The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-04-08
SUSPECTED NOW THAT NJ.
CLOPTON WAS MURDERED
Authorities Do Not Believe
Young Man Met Acct
dental Death.
MAN AND WOMAN
ARE BEING DETAINED
Officers Think Clopton Met
Foul Play and Body Plac-
ed By Track.

Two persons a man and a woman.
both white. were locked up IA the coum--
~ tan last night. following prelimi-
nary investigation into the death &C
Nathaniel Milton Clopton. 81 years ae
age. whose body waK found. lifalnmm.
lying near the tracks. Just beyond the
city limits. ~ = late hour Tuesday
night.
Following the early report that ira
body had been deposited there altar
having been struck Is the northbound
passenger train. the coroner looked into
the question end came % the concln.
sion that = train had killed Cioptnn.
Later on. however. Developments he--
San 20 bring out the fact that soma
other agency may have contributed 70
his death, and a further investigation
was pushed. This resulted In the de-
tcntlon or a watchman ~ one Of tina
large properties north ~ tho city. and a
Waite woman. No charge had bean
made against elther ~ the prisoners
last night They were simply held on
suspicion and the coroner win conduct
a more searching investigation tiaia
morning "a ~ o'clock. with a view 20
arriving AZ t4ae real cailse Of the whisa
mans death.
The woman was said 20 have been
with tho dead man. Ciopton. several
hours previous 90 his being found dead.
Sha endeavorcd 90 deny at first that
she had been IN his company. and
when treated 70 third degree" "a
the sheriffs once. finally admitted that
shs had been with him about . O'Clock.
He was said 20 havs been killed az
1880 o'clock.
The white man who Hpent last night
in the county jail, made contradictory
statements relative TO not being out
~ the once during a certain time ~
the night. but Il was later proved that
he had been absent from the once 81
an hour wien We said be was III tht
office. or course this was a aaestiea
of veracity between him and anutheF
witness. who ives said "a have been IN
terviewed by the authorities.
Another witness was found who con-
tradictod the claim Of tho woman that
she had not seen Clopton In the early
part II the night. IL was told to tho
officers that she had NOT only been in
his company. bat had also waited for
him by appointment. II was alleged. ~
or near a store. IN Goulaing or ia that
vicinity.
She had nothing 20 say about Clop.
ton. except 20 claim that Ne was drunk
l for a week. when. aH n matter of faos.
he had been working a. least for two
days this week.
The wounds on the hs1dy of Cfoptca
were reported 90 have been pronouncad
unlike those which might have bean
made BY a speedy train -Four gashsa
on tho hack Of his head. sne under hin
ear and some decorations Of his faca.
were about tho nature OF the wounds
Another fart which WIS brought cam
/ by the railroad men on the engine. waa
also thought 60 have had a direct bear
ing upon the case. and would likafy
have strengthened the claim that foul
play had been reSorted tn BY unknown
parties. 60 effect hts death. n was
stated that the engineer and the fire.
msn IN the engine. which was equipped
/ with electric headlight. were both lock-
/ ing forward on tha track when ar
preaching the direct spot where tba
body was found. and neither OF them
had noticed any man het,We@n ths rails
Had there have been q man there. they
claim the brilliant light would have
picked him up," and a warning would
have been given. THIS was thought 90
have been the strongest feature II the
Investigation. but a. vet there has been
/ nothing % directiy oonrent either of
the two locked up last night with ths
real killing % Clopton.