The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-27
FLORIDA.


Citizens of Sanford held a mass meet
ing Wednesday night and declared them
selves in favor of independence for Cuba.
The report that a hotel is to be bunt
at Cutler has revived. 1t is further said
that the son of Senator Calvin S. Brice is
at the head of the new enterprise.
The yield of sugar cane in De Soto coun-
ty has been exceptionally good this year.
The acreage for next years crop has been
increased fully 100 per cent, over that of
the present year.
A huge crocodile was caught in Cards
sound recently by Mr.. Caillet. 1t meas
ured u feet inches in length 1t is the
largest reptile seen here in some time.
Prof. Cory killed one fourteen feet long.
F. NJ Murchison, editor Of the Florida
Philosopher, a newspaper published at
Crescent City, was Thursday convicted of
criminal libel at Palatka. His counsel
gave notice that motion for new trial
would be set. Jan. was set to argue the
motion. Mr.. Murchison is charged with
criminal libel against Maj. J. l.. Burton,
resident of Crescent City who served as
an election inspector at the recent ma
tional election at that precinct.
A report comes from the convict camp
at Albion of the death of ]. D. Shepherd,
who was sent up for life from Orange
county one year ago Tor the Killing OF
Luther Walker. Shepherd was sentenced
to be hanged, but his sentenced was COM
muted by the pardoning board. The kill
ing of Walker occurred al Wekiva, a lit
tie station on the Florida Central and Pc
ninsular railroad, about seven miles from
Orlando. The two men were brothers-in-
law.
Train No. 21. on the Jacksonville, Tam
pa and Key West railway, due at Palatka
Wednesday night at 1870, ran into freight
train No. 10 on the Georgia Southern ana
Florida railway, at the crossing. Of the
latter road, just north of the Union sta
ton, at midnight The COLLISION complete
ly demolished the Jacksonville, Tampa
and Key West engine, No. q, and made
kindling wood of three cars, loaded with
lumber, on the Georgia Southern and
Florida train. No one was hurt.
A fine residence of Mrs. Chapman, four
miles south of Oakland, was burned Wed
nesday at p m. Mrs. Chapman had
taken house in town, and had moved
but few things, leaving nearly all of her
furniture and valuable effects behind.
The origin of the fire must have been in
cendiary, as no fire had been in or near
the place for several days The loss on
the house is $4,000; the value of the furn-
iture is not known, but the house contain
ed much valuable furniture; the insur-
ance is $4,000.
Paul G. Richter, white tramp barber
hailing from Milwaukee, fell from the
truck of moving Georgia Southern and
Florida passenger train Thursday night,
when near the city limits of Palatka, and
was run over and killed almost instantly.
His skull was crushed and his arms and
legs were broken. A companion Of the
dead man, who was with him at the time
of the accident. stated that they were try
ing to make their way to Tampa, and
found that they were on the wrong train
and tried to get off.
r. S. Miller shot T. NJ. Kelley in NJ.
Finkelstein & Co.'S store, at Sanford,
Thursday night Kelley is a car inspect
or. employed by the Plant system. Miller
was also car inspector, but had recently
been discharged. lie owed a debt to KEEL
ley, and the latter had sworn out war
rant for Miller's arrest. Miller was ar
rested by Marshal Cameron, but was re-
leased on bond. At o'clock the two met
gle. Miller drew his pistol and fired three
shots at Kelley, one taking effect In the
right arm. one in the left arm near tine
shoulder, the third shot missing.
W. f. Watts from the Manatee country
was arrested at Tampa Thursday. charged
with forgery. The night before he carried
a check to w. 8. Hancock and got II CASH
ed. The check was drawn for S2i.7O, and he
only obtained a part of the amount The
name of Louis Randall was signed to the
check. When IL was presented TO the First
National Bank for payment IL was refus-
ed and the paper pronounced no good be-
cause the name was a forgery The officers
were at once notified. and Watts was ar
rested. He claims that he got the check
from another man named Wilson, and
that IL IL Is a forgery he Is not responsible
for Il, as the other man paid II to him. and
he says he can prove that he got the check
that way.
new steamboat company has been Or
ganized at Luraville on the Suwannee riv-
er, known as the Operators Steamboat
Company with y. III. Crawiey Of Way
cross, Ca, as manager. The company Will
use light draught steam tug, and viii tow
barges which VIII enable them 10 90 over
the shoals az very low stages Of the river.
Tampa Correspondence Jacksonville Citi-
zen: Plant system people and some people
around 81. Petersburg, across che bay
from Port Tampa, are having a very lively
and interesting time now, the continuation
Of a fight that has been going on there for
some lime over Wharfage. The Plant pe0-
pie built dock from ~ Petersburg ouf ~
deep water. IN n nearly one mile ln length.
and was put IN there az q great cost. Now
the people who % business al the docks
claim that the Plant people have ever since
been trying ~ mako fncm al use f1f long
dock and pay therefor 40 fuoful0HH wharf
dFf "A large feet ~ small nfh0UHfff ard
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