The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-04-09
FORMAL CHARGE
MADE AGAINST
TWO NOW IN JAIL
Thomas Deer and Priscilla
Majors Charged With
Murder Milton Clopton
AFFIDAVIT MADE BY
DEAD MANS BROTHER
Woman Declares She Knows
Nothing of the Murder,
But Had Seen Clopton

The formal charge Of murder was
docketed last night against Thomas
Deer and Priscilla Majors, both white.
A brother OF Milton clopton. who was
found dead beside the railroad tracks
"Wednesday morning. signed an am
davit against the two charging them
with murder and they are now locked
up In JAN on this charge. Thay had
been held for tho past twenty-four
hours for Investigation.
Deer was employed as night watch
man AZ one Of tho naval stores yards
north Of tho city. while the woman
resided near tho chalk factory.
The woman last night was singing
sacred songs In the cell occupied by
her when a Journal representative
called and she then made the state
ment that she knew nothing OF Ciop-
tons death. Il had been a friend Of
the family for a long time and had
done some sewing for tham." said the
woman. Sometimes / lived there
and sometimes a. Ferry Pass with
my people. My father Is Dan Majors.
Il saw Milton Clopton the night he
was killed. but I know nothing OF his
being murdered"
The woman said she had twice been
married and that she Is about 50 years
old. Her first husband died and the
second. Holiness preacher. secured
a divorce and IL now In Georgia
INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.
Of the Ciopton case, Judge Wni l..
johnson yesterday heard from a nnm-
Der OF witnesses, ali Of them has NJ
testified regarding the mans death.
As yet none Of the witnesses have
sad anything % directly 70 connect
either Of the two parties locked up ia
the county Jail with the alleged as
sassination OF Ciopton. who wes found
dead ne n early hour Wednesday
morning. just north CT the city.
There are several other witnesses
being sought. Il WIS learned last
night, and that ~ the reason why tire
further investigation has been con-
tinued until Saturday morning at 10
o'clock.
Two enginemen IN the cab OF the
train which was alleged 90 have killed
1A1RtWn &NtW III NNN GBfWnEI - Offlf1N
yesterday. and both OF them were quite
sure that the engine had struck no
object on the track. 5-hey were post
tive that no man had been walking
ahead OF tho engine. which was clip
ping on about a forty~miie rate when
passing the spot where CIopton was
killed. They stated that, by the aid
Of the powerful electric headlight. they
-.
feet ahead Of their engine as clear as
II II was broad daylight This teaff-
mony weakened the claim OF some
who had maintained that tho man was
on tho track when struck by the an
gina and killed
A negro Waterman named Fflyar,
who was on duty az the naval stores
yard that night. said that he was
quite positive no man was on ths
track. This Waterman. in the long
hours that he has 20 serve alone. has
a habit % passing awsy thu time. ha
testified. by watching the trains 60
speeding by. The northbonnd train
was one which he especially looked
out for as he admired the brilllancy
~ It's headlight. Filyar said the light
was 80 bright that Il was frequently
the case that he noticed rabbits. cats
and dogs q hundred yards distant from
the fast-trRvelilng engine.
I Be also stated that on the night
/ Ciopton was found dead, the arst ones
who Informed him OF the discovery
were a man and a wuman. both ~
whom be knew well. and both Of whom
were then In jail lie tired e. dis
abuse their minds of any sucn claim
when they told him the train hal
killed a man." bat they were "a posl-
/ tive that he accompanied them 20 the
I spot and found tho ,lfeless body ~
/ Milton Clopton his head restinE-in MS
I hand, and lying prone on HIS back ca
was quite sure there was no man on
i the track an the train approached
The hearing waa continued after
relative of the dead man had signed
4 warrants. charging the man and wo-
man now IN the county AL with muir