Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-05-22
LAYS TROUBLES
TOPERSECUTION
BY POLITICIANS
Indicted FIoridian Pa
thetic Figure Going
To Court

AiIDALN 1, May Zl.-EA-LONCLilO
Sidney ]. Cats, Of Florida, indicted
in the Northern U. ). District Of
that state on a charge Of peonaCe,
was arrested here this morning by
Sheriff O. F. Tarver aud Chief Of
Police w. 7. Lockety Oh advice from
U. S. Marshal Miller, Of pensacola,
that a capias for his arrest was held
in that office, and that the former
executive of the Peninsular state
might be released on bond Of S2,5OO
He is also under state charge OF
accepting a bribe as governor IN
pardon case while governor,
Governor Catis was arrested at
the Terminal station, where he was
awaiting and afternoon tram to Jack
sonville, to which place he had tick
ct. He was taken Immediately to the
sheriff's office, where he was met
bV u. S. Commissioner George f.
White, who was ready to allow bond
if the former governor could furnish
it.
Bond was made shortly for Gov
ernor Cats by A. j. Lippitt, chair
man Of the county board; B. B. lvey,
f. r. West, w. f. Jefferson and X.
II. Ferrell, all well known citizens,
and he caught the afternoon train to
jacksonville as he had planned.
While he was still held the attor-
ncv general Of Florida called on
Sheriff Tarver by long distance and
asked him to hold the ex-governor on
the state warrant charging bribe- e-tak.
ing. but this the sheriff refused to do
without telegraphic instructions from
the governor of Florida, which were
not received.
Persecution, He Says.
Governor Cats would make no
statement to a reporter who saw hlm
at the sheriff's office, stating that
he would not talk until he had seen
his attorney, but he told Sheriff
Tarver that both the federal charge
and the state charge of bribery were
prosecutions by his political enemies.
His first remark as he started to
the courthouse was;
"Well, it seems that my enemies
won't let me alone"
Discussing the case of the negro
whom he is alleged to have held IN
rconagc on his farm, the eX-gover-
nor told the sheriff that the negro
had a good home and had been Civ
en- $40 a month and his board ever
since he had been in the speakers
employ and that he was still receiving
that amount.
No demonstration accompanied the
arrest. which was made quietly at the
station, in front Of the baggage
room. As the officers were walking
hack to the courthouse, Governor
Cats put his hand into his side coat
nocket, and the sheriff, evidently
fearing that he might be attempting
to draw weapon, seized his hand
and stopped him. He was then
searched and a short billy, loaded
with lead in the end, was found IN
his hin pocket. Asked about it, Gov
ernor Cats told the sheriff that he
prized it very highly, as Congress
man Frank Park of this district,
had sent it to him.
A Pathetic Figure.
The ex-governor of Florida pre-
scnted a pathetic figure as he walked
from the depot to the sheriff's office.
He repeatedly stated that he knew
no one here and had no way of MAX
ing bond, and kept repeating that
his enemies would not let him alone.
lie said once in the sheriff's Of
flee that he more than once signed
negroes bonds for as much as his,
but it seemed when man got INTO
trouble every mans hand was against
him. At times he almost broke down
and there was tremor in his voice;
Sheriff Tarver and u. S. Marshal
White learned this morning that the
indicted man was in the city, and,
having no warrant for his arrest,
thev wired the federal authorities at
Pensacola for instruction as to what
action they should take. Governor
Cats arrived in Albany at o'clock
this morning on the Central Of Geor-
gia train from Atlanta, and was plan
ming to go out at / :55 p. m. to Jack
sonville. He did not state where
he had been, and denied that he was
living in Atlanta when the sheriff
asked him the question, stating that
Defuniak Springs. Fla, is still his
home. He has been sought for two
weeks. .--.----- .s-Asl-