The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-08-20
FRANK WELLER KILLED.
Shot Down While Attempting to
Arrest an Alleged MoOnshiner.

MENTs OF THE TRAGEDY--THE REMAINS BROUGHT
TO TALLAHASSEE FOR INTERMENT--THE ENTIRE
COMMUNITY GREATLY SHOCKED.
A telegram received by Sheriff Pearce Thurs
day morning aroused our little city to the fever
heat Of excitement, and was severe shock 1t
was from Deputy United States Marshal w. B.
Saunders, and announced that Deputy Internal
Revenue Collector Frank Weller had been shot
and killed the night before, and that he was
bringing the remains to Tallahassee on the east
bound morning train. No particulars were given,
but nearly every surmised the real cause,
knowing that he had left Tallahassee Tuesday
afternoon dangerous business. large num-
Der of citizens assembled at the depot to meet
the remains, all anxious to learn the full partic-
ulars of the tragedy for Frank Weller was one
of Tallahassee's most popular young men.
The remains of Mr. Weller, accompanied by
w. B. Saunders. arrived in Tallahassee at s45
Thursday morning and shortly afterward Gov
ernor Fleming issued proclamation Offering
reward of two hundred and fifty dollars for the
apprehension and arrest Of his murderer
There are different and conflicting reports of
the details of the killing.
SAUNDEHS ACCOUNT OF II.
A FLoRIDIAN reporter saw Deputy Marshal
Saunders during the morning and learned from
him that Mr. Weller had wired from Westville
to United States Commissioner HUMPHREYS at
Pensacola, requesting that he issue warrant
for the arrest of one John NJ Brownell for illicit
dstilng and send two deputies to aid him IN
making the arrest The papers were placed in
no han do of hoo md
vim met Weller at Westville. These three and
Deputy Sheriff Dan Mcleod, of Holmes county,
secured wagon and went out to the house of
Brownell, five miles north of Wesville to
make the arrest. They reached there about
Midnight Wednesday and htched their horses
some distance from the house, going the balance
of the way on foot. Saunders says they fou d
the door of Brownell's house open and that he
called to Brow nell and told him that he was an
officer Of the United States and had warrant
for his arrest. Receiving no answer he and Tur-
vim entered the house, leaving Weller and Nc
Leod Cd the outside. 1t was dark in the house
but outside the moon was shining brightly. As
he cautiously walked across the floor Saunders
says that he stumbled over a pallet and in the
I'm light SAW IA nude woman reclining upon it,
He stepped one side, appogized and called to
Brownell to get up and he replied all right"
at the same time leaping out OF bed and through
a window, Saunders catching Il glimpse of the
but OF gun in his hand he disappeared.
Saunders and Turvin started toward The door
and heard Weller say halt" then came two
gun shots in quick succession. They rushed
outside and Weller lying upon the
ground and Brownell running way.
Saunders he emped his pistol at
the flying figure and thinks he hit him. The
woman then came out and blew several loud
blasts on q horn, after which she cursed and
abused them in terribly protane language Nc
LeOd was nowhere TO be seen and Saunders and
Turvin picked up the body and started toward
the wagon with it. In very few minutes after
the blowing of the horn seven or eight armed
men came up and Saunders SAYS that it was
only by strategy and persuasion that they sue
ceeded in getting away with the body. The
charge had struck Weller in the face, just above
the lett eye, and he was instantly killed. life being
extinct when Saunders and Turvin reached his
body
A SPECIAL FROM WESTvILLE
To the Pensacola News dated Thursday, gives
different account of the details. 1t says:
Deputy United States Marshals Saunders, Nc
Lean, Turvn and Mcleod, accompanied by
Frank Weller, deputy revenue collector, lett
Westville at $50 o'clock last night and returned
after midnight, the last-mcntloned n corpse
They had gone 10 the house OF John Brownell
distant 4 few miles, to arrest him on n charge of
illicit distilling. Saunders and Turvin entered
the house and found their man asleep in bel.
They reused him and told him he was wanted
outside. BrOwnell arose and walked OUT ON the
gallery, when he detected the presence of other
men, He dashed back into the house and made
break out at another door. There he was
confronted by Weller, who fired his pistol.
wounding Brownel in the shoulder. The latter
then returned the fire, his bullet taking effect 10
Welers head Weller died on the instant. and
Br0wnell escaped.
This morning Sheriff Brown went 10 Brow
nells house and BrOwnell surrendered To him.
saying that he did not know W hat he was doing
when he fired the fatal shot He said he had
been reused from his slumbers ut night by a mob
OF men who did not explain their business with
him. He thought they intended to murder him
and he ran To save his life Then he was shot
and he, so badly scared that he did not grasp
the situation fired in return If he had
known they were officers he would not have re-
sisted.
Officers Mcleod and Turvin say they are con-
hdent that Brownell resisted under q misappre.
hensiOn as 10 the real condition of affairs He
was not told the nature OF their mission 10 his
house.
Brownell is looked upon here az a peaceable
and law abiding citizen. Public sentiment il
against the officers for the bungling which re-
suited in the death of good man and the prob
able ruin OF two happy families.