The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-07-29

That pestiferous little insect, the red
bug, which is so universally hated by
mankind. did the sheriff's Office OF this
county a good turn on Wednesday by
forcing a long sought fugitive from
Justice to surrender as, according to
the statement OF Geo. Merchant TO
Deputy Sheriff Virgins, OF Century, to
whom he surrendered after he had been
chased with bloodhounds and hunted
in almost every conceivable manner,
one Of the principal things that caused
him to give up was the fact that the
redb bugs in the woods had nearly run
him crazy and he could stand them
no longer.
HELD ON THREE CHARGES.
AS soon as Merchant surrendered TO
Deputy Virgins, the deputy got In
communication with Constable Allen
Brewton, OF McDavid, who had the
warrants for Merchant, and turned him
over to Brewton. He was tried before
Justice of the Peace Harrison at Nc
David Thursday and was bound over
on three serious charges, namely, as
sault with intent to murder, shooting
into an occupied dwelling house at
night and selling whiskey. He was
brought to this city last night by Con-
stable Brewton and is now confined In
the county jail.
Merchant is also said to be wanted
in Alabama on charges OF ten years.
standing and also In Mississippi and
in Santa Rosa county on old charges.
PLAYED JOKE ON SHERIFF,
Recently Constable Brewton and
others In that section OF the county
got so close in behind Merchant that
he was forced to cross the line and 20
into Baldwin county, Alabama. As
soon as Brewton learned OF this he
notified the sheriff of that county and
told him that Merchant was wanted in
this county. In the meantime, the
Alabama sheriff learned that there was
an Alabama warrant out for Merchant
on serious charges, and organizing a
posse Of about dozen men, he began
search for him with the result that
he ascertain that Merchant had gone
to the home of man named Redmond,
HIS brother-in-law Accordingly, the
sheriff and his posse went to the Red
mond home and after surrounding the
house. the sheriff knocked al the door.
The sheriff did not know either OF the
men and when one OF them came TO
the door he asked n his name was
Redmond and the man replied that IL
was. The officer then told him his
business, telling him that he knew
Merchant was in the house and that
there was no chance for him to get
away The man then told him that
Merchant was there and volunteered
to go with the sheriff and wake him
uD. They went and awoke the other
man, who admitted that he was Mer-
chant and readily submitted to being
handcuffed. However, after the sheriff
and his posse had gone about milo
with the prisoner he began to laugh
and told them they had the wrong
man; that his name was Redmond and
that the man left behind was Mer-
chant, and an Investigation proved this
to be a fact, but, Of course, Merchant
had made good his escape in the
meantime.
Constable Brewton told a represen-
tatiVe OF the Journal that since he has
had Merchant in custody the prisoner
has told OF this experience, and OF how
the sheriff watched the house OF Red
mond for four nights after his escape,
and how he watched the sheriff from
the woods when he would drive up and
hitch his horse, etc, and regards II as
splendid Joke.
HAD MARROW ESCAPES.
After the Baldwin county incident,
Merchant came back into this county,
and on several occasions very mar
rowly escaped being captured by Con-
stable Brewton and a number Of citi-
zens Of the neighborhood who were
securing the woods for him Mr..
Brewton told The Journal representa-
tive Of one OF the most recent In
stances last night. He said that they
were after Merchant, when he fell in
a hole and tore his trousers, and as he
got up he made some remark about
Merchant causing him TO tear his
trousers. Mr. Brewton says that since
his surrender, Merchant has told him
exactly the words he said when this
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