The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-14
A SLANDER ON FLORIDA,
MIzELL RUNS UP THE BLOODY
SHIRT IN THE STATE,

United States Troops-Federal Dep
ties Pictured as Powerless and IN
worthy of Confidence.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.-On Feb. 4 the
Senate adopted a resolution offered by Sena-
tor Call calling upon the Attorney General
for detailed statement Of the expenses in
connection with the operation of the cir
cult court of the Northern district of Flor
ida. in the months of November and Decem-
Der, 1889, and copies of all communications
between the department of justice and the
officers of the court at the same time, so far
as may be compatible with the interests of
the administration of justice. This after
noon Vice President Morton laid before the
Senate Attorney General Millers response.
First is a letter from a. C. Mat
thews, first controller, giving the
amount of the expenses asked
for as nearly as may be ascertaine d at
present. The accounts of the attorney,
clerk. and marshal for fees are not yet
settled, and besides, the marshal's claims Oh
account of witnesses and jurors are for both
the circnit and district courts. The total
amount shown by the letter of the first con-
troller. is $l9,55S.
MADISON CoUNTY's SENSATION
The communications between officials of
The court and the department in the months
of November and December, relate mostly to
the conditions of affairs in Madison county,
John r. Mizell, United States marshal. re-
ports that it is impossible to enforce any
process of the United States court in con-
nection with election cases. A posse of
sixteen under the instructions of the at
torney was sent into the county, but it ac-
complished nothing.
A PRISONER RESCUED IN GADsDEN.
Later prisoner charged with political
offense was rescued by a mob in Gadsden,
and in another case an undisguised mob
prevented an arrest and the deputies were
forced from the county. In ans yer to the
attorney generals order to enforce by posse
warrants, and processes of the courts
Marshal Mizell telegraphed that it is i'm
possible to organiZs a sufficient posse to go
to Madison county, for the following rea-
sons:
The class of men that could be employed
for such work would be totally unreliable.
2. No reliable persons familiar with the
country wish TO make themselves a target
Tor future assassination.
.. No supply, slelter aid, or comfort would
be given to men or animals.
PICTURED AS TERRoRIZED.
j. n. STRIPPING, district attorney, in
letter to the Attorney General, dated Nov.
3 says that the combination in Madison
county is so formidable that it has sue
ceeded in terrorizing aud intimidating the
whole population of the county. so that it is
next to an imposslbility to obtain any in
formation as to the identity, or where
abouts of the parties for whom warrants
located there to inspire the peo-
PIE with confidence that the gov
ernment really intended to arrest
these parties, information as to their iden-
tity and whereabouts could be readily OBJ
tained from residents; but the impression
generally prevails. and it is justified bv
past experiences q mean in former years.
that the government intends to do nothing
further than to send few deputies there,
whose departure from this place jackson
ville) is duly heralded, who go through the
formalty of calling at the places of resi-
dence OF the parties wanted, and finding
no one, retire from the community to leave
informers, if any, at the mercy of the out
laws
THE MURDER OF BIRD.
The brutal manner in which John Bird
was murdered has 80 compile ely terrorized
witnesses that they are about as hard to
find as the criminals, and the delay in send
ing an adequate force to remain there
until something can be accomplished
is daily diminishing the opportunities
to make arrests and emboldens the
outlaws in a policy of murder and
intimidation. ''rhe impression pre-
walls generally throughout the state
that it will require bloodshed to accomplish
anything in Madison; and this renders it
difficult for the marshal to muster a force
Of reliable men to go there. In addition to
this. the failure Of the government to ac-
complish anything in Madison has induced
law breakers in other counties to
adopt the some tactics. A few days
ago Judge Swayne and | were visited by a
delegation:from Alachua county, headed by
j. V. Shipman, who was our candidate for
governor at the last election and implored
to cease any further prosecutions in that
county. They were moved to this cause by
the fact that mob had the night before
called d. o. Barnes, a prominent republi-
can, out of his home and notified him that
if the prosecution of individuals was con-
tinued he would be murdered, and by the
further fact, that they did not think the
government meant to do any
thing more than had been done in
former years. Under the circumstances, L
would consider it advisable hesitation a mil
itary company in Madison and in addition
thereto offer large reward for the arrest
of Eugene E. West, Rufus D. McNair,
Charles B. McNair, Angus ID. Stanton and
William H. Goodbread These are the
ringleaders. If you do not think it advisa-
bic to station military there, you should, In
my opinion, furnish the marshal with
means and instruct him to send mounted
force there to stay until they have captured
at least a few Of the criminals"
ALACHUA'S REGISTRATION SUPERVISOR.
In another letter, dated Nov. 49, District
Attorney STRIPPING informs the Attorney
General that s. G. Saddler, supervisor OF
the registration Of electors of Alachua coun-
ty, had pleaded guilty to two indictments
charging him with refusal to register per-
sons entitled to registration. His violations
Of the law, the district attorney says, were
very fragrant, but in view of his confession
OF guilt and the promises Of himself and
friends that there shall be no repetition
OF the offense, some prominent republicans,
District Attorney STRIPPING says, impor-
tuned him not to press the judgment against
Saddler until December, 1890, the latter In
the meantime to be released on $1,000 ball.
The purpose of this, the district attorney
says, is ultimately to have judgment finally
suspended. He recommends that the ar
rangement be carried out.
Under date Of Nov. 26, Philip Walter,
chief supervisor of registration, reports the
lac6 OF Saddleg's plea of guilty to the At
toruey General and adds: 81 merely send
you these dndictments) to show you the
state of affairs in this state, and 1 can
assure you l put it mild when inform
you that over 10000 republican votes were