The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-05-13
THE MILTON TRAGEDY.
TRJE STORY OF THE KILLING OF
j. ". PENTON.
HE WAS A PEACEABLE BUT DANGEROUS
MAN-sEvEN OFFICERS ATTEMPT TO
ARREST HIM-PENTON's BROTHER TAKES
A HANDAA GENERAL FUSILADE.
Special to the Floridian.

Special to the Floridian.
MILTON, Fla, May 1.-THE reports in
the various dailies concerning the unfor-
iunate affair of Saturday night, which re-
suited in the death Of J. w. Penton, are
false, almost maliciously 80, in regard to
the killing.
Penlon has resided in this city two
years, and has always been regarded as a
aroused. He had never attempted 10 con-
ceal his identity, although it was known
that there was a reward offered for him,
and that life sentence had been passed
on him in neighboring county in AL
ALBANIA.
Saturday evening seven men arrived in
this city to arrest him. They had the
proper papers, but did not call on Sheriff
johnson to make the arrest as requir d
by provision of the state constitution, al
though the sheriff was on the streets all
evening to within half hour of the shoot
ing.
When the possesmade the attack on
Penton he was in the street and many
citizens were on the sidewalk, ip the
stores and gathered on the opposite corner
within seventy-fve yards of the spot.
The attack was made by Adams throw
ing his arms around Penton's body from
behind and another officer coming up in
front with presented pistol. Pen:on struck
up the weapon and called out Hold on ,
holi on! The officer fired and the
powder scorched Penton's eyebrow. I'm
ihediately Alb Penton, brother of the dead
man, opened fire on the officers and emp
lied his revolver. The officers opened up
general lusilade with a shotgun, a Win
chester and revolvers. Ab0ub twen,y five
shots were fired. PentOn was killed by
shot in the back, fired while two men were
holding him, and at such close range that
his clothing caught fire. Alb Pert0n was
wounded in the leg by ball from the
Winchester. A negro received two buck
shot, but they had rebounded from brick
wall and Inflicted no serious wounds.
The citizens are indignant over the
outrage and the false reports sent out by
the officers, who acted as if they were
frightened to death.
The man killed did not fire shot as is
proven by the fact that his revolver,
picked up at the depot where his body
was thrown down, had every chamber
loaded and rust inside the muzzIe.
1t is false i'll that Sheriff Johnson's
services could have been secured, and
that he was not sent for until after the
killing
1t is false in that no mob or citizen ex-
cept Alb. Penton attempted to prevent
the arrest, Or fired shot
1t is false in that NJ demand was made
to surrender. but that Cheatham began
firing the moment Penton was seized
1t is false in that but five shots, four of
which seem to have taken effect, were
fired in addition to those fired by the of
ticers.
The citizens of Milton are justly indig-
nant that our city should be invaded by
a mob, under the guise of law, and the
lives of our citizens endangered by a
shower of leaden hail down its principal
thOroughfare.
No one denies that Penton was liable
to arrest, but the means employed and
the unnecessary shooting down of their
victim without an attempt 70 take him
alive is condemned; and the perpetrators
of the outrage will be held to strict &C
count by our citizens
In ad itiOn to the above there is evil
dence that Penton had $500 Oh his person
which was not found when his body
reached Pensacola.
The dead man was buried in our city
to-day. He leaves a wife and five chill
dreu.