Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1905-12-09
AL KILLING OF
OFFICER {, E JOHNS
Was Killed Near Fernandina
Wednesday.
BODY WAS FOUND FRIDAY


Having Stolen Fish Nets.
The following from the Fernandina
correspondent Of The Metropolis, un'
der dhte Of the 18th inst, has the fol-
loving containing the murder OF Ex'
Sheriff r. e. Johns Of Bradford conn
81, who for the past few months has
been deputy sheriff Of Nassau county,
Of which Fernandina is the county
seat. Nj. Johns WAS well known IN
this section, where he had many
friends, and his sad and sudden ending
will be regretted here's
deputy Sheriff E. e. Johns was
foully murdered near this city last
WedHesday.and there IL great excite
ment here, as his body was found last
night with q bullet hole through HE
skull.
"0n "wednesday morning man call.
Ing himself Abe Brown came TO Fer
naBdlna and swoEe out q warrant for q
party named Doty, alleging that 'Doty
had stolen some fishing nets. The war.
rant Was given 70 Deputy Sheriff Johns
20 serve and he left town In q buggy
With Brown TO make the arrest.
"MF. Johns did not return TO the
city Wednesday and HE absence caused
considerable uneASlneSS, and yeSteF.
day morning searching parties we're
organised, and about noon the horse
and bugEy we're found ct Davis Gross.
ing. The search WAS continued for
Ne. Johns last night between the ham.
mock and the beach, and MF. Johns
body Was finally discovered lying 10
the hammock near the beach.
Formerly Bradford's Sheriff.
"MF Johns was formerly sheriff Of
Bradford county aud served 10 that
capacity for many years. He was
known fer and wide % q most Existent
0aieeF and one Of the bFavsSt men 10
she State. He has been deputy sheriff
OF Nassau county for the pact Slz
months.
"NO one knows anything about che
man Brown. He 10 = yong man, ap.
pGFently NOS mop than % or % ysaFS
Of aee, hes q light mOHStAehs, bat no
beard. Being q stranger In this city,
u e feared that ho may have been sent
here 70 lure the deputy away from
iowa"
Johns Was q Witness.
Continuing, The Metropolis says,
Johns was 20 have been summoned
here yesterday 90 . witness In the Oass
Of the Unltod States against Alto VIII.
llems, charged With breaking aud en-.
toFIng che pOSIoiiie4 81 LAW,ey come
time ago. This case Was called thIa
week IN the United States Court here,
bat Was postponed, The evidence Of
Johns WAS considered very material Tor
lhs Government Il 10 known fact
that Williams, who 10 q fugitive from
Justice % present, belongs 10 q faction {
10 Bradford county who are bitter enc
mlet 70 Johns, II was discovered yes. =
leFdOy that there wac q technical error
10 The Indictment agulnst Williams.
10 overcome thiS II was considered
neeessaTy for JOhnS 10 come here a.
onOo, aud deputy United States mar.
lhal Was sOnt 10 FOFnandlna yesterday !
70 summon Johns 70 this city, I
Should Hunt Down Murderer. Z
1T now remains ioE the authorities
10 establish the identity OF the alleged
Abe Brown, and the Government
lhould take . hand In endsAvoting 10
ferret out this horrible assassination,
TIE authorities have q clSW along this
line upon which they are nov hard at
work. II IL criminal offence 10 In.
llmlaate OF dispose 90 Government -,
WitnSsses and Ia doing 90 In this case !
4 SCENE that foul murder has been 70. :
.OFIed 70 foe this purpose, aud such an :,
lct Il black spot upon the state aud
! dlSgraOs 10 ilS fair name Ia
The body Oi Johns will leave Fer. ;
aahdlRA this AitoFnoOn % B,sO O'Clock
OF THE city, Here Il will b. trans.
erred 20 the train Tor StArks, where !,
he funeral services will b held to- !,
loFFoW, A delegation Of Elks from
Be JAckaOuville lodge will meet ths 4
rain thil evening. the deceased hav. J,