The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-03-06
FLORAL C!TY'S fight
TO RlO ITSELF CT AN EVIL
ELEMENT
Marshal Newsome Killed While in the
Discharge of His Duty
One Bad Negro kilIed-Another Shot
and a Third Chased Out of
Town
Inverness Chronicle.)

trouble brewing in Floral City. which
eliminated within the last thirty six
hours wIth the death of city Marshal
}. W. NewSomc, Il brave and efficient
officer and two negroes. and the alb
sconGimG of another negro who is re-
HLted l. be the real cause of all the
trouble. The latter negro was Rich
Griffin, Il man said to be worth in the
ncighborhood of $4,000, who welded
a great influence with his race, WAS a
disturbing element. and an alleged
continuous Iaw-bIcaker, who conduct
cd what was known as the Lobby"
and directed the sale of vile liquor.
Recently the city council passed an
ordinance imposing street tax upon
posed by the negroes. who were as
sured by Griffin that they had u right
to do so, and that his great influence
with the president of the United
States was such that he could request
and secure the presence Of the entire
United States army to set aside the
order of the council and Uphold the
the blind tiger figured largely, be-
cause of violators of the prohibition
law were promptly arrested by Mar
shall Newsome. and Griffin's reputed
influence while on the wane, was con-
fidently believed by the violatOrs, and
they became defiant. On account Of
the marshars activity and rigid adher-
ence to duty, it is alleged that plot
was formed to get him out of the way.
Last week one Steve Henry was ar
rested for assault with intent to kill
and acquitted.
Tuesday he again committed a like
Offense, and that night Marshal New
found i'm the Lobby" He at once
summoned to his aid man named L.
B. Thompson, and they repaired to the
place designated. where they found
Griffin, Henry and Sam Paterson. The
marshal notified Henry that he was
under arrest: at that time Henry
reached for his gun and the marshal
drew his pistol both firing simultan-
eOusly. The marshal dropped dead.
and Henry who was badly wounded.
succeeded in making his escape and
seeking protection in a negro house
near by Thompson rushed to the aid
Of the marshal and was shot at three
times. but the bullets went wild. and
he escaped injury. A search revealed
the whereabouts of Henry. and he was
placed under guard and taken to Jail.
where his wound was pronounced
fatal, but the enraged citizens wanted
I to end the matter right then and there
and strung him up to the frame of Il
building near at hand, after Overpow-
| ering the guards. He was an old Of
+, fender and has one or more indct
ments pending against him in the cir
cult court
Sheriff Carter was informed of the
affair over the telephone and at once
left for Floral city accompanied by
! Deputy Allen. OF course. they could
do nothing. as there was no evidence
to be obtained against any Of the par
i ties connected with the banging of
Henry and they returned home
! Early yesterday mornin" Mayor
Bushnell directed J. W. Williamson,
! who was appointed marshal tcmrnr-
arily. to organize Il pnsS" and arrest
! Sam Peterson. They found him in his
lot. he having Just returned from some
! place where he had been after the kill
ing of Newsome and Henry. Th"y
called upon him Ia come outside
when he exclaimed: You have get
me now. but | will get you later" and
rush to III" house. presumably to
get his gun. The posse opened fire on
him. almost riddling him with bullets
and buckshot. Then they closed in on
him and entered the house where his
gun. big muSket was standing. but
he sank to the floor before reaching it,
He was placed under arrest and taken
to the town Jail. where he died last
night about o'clock. A corOners
| jury returned verdict that he came
to his death from gun shot wounds
while resisting arrest by lawful Off
GERS
Sheriff Carter. Deputy Allen and the
local editor of the Chronicle. repaired