Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-12
LAW AND sHorGUNs.
Mr.. Pope Has an Adventure Not
Mentioned in Blackstone.

Mentioned in Blackstone.
Frank Pope returned to jacksonville
Tuesday from Waldo, after an adventure
in which he came near losing his life.
The circumstances are as follows:
Three or four weeks ago H. NJ. Tillis, of
waldo, came to Jacksonville and pur-
chased several bills of goods on credit,
amounting to about so, 200. Recently the
merchants from whom he purchased the
goods discovered that he was disposng 0.
them very rapidly, aud, suspectlng
that something was wrong, retainy d
Mr.. Pope to 20 to Waldo and
make an investigation. Mr.. Pope
arrived there last Friday night, ana on
saturday morning he called on Mr.. 1illis,
VINO talked IN reckless manner and did
not seem disposed to talk business at all.
Finally Mr.. Pope insisted on bringing
matters down to a business basis. and
asked Fillis what he proposed to do. The
latter replied that he did not intend to do
anything at that time, but in few days
he would write to all OF his creditors his
indebted ness it was ascertaned being
between $1,000 and $4,000 all todd botn
in Jacksonville and savannah, and offer
10 compromise with them for ten cents
on the dollar, and said IL they did not all
accept that amount none OF them would
get id cent. Mr.. Pope also ascer-
tanned that Tillis had not only disposed
of the goods, but alsO his lands, etc, which
De had converted into cash; also that ne
mad given his two children to relatives,
his wife being dead, and that he was pre-
pairing to leave the state.
After satisfying himself that he could
get no money from him, MIR. Pope bid him
goodbye and lett on the afternoon train
bound toward jacksonville, but instead
OF going there he stopped at Starke, where.
after using the wires pretty freely, he took
the next train for Gainesville. On arrIV-
ing at Gainesville he went to work getting
out attachments, completing this work
a bout l 80 O'Clock Sunday morning. Get
ting up bright and early Monday morning.
ne got the requisite bonds for six OF the
creditors, representing about $4,000, and,
in company with IL. 5. Collins, sheriff of
AlaCnua county, LETT Gainesville and ar
rived at Waldo about noon.
A clew obtained on Saturday led Mr..
Pope to suspect that Mr.. 1Illis mad his
money in a sale, in the building formerly
occupied by him as a store. Proceeding
to the store with the Sheriff they found the
door locked. The keys were demanded of
Mr.. Tillis, who at first denied having
them, but subsequently unlocked the
door. Going into the building, it was
found Genuded Of everything except the
safe and a pair Of platform scales. The
safe and contents were attached and
taken into possession by the Sheriff. who
proceeded TO nave IL removed to the depot
10 take it to Gainesville. In the mean
time Tillis, it appears, was consulting
with his attorney and friends, and while
the safe was In transit to the depot ap-
preached and wanted TO give bond tor the
amount of the attach ment. This was de-
cllned by the Sheriff under advice from
Mr.. Pope, who insisted on ascertaining
the contents of the safe before any bond
was taken.
Al this period Tliis and mis- friends be-
gan to get mad, and swOre that they
would Kill the man VINO moved the safe.
Hillis then proposed to compromise,
which. being declined with an oath, he
turned 70 a bvsiander and told him to go
Tor his -barrelled guns. Soon they
we're brought. Mr.. Tillis took one and mis-
bfOther-in-law the other. and started
toward the Sheriff, who was NOV
ing the safe, threatening him
with death il be didn't desist.
But the pucky little Sheriff did not quail,
but kept on in the discharge OF his duty.
Tins and his brother-in-law raised their
guns, threatening to shoot. The Sheriff
drew his pistol ana told the men who
were moving the safe to move il on.
Just at thfs critical juncture, when
bl0Odshed seemed imminent, MIR. Tills'
bro, her, now in business at Waldo, and
who had been using his influence TO keep
down the difficulty, whispered to Nj.
Pope that IL The safe was taken back 20
its former place be would see that the at
tachlnents were settled. Upon this Mr.
Pope stepped between the cOmbatants,
and told them to stop, as the matter was
settled.
The safe was carried back, and Mr..
Tilhs, as good as his word, settled up sat
left for gainesville.