Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-01-26
.Sheriff's Possee Burn a
Building in Effort to
Make Capture
HAGAN SLIGHTLY HURT
Gun Battle Laster For
Several Hours at
Fairview

DdTTlcdueu Ill IrdHle dwelling at
Fairview yesterday afternoon two
young negroes successfully resisted
capture by Sheriff Hagan and Depu-
ties Cannon and Livingston, assisted
by several other citizens of the
community. Heavily armed and with
seemingly an unlimited amount of
ammunition the two desperate char
acters kept their would-be captors
away until after dark, when Sheriff
Hagan and his men crept up and set
fire to the house.
Sheriff Hagan received slight
abrasian from a bullet that grazed
his left shoulder, and other members
of the posse experienced the sensa-
ton of bullets whizzing by their
heads. Neither of the negroes were
wounded, so far as could be deter
mined, although both made dash for
liberty when the Flames consuming
the house made it unsafe for them
to stay inside any longer.
Just before dark telephone mes
sage was received here that Sheriff
Hagan had been shot down, Deputy
Cannon wounded and the entire party
surrounded by bootleggers and moon-
sinners at Fairview. A number Of
citizens Immediately armed them
selves and prepared for a hasty trip
to the scene. One party went by
boat from McCoy's fish house, while
others went in cars. AS the rein
forcements approached the scene the
heavens reflected the flames from
the burning building, and there was
much speculation as to whether or
not the desperadoes were burning all
buildings in sight.
Arriving at the scene, however, the
rescuers found the sheriff and his
deputies preparing to leave, all traces
of the two negroes having been lost
in the darkness. They are believed
to have made their getaway in
boat which they had been using.
The negroes had been terrorizing
the community at Fairview, and the
matter was reported to the sheriff.
They were both heavily armed and
residents in that community were
becoming alarmed, both of the ne
groes being strangers, and having
taken up their abode in vacant
house. When the sheriff arrived and
demanded the men to surrender they
refused and barricaded themselves in
the house, firing at any of the posse
they could see. 1t is believed that
they are hiding from the authorities
of some other locality.
Wild rumors were afloat on the
street, and from the meagre infor-
nation available it was thought that
the services of physician would be
needed and DR.. johnson was among
the party which went on the boat.
A steady, cold wind out of the
north handicapped the boats prog
ress and it was over an hour making
the trip, docking at Fairview at about
$50. The house where the negroes
were barricaded is on the Elicit es-
tate, and was located about 200 yards |
from the Elicit home, and about the
same distance from the river.
Just before the house was set on
fire Sheriff Hagan disposed his
forces at stands where he thought |
there would be the best chance to
capture them, as he did not wish to
shoot them if it could possibly be
avoided. But the negroes surprised
those waiting and left the house, /
as they went and made a
dash for the nearest shrubbery and
were gone out of sight before they
could be stopped. Both fired sew
eral shots as they ran, and one of |
them dropped his coat.
Following the arrival of the rein
from Palatka a thorough
search was made of the river front,
and the boat, which it is believed be-
longed to the men, had disappeared.
PAPER SAYS