The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-28
EDITOR RPRATT SHOTDEAD
THORNTON STRINGFELLOW OF
GAINESVILLE HIS SLAYER.

Domestic Trouble at the Bottom OF the
Tragedy - Mrs. Stringfellow Cor
roborates Her Husbands Story Be-
fore the Coroner's Jury-The Jury
Declares the Homicide Justifiable.
GAINESVILLE, FLA. Nov. 27.-Not in
the annals Of our city has there been such
excitement as there was last night and all
Of to-day. At $50 o'clock last night two
heavy reports. like that of small cannon,
were heard north Of the square in rapid
succession. Soon parties we're on the spot,
finding on the sidewalk near the residence
of Kit Mattheson the dead body of Charles
H.Pratt, editer of the D0iLy Leader. Robert
Davis, justice of the peace. soon assem-
bled jury, aud, after viewing the body
where it was, had it removed to the Leader
office, where he proceeded to examine Mr..
Flewellyn and MIR. Pike, neither Of whom
could throw any light upon the killing.
THE KILLING CONFESSED.
Soon, however. Thornton B. Stringfellow,
a prominent merchant, came in, and after
saying that he fired the fatal shots and was
justified in it he was allowed to make
statement.
Mrs. Stringfellow. his wife, was also ex-
amined and corroborated her husband.
The jury returned verdict In Accord
ance with Mr.. StrinRfellow's admission and
added justification clause.
Editor Pratt fell probably sixty feet
from Mr.. Stringfellow's house, pierced with
thirteen buckshot.
The body was sent to Palatka by a special
train over the Florida Southern
in charge Of friends who came for
it. The knights of Pythlas, of
which society Editor Pratt was member,
escorted the body to the depot.
Mr.. Pratt had made many friends here,
the closest among them, it was thought, was
the man who killed him. He had placed
the Leader on a solid footing and was doing
good work in behalf of the people. This is
another Of those painful domestic tragedies.
the details of which are too horrible for
publication.
IN A COMPROMISING POSITION.
by the Southern associated PreSs.)
GAINESVILLE, FLA, Nov. ga most
horrible domestic tragedy occurred here
last night, in which Charles H. Pratt lost
his life at the hands Of an outraged hus-
band. At 10 o'clock or thereabouts shots
were heard near the square in the center of
the town, and soon a throng Of agitated
citizens gathered. On the sidewalk lay the
body of Pratt, quite dead though still
warm, with numerous wounds showing on
his body, from which blood was flowing
profusely.
TEE SLAYER CoNFEssEs.
A coroner's Jury was at once impaneled
and arrests made. but nothing was learned
until Thornton StriugfelIow, leading
merchant, came In with his wife and made
a confidential statement to the jury, admit
ting that he killed young Pratt, but gave
jussifable grounds for the same in that he
had caught his wife and Pratt In a COM
promising position which plainly showed
their guilt to his mind, and he at once fred.
THE wIFE's STORY.
Ills wife stated that young Pratt tried to
assault her and she fought him. The jury
returned verdict OF death from pistol
shot wounds at the hands OF Thornton
Stringfellow, but added a justifabls clause.
Stringfellow Is at large under his own re-
cognizance. Pratt came here from Palatka
last spring and started the Daily Leader
and made success Of It. He was an enter
prisinR newspaper man, and well-thought
of throughout the state, having newspaper
interests in other towns in connection with
his brother. He leaves young wife. Pratt
was 80 years old. His body was taken to
Palatka to-day on a special train.