The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-26
THE ZEIGLER'S WARNING BELL
AT ITS STROKE THEIR ADHERENTs
WILL RALLY IN THEIR DEFENSE.

The sIayers of sheriff BroOl<er En-
trenched I'm Their Home Armed to
the Teeth-They Defy the Officers
Posses and the Militnry-The sher-
in Invited to Take Look at Their
ArsenaI-The Old Farm BeII Which
Has Not Been Run Since George
ZciEIer Was killed 10 summon
Their supporters in Case of At
tack
II reports are to be believed, a very Sc
rious state Of affairs exists in screven
county, as the result OF the killing OF
Sheriff L. b. BROKER by the Zeigler broth
ers. Solomon and Callie, in revenge for the
killing Of their father. George Zeigler, by
BROKER a year ago.
Surrounded by their friends and rela-
tives. the Zeiglers have hidden defiance
to the sheriff and have notified him that
they are ready for any sized possee he
may be able to bring against them. There
has been some talk Of calling out the mill
tary to assist the sheriff, but it is said
that the Zeiglers have so many friends
and relatives among the MEM
bers Of the Screven county troop,
that it would be worse than use
less to call it out. In fact the sheriff is
said to have been quietly informed that
any attempt TO call out the troop would
be a dead failure.
Sheriff Mills has gone to Atlanta to con-
suit with the governor on the situation.
No orders have been received in Savannah
as yet, however, by any of the military
authorities in reference to putting their
commands in the field to enforce the law
al HAN ~ don
commanding the First cavalry, which
would be most likely called upon
for this service, if there should
ing. News reporter yesterday. that
he had received no communication on the
subject from Gov. Atkinson, nor from
Sheriff Mills, and he has not been con-
suited on the subject at any time. He said
that he Is absolutely without information
on the condition OF affairs in Screven
county Judging by this il would seem
that the governor has not yet decided to
can upon the military arm to enforce the
law.
The Zeiglers are well known to a num-
per OF people IN savannah and so was
BROKER, and there is a great deal Of in
lerest here in the outcome of the matter.
Those, who know the zeiglers say they
they say that they certainly will
not be taken alive, they mean what they
say. People from Screven county are in
the city every day and naturally the sub
ject of discussion when they meet their
friends Is the Heigler affair According
10 reports the situation there bears a close
mblance to feudal times
The Zeiglers are entrenched in their
castle and with their relatives and allies
around them bid defiance to all corners
The Zeiglers live In the Elghtleth militia
from SylVania, where they have a fine
place. The people of the district are
nearly az populists and the zeiglers are
populist leaders. Old man George Zeig-
Ter, who was killed by BROKER about a
year ago, was leader among them.
The quarrel in which he was killed was
a political one and the events which have
occurred since are regarded in a politi-
cal light, the populists siding with the
Leiglers and the democrats unfolding
BROKER, The democrats and populists
are pretty evenly divided in Screven and
That is what makes the situation so seri-
Gus.
The zeiglers are said to have turned
their residence into an arsenal and 10
have entrenched themselves there with a
full supply Of ammunition and with shot
guns, Winchester rifles and revolvers
stacked in every corner. Sheriff Mills
went out to the Zeigler home several
days ago to see If the Zeiglers would not
submit to peaceful arrest. He was only
admitted after he had consented TO come
IN as private citizen and not as an Off
cial. He was shown the preparations
which the Zeiglers have made to resist
arrest and was told that it was useless
to bring any posse against them as they
could resist any force which he could
bring. The sheriff has not called out a
posse and this is considered as pretty
good evidence that he cannot get one
The Zeiglers have a number of relatives
in their immediate neighborhood and It is
said that they have all agreed to stand
by them. The populists of the district
generally, are also standing by them in
their resistance of arrest It is said and
the total number who will respond to
their call is estimated by some to be as
high as 200 men.
There is an old farm bell on the Zeigler
place by which there hanks a story. 1t
is said that the bell has not been rung
since George Zeigler was killed and that
1t has been agreed among the Zeiglers
and their adherents that the bell shall be
rung only as an alarm to call the clan
together. The presence of any arresting
party in the neighborhood II is said.
would Immediately be signaled by the bell
and the result would be that ali In hear
ing would gather to defend the leaders
. against arrest.
All of the reports in circulation may
not be true, but the fact is that the Zeig-
lers have not vet been arrested. although
the killing of BROKER occurred two
weeks ago.