davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06
NO VIOLATION
OF DAVIS LAW.
COURT HOLDS

Continued from Page onc)
toxicating liquors, wines or beer to
any person or persons whomsoever,
unless same be done under such cir
cumstances, at such times. to such
persons, in such manner and undo"
such regulations, as provided for and
in full compliance with the provisions
of an act of the legislature of Flor
ida, approved May 5, A. d. 1918, and
entitled IAN Act to regulate the sale
or furnishing of intoxicating liquors.
wines or beer and prescribing the
penalty for the violation of certain
of its provisions and repeating laws
in conflict herewith" and being chap
ter $500 laws of Florida.
Section 2. That any member of any
club or association of persons de-
scribed in section of this act, or any
employee or agent of any such club or
association of persons violating any
of the provisions Of this act shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and
upon conviction thereof shall be fined
not more than one thousand dollars.
or by Imprisonment in the county jail
not exceeding twelve months.
In my opinion the facts set out in
the information do not legally charge
an offense under the laws of Florida,
and for that reason only, the motion
to quash the information is sus-
tanned.
Meaning of Decision.
The decision means that an in
dividual may operate a service club,
in the strict meaning of the word.
That is, an individual may store for
use Of the members liquors, and may
serve such to them, it is said. The
statute as passed by the late legisla-
ture prohibits the operation of clubs
by firms, corporations, etc, and does
not affect individuals. This was the
substance of the motion made by At
torney s. NJ. Loftin, in which he was
sustained.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06

ly an automatic pistol-a very large
automatic, the like of which the wit
ness had never seen before and has
not seen since.
J. d. Cobb, Western Union agent
here, likewise testified to VIII Black
well possessing such an automatic.
Was this the do whose steel bullet
was pisked up on the scene of the
tragedy after it had struck the Win
chester held by the aged Confederate
veteran?
A Scrap of Paper.
The state then put H. H. Mcclellan,
telegraph operator of Pensacola. on
the stand who identified the Cradle
Bartlett telegram, filed on the morn
ing of March 20, the day before the
murder, at half past six, or about
thirty minutes after the train from
Alabama pulled in. The telegram
reads, Come to Pensacola this a. m.
Cradle Bartlett"
That Cradle Bartlett is an alias for
Bob Blackwell, who came from Ala
bama to assist his brother in the pro-
posed crime but endeavOred to keep
his presence in the country secret, is
the contention of the state. and of
fered Bob's signatures to the motions
for continuance and change of venue
to establish the identity of the hand
writing, Bob" was accompanied by
another man-probably the third man
in the crime, yet at large; and they
carried a suitcase,
! Bob Acknowledges Presence Here.
! After the state had proved by Fan
ME Atwell, daughter of Mrs. Eliza
| Atwell, the star witness, that Will
| Blackwell had received the message
and boarded the morning train for
Pensacola, and by d c. Smith. of
Holt, and Frank Bronson, who lives
near Holt, that Bob Blackwell was
seen that day in Pensacola, and later
on the train coming towards Crest
view, although the two brothers we're
not together and pretended not to
recognize each other, although viii
Blackwell both in the morning and
in the evening declared that Bob was
in the oil fields of Texas, the de
Tense arose and acknowledged receipt
of the telegram and that Bob had
in fact come to CrestvieW that night,
the night before the murder
The First Sensations.
It was the first sensation of the
dav. Two others followed in short
order. One was when Mrs. Eliza
Atwell, going on the stand the sec
ond time, declared that she had given
false testimony to the coroner's jury
because viii Blackwell had threaten
ed that "the boys" would kill her if
she gave him away. She swOre that
when Will returned that Tuesday
night, he had her fix him up a lunch
and announced that he was going
hunting; that she did not see him I'M
til cock crow the Thursday morning
following the murder.
The state stopped her testimony
there, as it is showing events in their
sequential order; the usual course is
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06
By Walt Gregg

