New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-15
WAYLAID AND MURDERED
A UNITED STATES OFFICER ASSASSINATED
IN FLORIDA.
THE CRIME DONE TO PREVENT THE INvEsrI;
CATION OF ELECTION FRAUDS-CoNFLICT-
ING ACCOUNTS FROM THE sCENH
CT THE OUTRAGE
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.
CT THE OUTRAGE

Tallahassee, Fla, Feb. 14.-News was received
here late last night of the murder of w. g.
Saunders, deputy United States marshal United
States Marshal J. r. Mizell and a deputy went to
Quincy yesterday from Jacksonville They were
met there by Saunders, who had come from Defu-
MAX Springs by appointment. Their exact busi-
ness is not known, but il is claimed that they
htd warrants for the arrest of several persons ac
cused of election frauds, and also subpoenas for
witnesses TO attend the next term OF the United
States Court of the Northern District, which con-
venes in Tallahassee February 27. At this
point the stories disagree. One is to the effect
that Saunders was at the head of the posse, and
that they went out to arrest McFarlane, who lived
in the country. They were waylaid and fired
upon Saunders was killed instantly. His COM
panions carried his body back to Quincy.
Another account is that three men. MITCHELL
McFarlane and Harris, invited Saunders and
Mzel TO go out riding with them, ostensibly to
visit the surrounding tobacco farms. For some
reason NIizell refused to go, but Saun.
ders went, and late in the night Mitch
ell returned with the dead body He
was arrested, and an attempt was made
TO find the Others but it has not been ascertained
whether the further arrests were made or not.
No explanation has been received from the pris-
oner, Mitchell regarding the murder.
The crime created great deal of excitement
at Quincy. Acting on the advice Of friends Mar
shal Mizell and his deputy started for Jackson
vile on the evening train as they had private
information, informant stated, that at
tcmpts would be made upon their lives. In
Tallahassee some three weeks ago prisoner
named Boza taken from Marshal Nizell in
broad daylight by an armed force. The same
night, after the Marshal had retired at his hotel,
three messages were sent to him at intervals
asking him to step down and see certain persons
in the street This he refused to do, saying that
ne would see them in the daytime In the morn
ing the men who were 50 anxious to see him
could not be found and the probabilities
are that Marshal Nizels discretion saved
his life The matter was suppressed az
the time, none Of the papers throughout the State
having anything to say regarding It, and OF course
the Governor made no attempt TO ascertain VINO
the men were or to bring them TO justice.
Saunders leaves a wife and two children at De-
funiak Springs where he lived for number OF
wears lie was a prominent official In West
Florida and had always been noted as an out
spoken man. who always did his duty no matter
how much danger involved. lie was elected
to the last Legislature a Republican Senator
from Walton County. The murder has caused
great deal of excitement in Tallahassee, and many
representative men. irrespective Of party denounce
the lawless proceedings in the strongest terms ana
call upon the State and county officials TO nrng
the dastardly perpetrators of the crime TO justice