Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-20
HE MURDERED MARSHAL.
The Report In the Case Sent to tho Aitor-
ney-Gcneral.
TBy Telegraph 70 mo Dispatch.i

fBy telegraph 70 mo Dlspntcn-l
WAsHNGToN. February 19.-The report
Of John Il. Missell, United States marshal
of Florida, in regard 10 the Saunders case,
was made public to-day. he says that on
the 10Th instant be received telegram
from Deputv-Marshal W. b. Saunders at
Pensacola. saying that he would leave that
nicht for Quincy for a prisoner IN JAIL
there. and asking that the Marshal send
him any help he might call for while there.
He also replied by wire that he would leave
Jacksonville that night and meet Saunders
at Quincy. he left Jacksonville on the
1880 o'clock train on the night OF the l2th.
taking with him Spccial-Deputy Langford,
and they arrived Mt Quincy about O'Clock
next morning. He continues:
| went to the hotel and waited for Saun-
ders. who arrived on the east-bound train
about 8 o'clock. After breakfast l sent
Saunders and LangfOrd to make an arrest
about six miles out IN the country ana
waited at the hotel for their return. They
returned abont o'clock having failed 10
find their man. About 1880 O'Clock 4. III.
William H. McFarlin, Of Quincy. called at
the hotel 10 see Saunders. He seemed much
surprised 10 fluid me there, tut greeted me
in a friendly manner and walked over TO the
courthouse. where | went TO make
some inquiry about yenire for
jurors for the United States Court.
At dinner-time he returned and IN
vlted me and Captain Allison. VINO was
nresent. TO dine with him at the hotel. We
accented the invitation. Soon after din
ner McFarlin invited me 10 take drlye
with him that evening. but declined We
then left the hotel, and on the street met
Saunders and Langt0rd. McFarlln urged
Saunders 20 come n and dine with him,
hut Saunders replied that he had been to
dinner. McFarlin then said that he
lSaunders) must take drive with him.
called Saunders away and took him to his
room. where / told him that | had every
reason to believe that there was plot 10
murder him, and that he must paw no at
tention TO the pretence of friendship, but
let these men alone and remain III his
room until / returned. rs was
going out into the country and would be
absent a couple Of hours, and was absent
about three hours. On my return went
10 Saunders's rOOm but he was gone. l
asked Deputy Langford, who was there,
where Sauaders was, and he said he did not
know. but he was afraid he had been de-
coved away, "a the last he saw OF HIM he
was with McFarlin. / went over to the
courthouse and there found the Sheriff Of
Gadsden county, who had arranged 20 &C
company Saunders and his prisoner to PEN
sacoia. and asked if lac knew where Saun-
ders was. He said he did not know /;
that Saunders told him he was
going to take drive into the country and
would be back az o'clock. While we were
talking man named Mitchell drove up 10
the courthouse with Saunders's dead body
In a buggy and turned the body over TO the
sheriff. Saunders was shot through the
neck, the pistOl-ball probably forty-eight-
calibre) having entered the left side OF the
throat near the lugular-vein and come out
lust back of the right ear. 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. ewould make no
further statements. The BODY was taken
out of the buggy and carried into the
courthouse and Mitchell drove of. |
learned afterwards from reliable source
that Saunders was seen driving out or
town in buggy with Mitchell and Nc
Farliu. | found in Saunders's pocket his
pistol, every barrel loaded, and also a card
which Mctarlin had left at the hotel for
him in the afternoon. The prisoner men
| toned in Saunders telegram was cOlOred
man who had been arrested by the Sheriff
| of GadsdCn for a violation OF the postal
| laws and confined ia Quincy Jail. In order
20 shield both Saunders and myself N
| far as possible from assassination on
| the street after dark I had arranged
| Tor the Sheriff 20 deliver the prisoner
at the train which left at $40 o'clock, and
| for the Sheriff TO accompany Saunders and
the prisoner 10 Pensacola. | intended 10
leave the tram at River Junction and az
tempt TO MAKE an arrest there. After the
murder Of Saunders 1 received intlmatiou
! from a friendly source that / was not safe
in that neighborhood, and it would be well
| for me 90 leave as quietly rs possible. In
view Of what had occurred, the utter hope
| River Junction. took the evening train
! for Jacksonville.
Attorney-General Miller sail to-day that
no steps would be taken in this matter by
| the Government until after the Presidents
return from Allegheny City.