The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-01

Continued From Page one)
the death penalty,-this in reference
to the pardoning, several months ago.
Of the Roberts brothers, convicted of
like bloody deed, and under sentence
for death.
Not Guilty, Plea.
Every inch of the way was fought
on the first dav of the trial, and at
the conclusion, after the jury was
drawn. accepted and sworn, the men
were arraigned and both entered
plea of not guilty. The court was
then adjourned for the night.
Will Blackwell Escapes.
For safe keeping, the prisoners
were ordered transferred to the Wal
ton county Jail at DeFuniak for the
night, and this service was being per
formed by Sheriff Sutton and Deputy
T. Moore when Will Blackwell slipped
the handouts and escaped in the
darkness shortly after the car had
reached the DeFuniak suburbs. The
escaping prisoner was lost in the
darkness. For weeks he was search
ed for, and was reported to have been
seen on a number of occasions, being
finally captured a comparatively short
distance from the county seat. He
then announced that the shot in his
leg was inflicted by a brother of
Sheriff Sutton, who, on the trail of
Blackwell, caught sight of the fugi-
tive.
Sensations Promised.
In his own behalf, however, Will
Blackwell promises some sensations
of his own, for he hints that his es-
cape was not so sensational after ali.
In fact he gave the editor of the De
Funiak Herald, who called on him in
the Walton county Jail a brilliant
promise of springing some sensations
on his own hook once his case goes
to trial. The said sensational dis
closures, therefore, are being awaited
with the keenest interest by the large
| general public. and that interest and
natural curiosity will alone attract
large numbers to the Okalooaa county
courthouse on Monday next
| Chased from one part of the county
to another, Blackwell was finally, on
| the night of May 20, rounded up and
! found in a smokehouse on the VIII
! liams farm, near Holt. He was I'M
! armed, and accompanied his captors
without the least resistance. His
wound was what troubled him more
than his capture.
Taken to the Walton county Jail
nothing was heard from him for a
week, when about June 6, he sent for
| Editor Larkin Cleveland of the De-
! Funiak Herald, and to that newspa-
perman entrusted a statement, copy
| of which is appended below. This
gives promise of bringing in a mum,
Der of people rather prominently, and
this is only another of the series of
sensations.
| Blackwell's Statement.
Blackwell's statement follows:
To the People of Okaloosa County
and West Florida:
"Not having had an opportunity t.
see and confer with my many friends
since | was arrested and accused of
the murder of NJ. NJ Davis and his
wife, / take this method Of explaining
my position.
'T am innocent of the offenst
charged. | have been made a victim
of one of the most cold-blooded pc
litical frame-ups that was ever per,
petrated in Florida. 1t is an ancien
saying that if you give your enemy
enough rope he will hang himself
This is borne out in my case. NJ!
political enemies framed up, conspir
ed and plotted against me without ;
just or lawful cause. They opened
their mouths wide against me whel
a