Laura looked at him and suddenly
burst into terrible sobs and tears.
Henry was frightened. There uowl
there now!" he soothed. 81 guess you
amt feeling we'll tonight. guess you'd
better get some of that herb medicine
and see what It will do for you"
II guess I'll go to bed" As sud
denly az 1t had come, L.aura's passion
deserted her. She was again the ST.
lent, submissive type OF woman Henry
wanted her to be. You be sure the
doors locked" she said. as she turned
away.
The winter passed. and spring came.
One evening. when Henry and Laura
were sitting on the porch planning
their garden. the express wagon rat
aled past and stopped at Jerry Crillis'
house. Both Laura and Henry saw
that it was filled with paint cans "I
guess the Crtllis' paint has come" said
Laura. She could speak of it now
calmly. Henry said nothing.
Laura watched GENEROUSLY every
movement the man made as he went
back and forth with his loads There,
the last ones out" she said. almost
unconsoiously. for Henry had ostenta-
tiously refrained from showing any
interest in the proceedings.
What's that?" Henry jumped 10 his
feet "Lunkhead," he exclaimed. and
ran down TO the gate. Ellis! Ellis!
Here! Ell:s." Laura heard him call.
Transfxed. she saw the expressman
turn his horses, and drive back to
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06

you!" exclaimed Laura Isn't Jerry
with you?"
He stopped to speak to Henry JEFF
frey. How do you do, Henry"
Mandy Crillis was tall, fine-faced
woman. Her eyes were surrounded
with the fine Crinkles of frequent
laughter. Her personality breezed.
There was nothing subservient about
her. Henry Waite admired her, but he
was thankful that Laura was not like
her. He suspected that she liked TO
have her own way.
Laura Waite helped her caller take
of the raccoon coat that covered her
from head TO foot. She had always
wanted a fur coat. But fools had been
heard of who wanted the moon. She
knew that she was quite as likely TO
get her desire as they.
There was a scraping of feet on the
mat, and Jerry Crillis stepped in. He
was a little man. short. thin and
wizened. Thought we'd come over
and be neighborly." he said, heartily.
Henry Waite almost thrust the little
man into an enormous arm chair. He
liked Jerry and Mandy Just been
reading about John COTS new incu-
bators." he said Wonderful luck he's
had with EN-"
The two men Immediately drifted into
farm talk. and the two women into
household discussions. BY and by Hen
ry Waite rose. Speaking of apples.
he said. I'm going down cellar and
get you some of my Baldwins. !
stored 'em in the inner cellar. and
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06

There are a great many people
who would be very much benefited
by taking Chambsrlain's Tablets for
a weak or disordcred stomach, Ar
you one of them? Mrs NJ r. Scarf,
BaldwinsvilIe, n. Y, relates her ex-
perience in the use of these tablets
Il had bad spell with my stomaca
about six months ago, and was
troubled for two or three weeks with
gas and severe pains in the pit Of
my stomach. Our druggist advised
me to take Chamberlain Tablets.
| took a bottle home and the first
dose relieved me wonderfully, and I
kept on taking them until I w2s
cured" These tablets do not relieve
pain, but after the pain has beer
relieved may prevent its recurrence.
adv.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06

was the closest to her.
The third man is no doubt the
mysterious stranger from Alabama,
the man who stood sentry at the
Davis gate and in his alarm at the
unexpected return of Harrison Davis,
son of the murdered man, fired nine
buckshot into the door. Sophronia
says he is light completed and
chunky, weight about 1870 pounds.
The state would give a good deal 10
extend the hospitality of its jails to
that gentleman now.
The last witness examined was T.
Hope Cawthorn, photographer of De-
Funiak, who identified certain photo
graphs of the scene of the killing,
offered in evidence.
Court adjourned at 5:45 until
o'clock tomorrow.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06

they're keeping fine"
He shook the parings from the plate
he had been using on to a newspaper,
and started of Laura Waite's face
flushed. Wait a minute, Henry" she
said. "Lemme git you another plate"
II guess I amt pizened it," snapped
Henry" Waite.
Mandy Crillis and her husband look
ed at each other. HE amt hurt it
any. Laura" said Mandy Crillis COM
fortingly. See here. this is what Jer-
~ and I really came over for" She
united the string of a parcel she had
brought, and some sheets of house
paints fell out.
Laura made motion as If to snatch
them: "Oh. my land! put 'em up.
Mandy" she impIored. Don't let
Henry see 'em,"
Jerry Crillis stared at her. What
are you acting so for. Laura?" he
asked.
Just then Henry arrived on the
scene and his eyes fell on the sheets.
His face turned very red Did Laura
ask you to bring them over?" he de-
manded angrily.
How'd Laura know anything about
them?" asked Mandy Crillis
Henry was puzzled Laura looked
guilty. but he knew that Mandy Crillis
would not speak or act a lie. Didn't
know but she might have" he said
shortly, and put his apples on the
table. Get some knives and plates
Laura" he said gruffly.
When Laura had tottered out OF the
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06

