Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-02-14
TERRORISM IN FLORIDA.
Deplorable State of Affairs In
Madison County.
THE CRIMINALS REIGN SUPREME

And Law Abiding Citizens Fear for Their
Lives = Threatened with Assassination
by a Mob n Prosecutions Did Not Cease.
In Senate and House.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE attorney gem
eral has sent 70 the senate In response 60
sannte resolution Of 9TH instant copies Of
communications between the officials Of the
UnitAl States circuit court, Northern dis
trict Of Florida, and the department Of JUS
tice, in November and December, 1854 The
correspondence relates principally to the
election troubles ia Madison county, Fla.
Marshal Mizell wrote 20 the attorney gon-
eral that il was impossible 20 enforce any
process in Madison county A posse OF six
teep sont out under instructions Of the
United States attorney was not able to ac.
complish anything. A political prisoner was
rescued by mob in Gadsden, and another
offender was saved from arrest by a mob
They Feared Assassination.
The marshal telegraphed the department
later that a sufficient posse could not De or
ganized because the men who could be en-
ployed were unreliahle; because reliable
mon feared assassination. and because mem
bers Of posses could not oStain shelter or
aid for themselves or their animnls J. N.
STRIPPING wrote Nov. that the entire coun-
ty was terrorized. lt was impossible to
establish the identity or whereabouts OF
offenders because, basing their opinion on
past experiences, the inhabitants did not be-
lieye a sufficient force OF deputies would be
sent TO protect them from assassination.
~ Prosecutions Must Cease, Or
The murder of John Bird had made il as
difficult to find witnesses as 10 arrest Grim
inals. The immunity allowed law breakers
in Madison county had encouraged the Grim.
inal classes in other counties. Judge Swayne
aud he had been visited by delegation
from Alachina county, headed by J. v.
Shipmnn, the Republican candidate for
governor at the last election, who implored
them TO cease bringing prosecutions because
ID. A. Barnes, prominent Republican, had
been called out OF his house by mob and
notified that II there were any more prose
cutions he would be murdered. MIR. Strip
ling recommended that military company
be established in Madison county and that
large rewards be offered for the ringleaders
of the mob-Engene T.. West, r. d. McNair
c. B. McNair, A. d. Stanton and William
II. Goodbread. Under date Nov 10 Mr.
STRIPPING informed the attorney general that
s. G. Sadler, supervisor Of registration in
Alachina county, had pleaded guilty to tive
indictments for Illegally refusing to register
persons Prominent Republicans had rec
commended that Judgment be postponed {,
December, 1890. aud Sadler released on 50. .00
bail, with the idea OF ultimately suspendinl
Judgment, and this Recommendation Mr.
STRIPPING un view Of Sadier's promisesj In
dofHcd
10000 votes Thrown out.
Philip Walter, chief supervisor Of reristra
tion writes, Nov. &c that in zoo precincts a
least ton persons IN each precinct were kept
of the registration list and that more thai
10000 Republican votes were thrown Oh
after they had been cast.
Under date Nov Is, the attorney genera
wrote Attorney STRIPPING that the pro
gramme for letting or Sadler did not com
mend itself 10 his Judgment and that th
president concurred in this view
To Uphold Election Frauds.
The foreman Of the grand jury wrote Z,
the attorney general Dec. IL that the jurl
was satisfied that large organization fo
She resistance OF arrest Of any one charge,
with violating the election laws existed il
Madison county and that no ordinary poss,
could 60 into the county aud effect an ar
rest The only effectunl way would be I,
send a mounted posse into tho county to ra
main there long enough 10 acquaint them
selves with the people and the country, AM
/ 70 post reliable men on the borders of thl
county, and to offer a reward Of not les
than 81, 900 for the arrest OF West, Stantor
and Rufus McNair.
Accompanying the report was a statmen
OF expenditures Of the circuit court durinl
November and December, 1889, which in
cludes the amount claimed by Marsha
Mizell for fees earned and expenses iucurre,
--s2,5s6. The first comptroller says it wa
impossible from tho accounts rendered /,
determine how much Of this amount wal
earned and expended in the United State
circuit court. The total expenditure Of th'
court was $40, ,50s