The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-11-21
United States Marshal Bose
Brings First-Hand News
of the Tragedy.
MANY PASSENGERS
WITNESS KILLING
Scott the Dead Man, Ap-
peared Week Ago as Gov
ernrnent Witness in Case.

An interesting and graphic account
of the killing of Deputy Sheriff {. +.
Scott at Belts, Fla, last Saturday
was brought to Pensacola YESTERDAY
morning by Deputy United States
Marshal Bose of Mariana, who was
in the country near Belts wden the
shooting occurred and who brought
the first detailed account of the muir
| der to Pensacola The Journal car
ried the story of the killing Sunday
morning, but it has been impossible
| arrival yesterday.
at is generally believed" said MIR.
Bose, that Scott was killed Tor two
reasons, the first of which was his
connection with the trial and con-
viction of Henry Blackman in the
federal court here, and the second
that Colman, the man charged with
the crime, had been discharged as
manager of the Belts Naval Stores
Company, and while no appointment
has been made, it wa- understood
that Scott would be his successor"
Continuing, Mr.. Boss stats, that
| from information given him, the muir
der occurred at l o'clock on the sta
tlon platform at Belts, while the
southbound train. was waiting On a
| siding for the station agent, who
was eonverslng with-vSeott en-vthe
| platform. Just as the conversation
was finished and the agent tut ae,i
! to get aboard the train, Colh1an. az
cordlng to witnesses, walker up to
i Scott, accusing him in a loud voice
of working against him.
To this Scott replied that he was
not and insisted that he bore no i'll
feeling against him, as the Black
man case had been closed At that
point, the account says, Colman
cursed Scott and struck him. Scott
returned the blow, which was parried
by Colman, and Scott lunged to one
side, his coat blowing open, and a
pistol revealed in a holster at his
side.
Seeing the weapon, Colma-. it is
stated, snatched it from Scots waist
and struck the owner in the head
with the butt. Dazed, Scott fell 70
the platform, but in a few seconds
regalned consciousness and p'eaded
with Colman not to Kill him. Others
standing near did likewise. ana Scott.
1t Is said, fearing that he would be
killed. arose and ran for shelter in
the waiting room across the platform.
where just as he reached the door
hc lcIl, SHOC near Cne neaft.
Instead of running, it is stated
that Colman walked over to thu pros
,trate figure, asking if he was hurt.
eyes, | am dying. You hive killed
me- Scott is said to have replied.
Colman, it is stated, then walked
into the waiting room. picked up a
bulky mail order catalogue aad re-
turned to Scott, placing the book un
der his head A moment later Scott
was dead, and Colman went fmme
diately to the commissary at the 9th
er end of the station, where he asked
for some money. His request was
refused, and he opened the register,
taking what he wanted, counted il,
and gave the assistant a credit slip,
payable from his salary for the sum
he had taken.
Without hindrance from any of the
witnesses, Colman, it is stated.
walked from the station to his home
some distance away, where he took a
horse, buggy and rifle, and drove
off
The tragedy complete, the train
moved on to its destina ton, the pas
sengers dumbfounded by the murder
enacted before their eyes in a few
brief moments while waiting for the
station agent. Colman surrendered
to the sheriff ext day.
"