not in Blackwell's drug store, as Cur
tbs Adams said-Curtis declaring
that Dollar was present, though he
didn't know whether he had heard,
when Will put the proposition to him,
Curtis.
Asked to Be AccOmplices
The state then called two more wit
nesses, making five in all, who de-
clared that Will blackwell had sound
ed them with regard to pulling off
some crooked deals.
Ike Carr, who lives near Holt,
testified that when he was in Crest
view on March 10 last, or II DAYS
before the Davis murder, Will Black
well said to him that he "knowed
where we could get some money"
He and viii were looking through
a tent catalogue, Carr planning to
buy a tent to house a pool table. The
suggestion made no impression on
him, Carr stated, but said that sew
eral days later, after he had re-
turned to Holt, he received a letter
from Will saying "he wanted to see
me some more regarding that matter
about which he talked to me before"
Lower down in the letter, witness
said, Blackwell added that he would
order the tent for Carr if Carr told
! him the size he wanted. The letter
has been lost Defense claims that
the reference to a further talk meant
the tent matter, but the state claims
| that this was specifically mentioned
later, and that Wills reference had
more sinister meaning.
Tried 1t Singlehanded.
/ George Jones. of Holt, declared
that in Bob Blackwell's drug store
last summer, Will told him he had
/ some money located and asked him
to go and get it. Curtis Adams was
in the store, said Jones, but Levy
/ Dollar was not. Blackwell told Jones
witness swore, that there was about
$4,000 in the pile and that he had
already made one trip after it, L. H
Dollar, by the way. yesterday testi-
fed that Will confessed to having
made one try cinglehanded after the
prize, but had gotten lost. The pres
ent witness, George Jones, said VII
did not mention the name of the
proposed victim, and had simply sale
they lived near Green Pond.
Thinking of the Davises.
In order to show that the Davis
couple and their money still persist
ed in Will BlackwelPs mind, the state
put A. j. OglesIy, of Camp Walton
on the stand, who testified that last
summer when he came to Crestview
the prisoner asked particularly about
them, and if they lived in the same
place.
Obie Adams, of Crestview. who
operates an automobile livery tC
Camp Walton, told how in February
and in March of this year, vii
Blackwell had him carry him to with.
in a few miles of the Davis place
The first time he had a dog and CUR
and his mission was ostensiblv hunt.
ing; the second time he carried mere.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06

to begin with the establishment of
the murder and work backwards; the
prosecution however is putting itself,
so to speak, in the place of the Grim
inals, and is trying to show their
motive, the development of their
plan, and the final contamination of
the crime.
Blackwells identified.
Sophronia Holmes, who lives 10
miles south of Crestview on the way
to the Davis home. testified that on
Wednesday, March 81, about a. m.
the morning of the tragedy-she
saw three men coming from the di-
rectiOn of Crestview. An observant
girl, she noticed that they were
dressed in black pants and white
shirts; one of them wore a white
hat They were about 40 PAGES from
hey, AS she went to the road to get
some firewood, she noticed their foot
prints-it was an old, abandoned
road and they were the only footprints
visible. One set of them showed a
raised spot, the convex surface left
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06

"AIl right"
Laura Waite's heart swelled with
envy How wonderful it must be to
have a husband who would say, "All
right" to any suggested expenditure of
money! And Jerry Crillis didn't pre-
fer the buff, either. He accepted 1t be-
cause Mandy did. She felt very bitter
toward Henry.
Amt them good apples, Jerry?"
hastily asked Henry Waite. to change
the subject. "Yours's keeping we'll"
When the CrilIises went home Hen
~ took up his paper TO finish II. Laura,
still in the hall. was watching them
through a crack in the door
where's that draught coming
from" shouted Henry testify.
Laura shut and bolted the door and
came into the room quickly. "If there's
a woman on earth I'd like to change
places with. it's Mandy Crillis." she
said in a passion-choked voice.
Henry dropped his paper. What"
he calculated.
Without answering, Laura began TO
set the chairs in place.
II suppose you're mad because you
can't have the house painted" Henry
remarked coldly.
Still dumb, Laura gave the chair she
was moving twitch that overthrow IL
and it fell heavily on Henry's foot.
BE CAREFUL" he cried threateningly
jumping up and dancing around on the
other foot. "D'you do that on purpose
Laura Waite?"
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06

