St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-20
SAUNDERS ASSASSINATION.
Marshal MiZeii, of Florida, Terms
1t q Political Plot.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-The report
OF John r. Mizell, United States mar
shall. of Florida, in regard to the Saun-
ders murder case was made public to
day. He says that on the 18th inst. he
received telegram from Deputy Mar
shall w. B. Saunders. at Pensacola, say
ing 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 also replied by telegraph
that he would leave Jacksonville that
night and meet Saunders at Quincy.
He left Jacksonville ON the 7:3O
him Special Deputy Langford' and they
arrived at Quincy about O'Clock the
next morning. He continues: II went
to the hotel and waited for Saunders,
who arrived ON the east-bound train
about O'Clock. After breakfast I sent
Saunders and Langford to make an ar
rest about six miles out in the country,
and waited at the hotel for their return.
They returned about O'Clock, having
failed to find their man. About 80
O'Clock a. M, William NJ. McFarlin. of
Quincy, called at the hotel to see Saund-
ers. He seemed much surprised to find
him not there. but greeted me in a
friendly manner and walked over to the
court house, where went to make some
Inquiries about the venire of jurors for
the United States court, and left me
there. AT dinner time ne returned and
invited me and Capt. Allison. who was
present. to dine with him at the hotel.
We accepted the invitation. Soon after
dinner, McFarlin invited me to
TAKE DRIVE WITH HIM
that evening, but l declined. We then
left the hotel. and OH the street met
Saunders and Langford. McFarlln
urged Saunders to come in and dine
with him, but Saunders replied that he
had been to dinner. McFarIn then said
that he (Saunders) must tike drive
with him. l called Saunders away and
took him TO his room, where l told him
that had every reason to believe that
there was plot TO murder him. and he
must pay no attention to pretences of
friendship, but let these men alone and
remain in his room until | returned, as
l was going out into the country and
would be absent a couple of hours. /
was absent about six hours. On my
return 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 as the last he saw OF HIM he was
with McFarlin. / went over to the
court house and there found the sheriff
of Gadsten county, who had arranged
to accompany Saunders and his prison.
erS TO Pensacola and asked if he knew
where Saunders was. He said he did
not; that Saunders told him he was go
Ing to take a drive into the country and
would be back at O'clock. While we
were talking a man named Mitchell
drove up to the court house with Saund-
erS'
DEAD BODY IN THE BUGGY
and turned the body over to the sheriff.
Saunders was shot through the neck, a
pistol ball probably 4S calibre having
entered the left side of the throat hear
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. He would make no further
statements. The body was taken out of
the buggy and carried into the court
house and Mitchell drove off. learned
afterwards from reliable source that
Saunders was seen driving out Of town
in the buggy with Mitchell and McEar-
lin. found in Saunders pocket his
piSlOis EVERY DdTTel lOdUeu, dliu ALSO a
card which McFarlin left at the hotel
for him in the afternoon. The prisoner
mentioned in Saunders telegram was a
cOlored man. who had been arrested by.
the sheriff OF Gadsden county for viola
ton of postal laws and confined In the
Quincy Jail. In order to shield both
Saunders and myself as far as pos
sible from assassination on the street
after dark, ] had arranged for the
sheriff to deliver the prisoner at the
train which left at 40 O'clnck. and for
the sheriff to accompany Saunders and
the prisoner to Pensacola. l intended
to leave the train at River Junction to
attempt to make an arrest there. After
the murder of Saunders l received init
nations from friendly sources that l
was not safe in that neighbOrhood, and
1t would be- we'll for me to leave as
quietly as possibly. In view of what
had occurred, the utter hoplessness of
accomplishing anything at River juno
ton, took the evening train for Jack
sonville," Attorney General Miller
said to-day that no steps would be
taken in the matter by the government
until after the presidents return from
Allegheny City.