The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1915-03-26
SHERIFF KENNERLY
A BIT D|SGUSTED
Because Jury Turned Loose
His Blind Tiger Catch.

Some two weeks ago Sheriff Ken
nerly, on the recommendation of
Sheriff Hand of Seminole county, en-
ployed a negro and his wife to do
some detective work in and around
Palatka for the purpose of securing
evidence to convict number of ne
groes who were strongly suspected
of operating "blind tigers"
These negro detectives" worked a
little more than a week and as a re-
suit of their work secured evidence
against 18 negroes. Eight of this
number got wind of their coming ar
rest and got out Of the country, but
ten were arrested by Sheriff Kenner-
ly, as follows:
Charles Williams, French Guion,
Joe Adams (Sixth ward alderman
Mamie Guion, Bessie Summers, Es-
sic Summers, Roxie ---------, Ollie
Rainey, Richard Brown, Palatka,
and Peter Douglass of Rodman.
These were brought to trial Mon
day before Judge E. E. Haskell. The
first case tried was that of Essie
Summers. The jury was composed
of Messrs. J. M. VanLandingham, A,
E. Lancaster, E. Stacy, John Cannon
D. L. Wilkinson and A. D. Matthews
The evidence submitted was that OF
the two imported detectives; there
was nothing in the way of corrobo-
ration; the jury considered it ins1ffi-
cient, and therefore returned a YER
dict of not guilty.
The second case tried was that
of Peter Douglass Of Rodman. The
Jury in this case was composed OF
E. M. Earnest, l. Bohannon, H.. B
Mullis, J. E. Lucas, Benz. Rodda and
w. M. Notes. The evidence in the
second case was the same as that in
the first, and the jury took the same
view of insufficient evidence and re-
turned the same verdict of mot
guilty"
Thereupon Judge Haskell advised
that as the evidence in the other
cases was the same, it would be use
less to try them, and they were dis
charged.
Sheriff Kennerly says that there is
little doubt but that all were guilty
and he is disguised at what he calls
a miscarriage of justice. He says
further that it is next to impossible
to convict "blind tiger" in Putnam
county. He says that L. H. Thomas
of the Rodman Lumber Co. congratI-
lated him on the arrest of Peter
douglass, who has been long suspect
ed of operating "blind tiger" at
Rodman.
E. NJ. Earnest, one of the jurors in
the Douglass case was seen by The
News. Mr.. Earnest, who is strong
Temperance man, stated that the jury
was not willing to believe the unsup-
ported testimony of the two negro
detectives, and that the fact that they
were professional blind tiger catch
ers operated against them. Had
any evidence been introduced" said
Mr.. Earnest, tending to show that
Douglass had been suspected OF
operating a tiger, have no duobt
that he would have been convicted
but there was no such evidence,
When told of the Sheriff's remark
concerning Mr.. Thomas observation
Mr.. Earnest stated that had this evi'
dence been before the jury the verdict
would have been different.
During the progress of the trials
the court house was packed with ne
groes, all of whom showed great in
terest in the outcome of the cases
There were mutterings among then
, against the negro detective" from
the outside. and later on this tool
the form of a mob attack on the man
,, One man by name of Will Wilson
,,,oe orrae+ad for tho assault and or
being brought before Judge Haskel
was found guilty and fined $3.50 anc
costs or five months in Jail, Others
who took part in the assault go
,, away before the arrival of the off
GERS.
Judge ]. c, Calhoun was attorne!
for the defendants.