where Henry was standing. The two
talked. and then the man took out his
order book and consulted H. Next he
seemed 70 be apologizing. and then he
drove back to the Crillis' yard, gath
cred up fully half Of the paint cans
put them into his wagon, and brought
them over 10 the Waite yard. Laura
sbivered when he did that preIoster-
GUS thing But all Henry did was to
open the big side gate and follow the
wagon around 10 the back Of the house.
In a few moments the expressman
drove away.
Come out here. Laura" called Hen
~ Waite.
Laura went around the house In a
dream. Henry was standing there.
viewing the paint pots. His eyes
looked really mischievous as he glanc-
ed around at her.
"what'd he bring EN- here for,
Henry" she faltered.
Because it's ours" said Henry.
Thinking II over. 7 thought Jerry and
/ could save by getting our stuff to-
gether. so I fixed ii up with him some
time ago. told him and Mandy to
keep it from you. Thought I'd give
you surprise"
"Oh, Henry" It was all Laura gould
say. but the look on her face touched
Henry deeply. Had she cared so much,
IT'S white" he said hastily, land
green for the blinds. That's what you
wanted. wasn't ito"
Yes" said Laura. But her tone, her
face. made uD for the paucity Of words
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06

room Mandy Crillis opened her lips.
What's the meaning Of this. Henry"
she propounded
"Oh, Louisa's been over working
Laura up about painting the house.
When l saw them samples I didn't
know but twas a frame-up. and she
and Laura'd been getting you to bring
EN- round"
Mandy and I amt given to under
hand ways of doing. Henry" said Jerry
Crillis. springing out of his chair,
Wed better be going. Mandy" he said
stiffly. and began to pick up the sam
pies. Nov. now, jerry" said his
wife. gently. Henry didn't mean TO
offend US. We amt seen Louisa, Hen
~. and neither she nor Laura has ever
said a word to you about your house" "
She saw Laura at the door and called
TO her: Come and see how you Ike
this buff. Laura, I took TO it from the
first. it's so soft and pretty"
There amt anything like white
house with green blinds. according to
my views" said Henry Waite.
That's what Jerry says" said
Mandy Crillis She pointed out the
buff sample. "Ain't It pretty, Laura. %
Looks like the light part of butter
and eggs" said Laura.
$50 it does. What should you have
if you were choosing. Laura? ?" White
with green blinds, same as Henry ia,
vors."
do you think you'll take the buff.
Mandy" Jerry Crillis asked
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06

Continued From Page one)
first three hours was consumed by
the defense in an attempt to dis
credit the testimony given yesterday
by Bud Adams, Curtis adams, and
l.. H. Dollar, who had sworn that
Will Blackwell tried to get them to
be his accompliees in the premeditat-
ed robbery and if necessary murder,
and even outlined the plan substant-
tally as it was carried out, smutted
face, and all.
Attempts to Discredit.
Proceedings of the cOroner's in
quest were read in which Bud Adams
declared that VIII Blackwell did not
mention the name of the proposed
victims, was read. Bud yesterday de-
clared that Blackwell specified some
Davis, but he did not understand
which Davises they were-Will SIM
ply saying they were old people.
? Witness had difficulty in understand
/ ing cross examination, showing plain
ly that he did not know whether
Mr.. Laird was questioning him in the
present or was referring to testi-
mony taken several months ago at
the coroner's inquest, before Black
wells arrest when witnesses were
tafraid to talk.
Other Crimes Suggested.
Curtis Adams (no relation to Bud)
on cross examination by the defense,
declared that Will had tried to get
him to help in robbing ], D, Sanders
of some money Witness said Will
told him he knew the combination of
the safe, and the job would be easy
to pull off. Adams also declared that
Will Blackwell tried to get him ia
help rob the Widow Broxon, his
grandfather. and Gus Harris.
L. H. Dollar declared that the first
time Will Blackwell asked him to be
an accomplice, he was in front of
Charlie Cooper's store. in Holt, and
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06

by a depression in a rubber heel. 1t
rained that night but cleared before
morning, and she noted the same
footprints in the road the next day
bound to Crestview and away from
the direction of the Davis home.
Asked if she could identify the men
she said she could. She was told to
do so.
Dramatic Moment,
VIII Blackwell had moved back
from the table, and Bob had sep
arated from him, sitting among some
witnesses. 1t was a dramatic mo-
mGnt. The spectators rose from their
seats and strained forward; a heavy
silence fell on the assembly as the
young girl crossed the platform.
pushed through the crowd and first
pointed out Bob and then Will Black
well.
She declared further that viii
Blackwell was the one who made the
telltale footprints-he was the one
who wore the white hat, she said, and
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06

