The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-08

and w eStern railroad at Marion was de-
stroyed by fire on Friday night last There
was not a large amount Of freight on hand.
Lemuel Morgan, acting agent and deputy
postmaster, had moved the postoffice into the
depot building for convenience. All the
mail matter and supplies of the Office were
lost There is no positive proof that the
place was robbed and fired, but there are
strong suspicious, as one or two articles
that were known to be in the warehouse,
and which would not melt, have not been
found in the debris.
Conrad Wellmann, residing about one
mile west of Bronson called at the Gaines
vile Advocate Office Wednesday, bringing
with him a specimen of the German black
berry which he is now producing on his
farm. They are beauties, large sized and
finely favored. He has now about 1900
plants in bearing. They are set in rows 81
by z feet apart, are easily worked, and do
not require half the attention necessary to
grow and gather Strawberries. They are
much sweeter than the wild berry and can
be made into wine at much less expense.
Mr.. Wellmann proposes the coming fall to
plant ten acres in this fruit. He has given
them sufficient test to render certain the
fact that they can be produced at moderate
expense in enormous quantities. 1t is
probable that the German blackberry will
in a few years become an important factor
in the fruit-growing interest of Florida,
and will be a safe and profitable crop TO
produce.
The Orlando Record has the following
account. which is fuller than that tele-
graphed the News: The feud which has for
some time existed between the two political
factions in Volusia county, resulted yester-
day in the killing of one Of the principals
in the controversy which has been going on
between James H. Benjamin, editor Of the
DeLand NetUs, and J. Wade Douglass, one
of the democratic politicians Of Daytona.
The Immediate cause which led up to the
killing was the publication in Beujamin's
paper of articles rejecting upon the char
acter of Douglass, and the teud has grown
until it has drawn many others into it,
and has assumed the character
of factional fight. The circumstances of
the killing, as related by citizen of Or
lando who was an eyewitness to the affair,
are about as follows: Yesterday afternoon,
at about 4 o'clock, just after the arrival of
the boat at the dock at New Smyrna, bear
ing the delegates and visit
ors to the port convention to
be held there, Douglass, who was walking
Benjamin, who had just landed from the
boat, and deliberately knocked him over
the side of the dock into the water, which
was only about two feet deep. He Doug
LASS then sprang into the water on
top of Benjamin and firmly held
the latter's head and body down
with his right hand, while he dealt him
heavy blows with his left fist. The strug-
gle in the water continued for perhaps
minute or two, when Benjamin, who had
up to this time made no apparent resist
ance, drew his pistol from his pocket, and
without taking it out Of the water, dis
charged its contents into the body of
Douglass, striking him in the left side and
killing him almost instantly. Douglass, as
soon as the shot was fired, gave one long,
appealing look at the bystanders on the
wharf and cried out, HE has shot me, he
has shot me, he has shot me-" when his
head fell heavily forward and his body
dropped with a dull thud into the
water, life being apparently extinct
in moment after the shot was fired.
Benjamin then dragged himself from
the water, and, drawing his pistol from his
pocket, sat down upon the wharf stolidly
waiting to surrender himself to the officer
of the law, who at once took him
into custody. 1t is said that after Benja-
min came from the water some friend of
Douglass drew a..knife and was about avenge
the killing when Benjamin drew another pis-
tol and placed himself in an attitude Of de-
tense, successfully keeping the would be
avenger at bay. The general impression
seems to be that the shooting was clearly
an act of self-defense. The affair has caused
intese excitement in the neighborhood, and
it is expected that the trial of BENJAMIN will
create some startling developments, and
will be of the most sensational character.
The verdict of the coroner's jury was that
he came to his death at the hands of J. H.
Benjamin. A preliminary examination
was held Thursday morning, before Justice
Finnegan, land Benjamin was bound over for
murder.
Orlando Record: Wednesday night
about IL o'clock dispatch was received by
the night operator at the South Florida
depot in this city stating that the negroes
of Sanford were threatening to release the
prisoner, Bill James, who was in custody
at that place as connected with the murder
of Deputy Sheriff Taylor, If they had to
kill every white mau in Sanford to do it.
The dipatch asked that Orlando send every
man who could muster a gun, and to bring
plenty Of ammunition. City Marshal
Bennett was notified, and he at
once aroused Lieut. t. s. Coart, Of the
Shine Guards, who proceeded to recruit
as many Of his company as were available.
A little later the fire bell was rang and the
citizens about town generally aroused. By
the time the north-bound midnight express
arrived considerable crowd had congre-
gated about the depot, and between seventy
five and 100 men, all armed, boarded the
train, where they found like delegation
from Kissimmee The Guards numbered
sixteen men. Just as the train was starting
another telegram was received from Deputy
Sheriff Pickett stating that everything
was quiet and no aid was needed, but
the train pulled out with the crowd on
board. Upon arrival at Sanford every
thing was quiet and few negroes could be
seen about town The only noise or dis
turbance that occurred was occasioned by
the boys shooting their pistols in the air,
which shots were said to have been re-
sponded to by somebody in a different
section of the town. The Guards remained
in the neighborhood of the depot at San
ford all night long. Thursday morning the
prisoner. Bill James, was taken from the
city jail in Sanford, conducted to the
railroad station, put aboard the first
south bound train and brought to
this city, the Guards and
volunteers returning at the same time.
Upon the arrival of the train in this city q
large crowd gathered at the depot The
prisoner stepped off and, having been hand
cuffed, was marched to the county jail.
Constable Phil Bewan walked before him,
while Deputy Sheriff Pickett and Marshal
Bennett guarded him in the rear, supported
by a corps of the Shine Guards. Upon ar
rival at the Jail James was conducted by
the officers into the corridor of the building.
Deputy Sheriff Pickett unlocked the inner
door opening into the prison and said