The Florida star. (Titusville, Fla.) 1880-1917, 1901-01-04

white men (tramps)- and two negroes,
who were locked up awaiting an investi-
CATION in the morning.
New Year day dawned with mystery
to solve and a crime to avenge by JUS
tice, and excitement ran high. II an
old, peaceable, quiet man, poor in this
worlds goods, could be so foully muir
dered in broad daylight within our pre-
cincts, what could the prosperous resi-
dents and merchants expect?
The investigation of the men under ar
rest was set for and an excited crowd of
people was present in the court room and
about the premises to hear the result.
During the trial a negro, Joe Henderson,
under suspicion by some, but not under
arrest), sanntered into the room and took
a seat among the listeners and became
very attentive. Mr.. j. F. Wooten in
tently watched Henderson, and his sus-
picions became conviction that he was
the rascal wanted, and notified the depu-
ty sheriff, who at once arrested him.
Henderson has been in Cocoa with
relatives for about three months, coming
here from Georgia. After his arrest the
deputy sheriff and posse went to the
house where Henderson stayed and
searched his room and effects, and found
in a satchel q blood stained shirt and
pantalOons. These We're brought to the
court room and exhibited and recognized
by persons present as belonging to Hen
derson, as they had seen him wearing
them every day, whereas today he had
OH other clothing he had not before worn.
The negro maintained a resolute silence,
sullen and obstinate, Notwithstanding the
damaging evidence against him.
He was taken into an adjoining room
by DR.. Hughlett and Mr.. Wooten, who
talked to him, and finally he confessed
the whole thing;said he killed Burke with
an iron rod by striking him on the head,
and his object was robbery. When
searched about So was found on his per
son. He was brought back into court
and DR.. Hughlett announced the con-
fession to the waiting, wrathful people.
Indignation ran high, but DIR. Hugh
lett, In an intensely earnest speech i'm
plored the crowd to use no rash means,
but TO let the law take its course; that
there was a law 10 deal severely and
justly with such crimes, and that justice
should be allowed full course; that two
wrongs could not make one right; that
he, as mayor, should do all in his power
TO maintain peace and quiet, and that
nothing should be done, in the way of
violence, to blacken the fair name OF our
town, however extenuating the circum-
stances might be in the minds of some.
Justice, honor and righteousness should
always be maintained. He called upon
the officers TO do their duty and upon the
people TO maintain peace, and forbid any
assembling together upon the streets.
He made mastery speech and succeed
ed in quieting the people, who began to
disperse, but as the prisoner was removed
TO the Jail many inHpassioned cries OF
vengeance were heard from among the
crowd
The other men arrested were released.
The inquest was held before Justice of
the Peace j. NJ. Sanders, and the jury
consisted of S. p. Taylor foreman; 5. 5.
Jones, G. Thigpen, G. w. Crabb, +. G..
johnson and j. A. Paine. ]. @. Shaw
was sworn in as deputy, and his aid was
Marshal Herndon.
DR.. Hughlett made an examination of
the body of the murdered man and re-
ported to the jury that death was due to
a crushed skull, made by some blunt in
strument The body was taken in charge
by Undertaken Hindle and prepared for
burial. $3.50 was found on his person.
The body was inferred in Cocoa cemetery
on New Years morning.
Sheriff Brown arrived on the freight the
day before, quietly removed his prisoner
at shutdown and took him by private con-
veyance TO Titusville before the people
knew of it. He was accompanied by s.
s. Jones and G. w. Crabb.
The trial at the county seat was set for
Wednesday, and DIR. Hughlett, j. F.
Wooten and Maurice Weinberg were
summoned as witnesses, who departed
for the county seat on the 40 p. IN.
train. For the result of the trial We
leave THE STAR reporter to gather.
The people will all agree that for once
the arrest, trial and confession was speedy
enough to satisfy justice and the most
exacting.