The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-20
MIZELL FEARED DEATH.
TIE MARSHAL REPEATS THAT He
SUSPECTED A PLOT.

His Report to the Attorney General
Made Public-He Warned Saunders
Not to Go for a Drive, but the Latter
Went in His Absence-The Return
as a Corpse.
WASHINGTON, Feb 19.-The report of
John R. MizeIl, United States marshal of
Florida, in regard to the Saunders case, was
made public to-day. He says that on Feb.
u he received telegram from Deputy
Marshal w. B. Saunders at Pensacola, say
ing that he would leave that night for
Quincy for a prisoner in Jail there, and ask
ing that the marshal send him any help he
might call for while there. The marshal
replied by telegraph that he would leave
jacksonville that night, and meet
Saunders at Quincy. He left Jack
sonville on the 7:3O O'Clock train
on the night of Feb. 12, taking with him
Special Deputy Langford, and they arrived
at Quincy about o'clock the next morning.
He continue 81 went to an hotel and
waited for Saunders, who arrived on the
eastbound train, about 8 O'Clock. After
breakfast sent Saunders and Langford to
make ali arrest about six miles out in the
country and waited at the hotel for their
return. They returned about l o'clock,
having failed to find their man.
M'FARLIN CALLS.
"About 1850 o'clock in the morning
William H. McFarlin of Quincy called at
the hotel to see Saunders. He seemed much
surprised to see me there, but greeted me in
q friendly manner, and walked over to the
court house, where l went to make some
inquiries about the venire for jurors for the
United States court, and left me there At
dinner time he returned, and invited me
and Capt. Allison, who was present, to dine
with him at the hotel. We accepted the
invitation. Soon after dinner McFarlin
invited me to take a drive with him that
evening, but declined. We then left the
hotel and on the street met Saunders
and Langford. McFarlin urged Saunders
to come in and dine with him, but Saunders
replied that he had been to dinner. McFar-
lin then said that he (Saunders) must take a
drive with him. 1 called Saunders away
and took him to his room, where told him
that l had every reason to believe that
there was plot to murder him, and he
must pay no attention to the pretense of
friendship, but let these men alone, and re-
main in his room until l returned, as l was
going out into the country and would be
absent a couple of hours. 1 was absent
about three hours.
SAUNDERS WAS MISSING.
''On my return l went to Saunders
room, but he was gone. l asked Deputy
Langford, who was there, where Saunders
was, and ne said he did not know, but ne
was afraid he had been decoyed away, as
the last he saw of him he was with Nc
Farlin. | went over to the court house and
there found the sheriff of Gadsden county,
who had arranged to accompany Saunders
and his prisoner to Pensacola, and asked
If he knew where Saunders was. He said
ha fol mir ba @
going to take drive into the country and
would be back at o'clock. While we were
talking a man named Mitchell drove up to
the court house with Saunders dead body
in the buggy and turned it over to the
sheriff. Saunders was shot through the
neck, a pistol ball, probably of 4S-caiber,
having entered the left side of the throat,
near the jugular vein, and came out just
back Of the right ear.
MITCHELL ALLOWED TO GO.
"The sheriff asked Mitchell if he killed
Saunders, and he said no. He then asked
him if he knew who did, and he said no.
He would make no further statements. The
body was taken out of the buggy and car
ried into the court house, aud Mitchell
drove off. l learned afterward from a re-
liable source that Saunders was seen driving
out Of town in buggy with Mitchell and
McFarlin. found in Saunders pocket his
pistol, every barrel loaded, and also a card
which McFarln had left at the hotel for
him in the afternoon.
"The prisoner mentioned in Saunders
telegram was colored man who had been
arrested by the sheriff of Gadsden for vio-
lation of the postal laws, and confined in
the Quincy jail. In order to shield both
Saunders and myself as far as possible from
assassination on the street after dark, had
arranged for the sheriff to deliver the
prisoner at the train which left at $40
O'clock, and for the sheriff to accompany
Saunders and the prisoner to PEN
sacoia. | intended to leave the
train at River junction and attempt
to make an arrest there After the murder
Of Saunders l received intimations from
friendly sources that 1 was not safe in
that neighborhood, and it would be well
Tor me to leave as quietly as possible. In
view Of what had occurred and the utter
hopelessness of then accomplishing any
thing at River Junction, took the evening
train for Jacksonville"
Attorney General Miller said to-day that
no steps would be taken in this matter by
the government until after the Presidents