Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-09-09
MYSTERIOUS MITCHELL CASE.

Some time ago Mr.. W. II. Mitchell,
says The Ocala Banner, one Of the
most prominent and best beloved
men OF Thomasville. Ga, was arrest
ed. charged with an attempt 10 alb
duct a Miss Lucille Linton, a beauti.
full and accomplished young woman
of that city.
The evidence disclosed the fact that
Mitchell had sent a wire to Miss
Linton from a nearby station TO which
was signed her brothers name. The
message stated that he had been hurt
in a runaway accident. and wanted
her to come TO him. He sent a We
hicle for her and said that she could
trust herself with the driver.
IL is alleged that Mitchell was the
driver of the vehicle. and had dis
guised himself as a negress.
In the progress Of the drive Miss
Linton became suspicious. as she
was satisfied that she was not on the
right road to the little station.
She finally heard an approaching We
hicle, and made an outcry. and the
occupant came to her assistance and
rescued her. In the confusion which
followed the driver escaped.
II was In evidence that Mitchell had
country place nearby. and in
search which followed. the gown and
bonnet the disguised negro woman
wore were found hanging on a nail
near the bottom Of a well on the
place and ii was discovered that the
house had been wired with electric
warning bells.
While sitting in a chair at his
home some time afterwards Mitchell
was shot from ambush. and was bad.
ly wounded in the foot
Mitchell claimed that the whole
thing was a plot to ruin him. Public
sentiment was and is still divided.
Mitchell up TO that time had been
a man OF irreproachable character.
He was popular i'm the community.
He was married and had grown chill
dren. He was a model husband. and
IN his troubles his wife stood Loyalty
by him.
Mitchell was convicted and after
hard-fought battle In the courts to
reverse the iury's decision he lost
out, and the pardon board and Cover.
nor refused TO interfere. and he is
compelled TO serve his sentence on
the chain gang and in stripes.
Here are the comments Of The
Thomasville Enterprise on the last
chapter OF this most mysterious case:
Judge Not.
"Circumstantial evidence wove its
web around that one OF Thomasville's
best loved citizens so completely that
Wednesday, sick, possibly unto death.
he was taken by the sheriff and in
generated in the Thomasville Jail.
Attended by his physician and a
score Of loyal friends and relatives.
carried in agony on a pallet. the iron
doors OF the jail changed behind him.
smirching him with the name OF the
lawless.
"Circumstantial evidence. Only cir.
cumstantial evidence.
The history of the world is filed
with cases where the web OF circum.
stantial evidence has sent 10 the Eel.
on's cell. aye even to the gallows.
not one but many whose names were
afterwards cleared by the truth as
il tardily reached the ears Of Justice
Who shall say that this close woven
web shall not in Gods good time BE-
brushed away. and this man. beloved
OF his friends, and the heart and cen.
ter OF his loyal family and his rela.
tiyes. with his good name restored
again take his place in the affairs Of
men. which he has always held prior
to this hour.
shall the example OF that devoted
wife pass unnoticed? l. there any.
one who knows the mans inmost
thoughts. his desires and his weak.