The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1915-02-12
GARDENERS MURDERER
| HAS BEEN ARRESTED
Caught in Tennessee and is
Now on Way to Palatka.
Alonzo Gardner's Body Found Last
Sundy by Capt. Hiscock.

Sheriff Kennerly received word at
late hour on Wednesday. night that
Clyde Slower, the negro charged with
the murder of the Gardner brothers
at their camp on Raft Creek, branch
of the Oclawaha river, some three
weeks ago, had been arrested at his
old home in Elizabethton, Tenn, and
where he was being held pending the
arrival of officers from Florida.
This information was originally
received by Chief of Police Roach Of
Jacksonville, who also informed Sher-
iff Kennerly. Mr.. Kennerly left
Thursday morning for Jacksonville,
where he will remain until the arrival
of the officer with the prisoner in
that city. Then he will return with
the man to Palatka.
Detective Cahoon of Jacksonville,
who has been on the track Of the
murderer and who had traced him to
Brunswick and Savannah and who
was in the latter city at the time of
Stover's arrest, has been sent by
Chief Roche to Tennessee for the
lmuTQerGT. ne dIIlNo III
sonviIle with him on Saturday.
1t was known that Slower was born
in Tennessee and that he had rela-
tives living in Elizabeth, that state.
This information was sent to the Of
ficers there and they have been on the
watch for him. According to the
officers there is absolutely no ques-
ton as to the identity of the man.
1t is said that he still had, when ar
rested, large part of the stolen
money, the iewelry, the suit case, one
of the Gardner's overcoats and other
articles known to have been with the
|Gardners at the camp.
There is general rejoicing in Pa
latka over the capture of this fiend.
The whole county has been aroused
at the thought that tourists coming
here to enjoy the fishing and hunt
ing had been murdered for their mon
ey. The city and county has felt
keenly the disgrace of the affair as
we'll as the horror of it. They were
anxious for the arrest of the guilty
man, and in this respect it SCENE that
their desire has been realized.
Alonza Gardner's body was found
last Sunday morning. The men who
made the discovery were Capt. His
cock of the mail boat Harry Lee,
and Oliver Hind of Georgetown.
These Young men made a special trip
Sunday morning in a launch from the
latter place. The body was found
lying in a dense clump of palmetto
about quarter of a mile from the
last camp of the men on Raft creek.
Mr.. Gardner had been shot from be-
hind and the ball had entered the
back of his head, falling ON his face.
His pockets had been rifled and were
turned inside out. The only thing
of value left on him was stick pin
with his initials engraved thereon.
1t was by this that the body was iden-
titled. The body was swollen beyond
all recognition. The hiding place of
the body was so concealed that 9TH
ers in search had passed close by it
several times.
Capt. Hiscock Immediately notified
Sheriff kennerly and the body was
kept under guard until the arrival Of
the officers. Deputy Sheriff R. c.
Howell and Justice Marshall left the
same night for the scene of the crime.
The body was taken to Welaka, where
an inquest was held. 1t was identi-
fled beyond all question and the jury
brought in a verdict in accordance
with the known facts. and holding
Clyde Slower responsible for the mur-
der.
Undertaken w. C. Davis of Mooney
& Davis, who attended the inquest,
then took charge of the body and
brought it to Palatka where it was
prepared for shipment to Massachu-
sets. On the early Wednesday train
Mrs. Gardner. ACCOMPANIED by her
sister, Mrs. E. B. Waddell left on
their sad journey to the north with
the remains.
The body of Horace Gardner has
not yet been found, although thor
ough, systematic search has been
conducted bv Sheriff Kennerly, who
left here early Tuesday morning, with
a party of some twenty or more men
for Welaka where they were Joined
by another large party all of whom
went in launches to the scene of the
murder. Every inch of the coun-
try surrounding the Raft creek camp
was searched for some distance, and
the creek was dragged for some dis
tance, but all to no avail. Search
ing parties are still out, however, and
the quest for the BODY will not be
abandoned. 1t is possible that some
light may be thrown on its location
by the murderer on his arrival.
H. E. Gardner, the brother of the
murdered men, together with w. 3.
Waddell, a brother of Mrs. AloniA
Gardner, are still here and will re l
main until the mystery is cleared uni,
This negro murderer, Slower, will,
be brought to Palatka and held for
trial, as it was in this county that
the crimes for which he stands charg-
ed were committed. He will get
speedy and exact justice at the hands
of the court, and if found guilty, as
there seems no doubt he will, his
punishment at the hand of the out
ragged law will follow speedily.
Gov. Park Trammell has offered a
reward of $500 for the capture of
Slower, and Sheriff Kennerly has Of
Efered reward of 800. For the find
ing Of the body of Alonza Gardner,
his brother win pay the reward of