bay. since that
time il has not been seen. MOorehouse is SAID
to have recognized the man who fired the shot
as Charles Willard. Subsequent discoveries
led TO the arrest Of eight men, several OF whom
are said TO have confessed TO their connection
with the assassination society, and descrlbeu
its workings
the cabalistic letters standing for Sara Sofa
Vigilance Committee. Its object was the re-
m0val by death Of all persons Objectionable to
its members Meetings were held, but no sue
cessive TWO sessions at the same place. It's
officers consisted Of two judges and cap
tain the former pronounclng sentence ana
the latter attending TO the details OF its
execution A physician is said to have found
ed the organization. After becoming ac-
Quainted in the town after his arrival three
or four Years ago, he is said to have hrst
taken Bidwell into his confidence, telling him
that be had belonged to q similar organization
In the West where mercy was shown TO
none. even women aud children having been
sacrificed when husbands and fathers could
be reached in no other way. Bidwell is said
to have eventually acquiesced in the doctors
proposition and the membership Of the or
ganization at Sara Sofa issaid to have grown
to lS or 90 It is also alleged that chapters OF 1t
exist in other places, but none Of the prisoners
have as vet confessed where. 1t has been as
serted however. that branch exists at
Tampa. and that a physician is one Of its Off
GERS. Persons considered above suspicion, are
said TO have been found TO belong 10 the gang.
When mans membership was desired he was
led to believe that the organization was siml-
lar in character to Masonic societies, Once in,
BETRAYAL on withdrawal Is said to have meant
death. How many have fallen victims to the
organizations vengeance is unknown.
1t is said TO have been confessed, however,
that in addition to Able a respectable citizen
Of Beeridge, named Riley, was one Of the vic
TINS At a meeting he was pronounced
worthy of punishment. Sentence Of death
was pronounced upon him and four men were
appointed TO kill him. This occurred SIX
months ago. and others are said to have shared
a similar fate Riley was shot while riding
along the road, dragged from his horse and
his throat cut Beyond the fact that two men
were implicated in the crime the authorities
could learn nothing concerning It. Two rOads
led from the post office to Rileys house. Louis
Cato and Thomas Dryman were said to have
been concealed on one Of them and Joseph
Anderson and DR.. Hunter on the other Riley,
as the yarn goes, took the Cato-Dryman road
and persisted as already mentioned.
1t is now supposed that Abbes throat was
cut after he was shot as one Of the prisoners
is said to have confessed that the mode Of
death prescribed by the society's constitution
called for three charges Of buckshot and the
cutting of the victims throat to make death
beyond doubt The eight men said to be
:, MIR lrest are DR.. Hunter, Mr.. Bartholomew,
Tobn a - James Fletcher, Thomas Dryman,
Louis CATS John Iippit and Dr. Andrew;
Rev Mr.. Lows. it is rumored, was sentenced
n he vrbipped ohNaccount of a misunders.and-
ing between him and his step-son, bat the SEN
te8ce was eventually >[econsideFed. The al
legged high standing Of the societys members
makes the disclosures all the more astounding.