Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-02-22
THE SAUNDERS KILLING.
Marshal Mizell's Account Of the
Florida Assassination.
"A Deep-LAid Plot For His Life-HIs Dead
Body Sent In-The District Not
safe For q Federal
Ofhcor.

John r. Mizell, United States marshal
Of Florida, In regard to the Saunders
case was made public yesterday. He
says that February 10 he received tel
egram from Deputy Marshal W. b.
Saunders at Pensacola saying that he
would leave that night for Quincy for .
prisoner in the jail there and asking
that the marshal send him any help that
he might call for while there. He re-
piled by telegraph that he would leave
Pensacola that night and meet
Saunders at Quincy. he left jack
sonville on the seven o'clock train
on the night of the 18th, taking with
him Special Deputy Langford, and
they arrived at Quincy about three
o'clock the next morning. He continues:
az went to the hotel and waited for
Saunders, who arrived on the eastbound
train about five o'clock. After break
fast / sent Saunders and Langford to
make the arrest about six miles out in
the country and waited ut the hotel for
their return. They returned about one
O'Clock having failed to find their man.
About 1880 a. m. William McFarlin, OF
Quincy called at the hotel to see Saun-
ders. He seemed surprised to find me
there but greeted me in a friendly man.
ner 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 din
ner time he returned and invited me and
Captain Allison, who was present to
dine with him at the hotel. We ac-
cepted the invitation. Soon after dinner
McFarlin invited me to take q drive
with him that evening, but declined.
We then left the hotel and on the street
mot Saunders and Langford. McFarlin
invited Saunders to come in and dine
with him but Saunders replied that he
had been to dinner. McFarlin then
said that he (Saunders) must take o
drive with him. I called Saunders away
and took him to his room where / told
him that / had every reason to believe
that there was plot to murder him and
he must pay no attention to pretenses
of friendship but let these men alone
and remain in his room until returned,
rs was going out into the country and
would be absent couple of hours, and
was absent about three hours. On my
return I went to Saunders room
but he was gone. ] asked Deputy Lang
ford, who was there, where Saunders
was and he said he did not know, but he
was afraid he had been decoyed away,
ms the last he saw Of him he was with
/ McFarlin. 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 he did not; that
Saunders told him he was going to take
q drive into the country and would be
hack at four D. m. While we were talk
ing a man named Mitchell drove up to
the court house with Saunders dead
body in the buggy and turned the body
over to the sheriff. Saunders was shot
through the neck, pistol ball, proba-
bly, 4S-caliber. having entered the left
side of the throat near the jugular vein
and come out just back of the right ear.
The sheriff asked Mitchell If he
killed Saunders and he said
no. He then asked him II he knew who
did and he said no. He would make no
further statements. The body was
taken out of the buggy and carried into
tho court house and Mitchell drove of.
I learned afterward from reliable
source that Saunders was seen driving
out of town in the buggy with Mitchell
and McFarlin. found in Saunders
pocket his pistol, every barrel loaded,
and also card which McFarlin had left
ut the hotel for him in the afternoon.
The prisoner mentioned in Saunders
telegram was O colored man who had |
been arrested by the sheriff OF Gadsden
for violation of postal laws and confined
IN the Quincy Jail. In order to shield
both Saunders and myself as far
rs possible from assassination on the
street after dark 1 had arranged
for the sheriff to deliver the prisoner at
the train which left ut $40 o'clock, and |
for the sheriff to accompany Saunders
and the prisoner to Pensacola. / in
tonded to leave the train at River juno |
ton and attempt to make an arrest |
there. After the murder of Saunders |
received intimations from friendly |
sources that l was not safe in that
neighborhood, and it would be we'll for
me to leave as quickly Us possible. In
view of what had occurred, and the
utter hopclcssness Of then accomplish
ing any thing at River Junction / took
4asa evening train for Jacksonville"
Acknowledgement Miller said that no
steps would be taken in this matter by
the Government until after the Presi-
dents return from Allegheny City.
Lottery Men Persist.
BISMARCK, N: d., Feb. 19.-The rumor
n current that the friends Of the Lottery
bsIl viii introduce new measure. This