Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1909-02-05
D. T. MITCHELL IS
SHOT IN FLORIDA
rs TRESPASSER
WAS TRYING TO GAIN ENTRANCE
TO PROPERTY ON WHICH HE
GAVE MORTGAGE.
BEAUTIFUL VILLA IN RUINS.
Scion Of Well Known Milwaukee Family
in Series of Sensational Affairs
in the South.
MRS. MITCHELL's SUMNER HOME

MILWAUKEE,, Wis, Feb. ,, 1909
David r. Mitchell, Oldest son Of the
late &. S. Senator John Mitchell Of
Milwaukee, was shot in Jacksonville,
Fla, on January %, while trying to gain
entrance to Villa Alexandra, which he
Claims is his property
This villa was for years the winter
home Of the Mitchell family and Mrs.
Alexander Mitchell spent her declining
years in this beautiful spot.
Gave Mortgage on Property.
Mitchell had mortgaged the property
for $4,000, the mortgage covering all OF
the personal property on the premises
The mortgage was foFeclOsed III 1904, II
is claimed by attorneys III the case out
Mitchell claims the mortgage was never
forecIOscd and he declares the right OF
possession.
However, the holder Of the mortgage
posted q Waterman on the premises and
when Mitchell tried to enter he was shot
in the hand lie is not III danger, ac-
cOrdug to reports from jacksonville, but
the wound was painful and may result IN
The loss Of his hand.
6. NJ Rogers, the Waterman who
fired the shot, declares that Mitchell
drew a revolver and threatened to shoot
him lie fired, he says, III sell defense
"A week previous, another watchman
who preceded Rogers, was shot from ann
bush.
Arrested for Trespassing.
Mitchell had been arrested for tres
pass in connection with his efforts to
regain possession of the beautiful villa
but the prosecution failed because Of
the inability Of the wounded Waterman
to appear against him.
fFhp affair has brought into the case
the distinguished name Of the late Adj
mira James *. CogsWell, u. 5. ~, the
officer who navigated the battleship
Oregon from San Francisco around the
Horn 10 the Atlantic at the outbreak
of the SpanISh-AmcrIcan war. Admiral
Cogswcll was an uncle of young Mitch
ell. and il is now limited chat his last
trip to Florida was to look after and to
purchase, if possible, Villa Alexandra
and thereby save the once beautiful
place 1t is claimed, however, by the
attorney for Mitchell that Admiral Cogs-
well was never given deed for the
property and that consequently he left
no property in Florida to be admins
tered. The holders of the property have
filed a bill i'll the circuit court TO fore
close on the alleged mortgage, and to
this Mitchell enters a demurrer. This
phase Of the matter is still before the
courts.
Mystery in Admirars Death.
1t is also stated that Admiral Cogs-
well, who. ii is claimed by some. pUr-
chased the property, and who had been
living there for some time, died suddenly
Mt the villa. having given no intimation
whatever to his wife, then absent, or any
of his friends, of the least illness. One
friend has since declared that the even
ing before his DEATH Admiral Cogswen
was in the enjoyment of the very best Of
health and the announcement Of his
death. twelve hours later, came as Il
thunderholt to his associates and friends
The body Of the admiral was brought to
his old home in Milwaukee and placed in
Forest Home.