The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1920-01-30
MEN OPENED
FIRE on OFFICERS
WHO ACTED IN
SELF DEFENSE
THE DEAD ARE E. W. AND A. ].
ALBRITTON AND NIRAN Il. AL.
DERMAN

In a battle between deputy sheriffs
and fence cutters last night three of
the latter were killed They are:
E. w. (known as Tinker Tom') AL
britton his brother, A. j., or "Shan"
Albritton; and a brother-in-law,
Niram D. Alderman. nephew, Jas
per Albritton, was arrested and is in
the county Jail at Barlow.
The men were caught in the act of
cutting the fencing of the American
Agricultural Chemical Co., which has
ranch of 10000 acres under a good
fence, for the purpose of developing
high-class livestock The cattle
raisers in that section have resented
this restriction of free ranges and
have on several occasions destroyed
large sections of this fence. The
Sheriff and a number of deputies,
warned that the depredations would
be continued last night, went to the
scene and separated in pairs to pa.
troll the premises. 1t fell to the lot
of Deputies Sam Williams and New
ton Hatcher to oome upon the n1sn
while in the act Of cutting the fence.
When the deputies called on them to
surrender they opened fire, and the
| aA ha
deadly effect noted.
The men were equipped with the
latest improved wire clippers, were
armed with shot-guns and pistols, and
were plentifully supplied with moon
shine, supposedly of the cane skim
mngs variety.
Through the courtesy OF the Bar
tow Record, which is published TINS
afternoon we are able to give the
following detailed story of the targ
edy:
About month ago the cutting o
six miles of fence on property OF th'
American Agricultural Co. belov
Brewster, was reported to Sherlf
John Logan. At that time an inves
tigation was promptly made, but tn
guilty parties could not be identified
Wednesday morning of this week
was again reported to the Sheriff tina
the fence had been cut. This ha
occurred the night previous, whe
the fence was cut at every alternat
post for several miles. 1t was int
mated that the job would be con
peted Wednesday night, so at tina
time Sheriff Logan, with posse
deputies, was on the ground. Tber
was more cut that night, but not
the region patrolled by the officer
The fence surrounds several thou
and acres of land, so that it can b
easily realized that all of the feDt
could not be watched at one time.
Last night the Sheriff and his po
Sc returned, and on their arrival
Tue ranch of the American Agricu
Eural Co., they divided into three "a
les' One party of deputies wei
I'VE miles south of Brewster, p
heir ears to the fence and caug
ne sound of cutting as those thu
Pngaged drew nearer. The deputl
waited until the cutters were
oout thirty yards of them, and oil
the officers said 81 am a Depu
Puefin. I've got the drop on "
oyS' put up your hands" One
ne men replied, Shoot, D. you
ccompanying the remark by
N usrge OF buckshot from a shot gu
N ne deputy at whom the shot W
AH req only. saved his life by droppi
III inward to his knees. Both deputi
EH zen opened fire, killing instantly t
III an who had fired the shot, who b
IM nad time to- fire his second b;
l though the hammer was cock
soy to hre. Simultaneously with t
'as OF the shot gun, theaother O
opened ZIP with pistols a
''su the smoke Of battle clear
as u, w. and A. ]. Albrittonl q
'So B. Alderman were dead on {
Vund' and Jasper AIbritton, anott