The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-15
A FLORIDA MARSHAL SLAIN.
The Bullet Fired From Ambush as He
was Getting Into a Buggy.


JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Feb 14-Early
this morning news reached here by wire of
the killing Deputy United States Marshal
w. B. Saunders yesterday at Quincy, Fla.
the county seat Of Gadsdon county A
Quincy special to the Times Union says:
deputy United States Marshal W. B.
Saunders came to Quincy early Thursday
morning with the avowed intention of
arresting negro prisoner, charged with
forging postal order, and who had been ar
rested by the sheriff, some days previous
and lodged in Jail for safeKeeping.
CRooKING THE ELBOW.
Saunders commenced drinking early in
the morning at William Hardon's bar, and
soon struck up with couple of men, one a
countryman and the other from town, and
they drank continuously all the forenoon
at short intervals. Finally Saunders went
out into the country. On his return they
| continued to drink until about $3.50 O'clock
| in the afternoon, when, at the instance OF
| Saunders, the countryman agreed to take
them out to the Santa Clara tobacco
| plantation.
THE SHOOTING.
"While passing through this farm on the
public road where there are high embank-
ments on each side, they stopped to take a
| uTlUk, anu luSO us Ou0 OA lIto ilbu EOb luIO
| the buggy three shots were fred in quick
succession, which struck Saunders in
the side of the neck and shoulder, and
| he fell on the knees of the man driving AT
the firing of the guns the horse took fright
and ran for some distance and was finally
stopped by the driver, who turned around
and came back to town with the body of
| Saunders, which was taken in charge by
| Sheriff Mitchell. 1t leaves for DeFuniak
| GDrinoc fbfs of Tho ic
holding an inquest. Everybody deplores
the sad killing Of Mr.. Saunders.
MARSHAL MIzELL's VERSION.
Marshal Mizelrs version of the murder is
substantially as follows: Last Wednesday
Marshal Mizell and Deputy Marshal Ling
| ford went from here (Jacksonville) to
| Quincy, where they were Joined by Deputy
| Saunders, who had come from his home,
De Funiak Springs. Word had gone around
that they were to serve subpGnas on jurors
and witnesses for the next term of the
United States court at Tallahassee, on Feb.
| 27. They also announced that they were to
arrest a negro for violation Of the postal
laws.
THEIR NEW FRIENDS.
While in the hotel w. NJ. Mcfarland and
man named Mitchell, brother of Sheriff
Mitchell of Gadsden county, got into con-
versation with the officials and all
| drank once or twice together, upon
invitation of Mcfarland and Mitch
ell. Meanwhile Marshal Mizell had gone
on ride into the country to
visit the tobacco farms in company with an
old friend. After Marshall Mizell's return
about o'clock, Mcfarland and Mitchell,
accompanied by third citizen, invited all
three officials to ride out to the Anclave to-
| bacco farm.
SAUNDERS START.
Marshal Mizell and Deputy Singford de
clined, but Saunders got in the buggy witt
Mitchell and Mcfarland ..r1 drove of
At o'clock Mitchell drove back in towI
with Saunders dead body beside him or
the buggy seat He had been shot just be-
low the right ear, the ball, of thirty-eight
calibre, passing through his head. The
body was placed in the court house ant
Mitchell arrested.
HERE'S YOUR DEPUTY.
Marshall Mizell says Mitchell's remarks
as he drove up into Marshall Mizell's pres.
ence was: ''Here's your deputy, Tvt
brought him back" pointing to the deaC
man In the buggy. Up 80 dark Mcfarland
had not been found. No explanation of tht
murder was given, SO Marshal Mizell says
A coroner's inquest WAS held to-day, but ii
not yet completed. The verdict will proba
bly, be given tomorrow.
! MIZELL ADVISED TO LEAVE TOWN.
After these occurrences, J. w. Malone,
prominent citizen, invited the two remain
ing officials to mis- residence, where they
took supper, and, by the advice of friends
| left town on the O'Clock train for this city
The story goes that two months or more agt
Saunders had been run out of West Florida
across the Georgia line while attempting tc
serve legal papers on residents Of Gadsder
and Jackson counties, and about a month
ago, when Mcfarland was In jacksonville
in attendance upon the farmers alliance
convention he was recognized by Saunders
1t is said, as one of the meI
who had driven him into Georgia
SO Saunders arrested him, and MCFARLAND
was held in 81, 600 bail by the United State
court on a charge of conspiracy, and this
If anything, was the cause of any hare
feelings which might have existed bstweeI
Mcfarland and Saunders.