Lis wife.
Yes, I did, and Louisa had better
stay at home if she's coming around
Lere to make trouble"
Henry Waite pulled the lamp toward
Linn, and opened his paper. He did not
Feem 10 notice that in favoring his
cwn eyesight he was endangerong hers.
lie seldom did notice things OF that
sort. Henry looked out for himself.
Laura sat silently, patching and
mending. She felt nervous about her
sisters. meddling. She wished Louisa
would be more careful what she said.
She was afraid that some day she
would make serious trouble
Presently the door bell rang.
Who do you suppose that is?"
Laura threw the pillow case she had
just mended over Henry's plate of ap-
pie cores. and went TO the door.
How do. Laura" said a CHEEKY fem
mine voice. IF Mohammed won't come
to the mountain the mountain has TO
come TO him"
Mandy Crillisi II I amt glad To see
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06
BOY LOST
ON PALAFOX STREET

Crying bitterly and wandering aim
lessly about on PalafoX street, little
Johnnie Holifield, three years Of age,
was found by Officer Anderson yes
terday, and persuaded to 90 to the
office of the police captain, where he
was cared for until an inquiry was re
ceived whether or not "a little boy
was reported lost" Relatives were
then notified that the manly little
youngster, who had lost all his shy
ness by time the telephone request
came for him, was then being held ~
the station, awaiting the pleasure Of
older ones. He was soon safely at
home.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06
NAVY NEEDS NEGRO.
MESS ATTENDANT

Announcement was received by the
local navy recruiting station thai un-
I'll further orders negro mess atten-
dats, third class, may be accepted
for enlistment and sent to Montgom-
cry. Only those who are exception
ally qualified will be accepted; they
must have had experience in hotels,
clubs, restaurants or private families
and must have recommendations
from their previous employer.
Men in this rating will be sent 10
Montgomery on early morning train
arriving at Sis. The negroes who are
accepted for this service will be Off
GERS servants. Application may be
made at the navy recruiting station,
second floor, American National Bank
building.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06
SCHOOL BOARD WILL
MEET NEXT MONDAY

Owing to the fact that the eighth
of July falls on Sunday, the regular
monthly meeting of the board Of pub
lie instruction will be held Monday
afternoon at $50 o'clock, in the office
of the superintendent,
No special business is up for con-
sideration at this meeting, though
the high school plans may be dis
Cussed.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06
Doing Good.

Few medicines have met with
more favor or accomplished more
good than Chamberlain's Collie and
Diarrhoea Remedy. John F. Jantzen,
Delmeny, Sask., says of it, Il have
used Chamberlain's Collie and Diarr-
hoea Remedy myself and in my fam
lily, and can recommend it as being
an exceptionally fine PREPARATION
adv.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06

Italy has solved her coast defense
problem on the Adriatic by use of
great land battleshiDs" trains
armed and armored for patroIling the
800 miles of coast, most of which is
open beach, Many battles have been
fought between these trains and Aus
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06
The pauCiIy = = or0S

Hat was that Louisa
was saying to you,
Laura ?"
Didn't tell you II
was a shame I
wouldn't paint the
house, did she?-
Didn't say 1t was
the shabbiest place
in town."
Il suppose you
heard her." faltered
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06

Lens. coal center Of France. which
has been drained of its resources by
the Germans while in their hands.
sine almost the beginning of the war
Is about to be retaken by the allies.
Canadian troops are within haIf
mile of the city. and are pushing uu
from the south. Map shows how the
battle line will be Strengthened by
the recapture of Lens.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06

German sailors from the interned
liner Kronprinz Wilhelm are being
put to work by the United States
building additions to their inte1nment
camp at Fort Mcpherson, Ga. to ac-
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06

J. H. Pace left yesterday for
short visit at Tate Springs.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-06
Tersely Told.

r. E. L. McCaskil, of DeFuniak, is
a business visitor in Pensacola.