Florida, J, 1853-1943, Undated

rs hAch = {7/35

NISH|

\ OF
us

‘empted
ndsay
urn

G. H.
atants of
otter, of
Saturday

examin-

circuit
‘y court

f George
countants
,0ks and
John R.
t. The ef-
ie county
Keen, to
f the rec-
was Aa
vy the at-
ie,
| not ask
g a com-
ooks and
mination
iberty to
ct ta
¢ is
2very cit-
Mr. Keen
cquainted
r to have
ring it to
advice.”
countants
esired for
will prob-
oa furth-
sts of op-
r that the
hat their
gets it.

OF
ING
ODAY

will see
at Payne
joston Red
ime of the
their third
—{rom the
nte| on-
shed to
o’clock..
‘ague club,
red -one of
\ clubs and
' are many
g leagues
ire Burs to

-

EDITORIAL

THE CRISIS SUCCESSFULLY PASSED.

ARASOTA joins the long list of cities which
have been restored to full banking privileges.

This city is fortunate in possessing two banking
institutions whose soundness has not been ques-
tioned. The names-they bear are names that are
synonyms of stability. Both of them are ably
and conservatively managed, and throughout the
entire period of the depression they have main-
tained a liquid condition. Their assets are such
as to insure this community every banking facil-
ity, and they are prepared to take a full part in
the restoration of normal conditions in this coun-
ty. In Sarasota we have, happily, by reason of
the excellent condition of our banks, been able
to successfully pass through the crisis that has
so severely tried the country at large.

President Roosevelt has measured up to the
situation. He has assumed the reins of govern-
ment with the courage and decision called for
by the extraordinaryy condition which prevailed
in the economic status of the country. For-
tunately, he has had cooperating with him a Con-
gress that has given him the fullest measure of
support. Partisan lines have disappeared and
the united country stands back of him. He has
inspired confidence by the promptitude of his
action and has justified that confidence by the re-
sults which he has already obtained. In a fort-
night he has placed America on the highway to
prosperity.

It is confidently predicted by most of the sub-
stantial industrial leaders of the country that we

. are at the beginning of an extensive and endur-

ing advance all along the line of business activ-
ity. The impression is that we have cleaned house
and gotten down to brass tacks. The new order
is seen not only in the reorganization of govern-
ment on a more economic and efficient basis, but
the reorganization of industry. The railroads
have, so to speak, cleaned shop and are girding
themselves for a new'era of progress. There is
not a manufacturing enterprise in the country
that has not readjusted itself to.the new condi-
tions which exist today. Under the direction of
the president agriculture is about to come into its
own, and new trade relations with other nations
will soon open to our commerce the markets of
the world. This new deal put over by our Pres-
ident spells prosperity for America.

—__ © © sn

STATE TAXPAYER
BODY TO MEET

LEADERS BELIEVE
BEER BILL WILL

Joint Session of Directors
and Committee Called

George D. Lindsay, president of
the Florida Taxpayers association,
has called a joint meeting of the di-
rectors, the legislative committee,
and the executive board, for 11
o'clock Monday at the San Juan ho-
tel in Orlando.

At this meeting the final draft
will be made of the recommenda-
tlons to be placed before the gov-

PASS BY MONDAY

WASHINGTON— (4) —Congres-
sional leaders claimed with confi-
dence Saturday night that the bill
to legalize beer will be agreed to
Monday, in time for President
Roosevelt to sign it by nightfall.

Success in that plan will depend
on swift actlon Monday morning,

SEARCH WIDENS
FOR 2 SUSPECTS
IN MURDER CASE

Officers Determined to Cap-
ture Slayers of Sisters
In Home Here

With Sheriff C, B. Pearson, Chief
of Police S. Tilden Davis and Dep-
uty Sheriff Herbert Kiessl{ng in
New Orleans, the search for the al-
leged murderers of two sisters, Ber-
tle Lee Clements and Lacey Bell

Dyel here last Sunday night, took
on national proportions Saturday
as hundreds of sheriff's officers,
police departments and detective
bureaus cooperated [n the man-
hunt. ‘

It has been known for eeveral
days that one of the hunted men,
Martin F. Jarvis, allas “Whitey”
Rogers, had lived in New Orleans
and as a seaman had shipped out
of the port, officers belleving that
with the many refuges available
there he might make for that city.
The entire facilities of the New Or-
leans police department and the
sheriff's officers of Orleans parish
have been placed at the disposal of
the local officers.

epent in the search for the two al-

first degree murder being issued by
county officials,

But—the hundeds of dollars are
coming out of the pocket of Sher.
iff Pearson—without any expense
to the county and state, there being
no provisions made in the law for
such work. The trip to Miami made
by Chief Deputy Sheriff E. A. Gar-
ner cost the county or state noth-
ing—the sheriff pald the bill. Each
move made by the sheriff’s office is
preceded by careful thought and
atudy to determine the wiseness of
such action, it was pointed out.

With the exception of the bomb-
ing of a barber shop here several
weeks ago—which, officers say, is
not on the “unsolved”
double killing is the frist major
crime in the administration of
Sheriff Pearson and that officer is
determined to apprehend and gon-
vict the two killers at any cost, it
was said at his office Saturday.

celve $4.50 for the arrest of each
man—and the other costs would be
his own responsibility, according

a condition with which every sher-
iff in the state must contend at
one time or other.

Hundreds of dollars are being

leged killers—a warrant charging

list—this |

Should the killers double back
on their trail and be caught in Sar- |
asota county the sheriff would re-|.

to legal opinion. This, however, is |,

Friday night at the Le
seum'on Washington

D senting a large Dum!
cits.acts. High wire artis‘
torin lon’ special apparat
erected in the huge bui
| This circus will pres
famous stars of the big
who will shortly appear
circus fans of the count:

world’s largest circus
Brothers and Barnum a

SARASOTA’
BANKS OPE
FULL BUSS

| NN

Ringling Instituti

| Palmer National
restricted Opel.»

| With the opening of '
Trust and Savings Ban
on an unrestricted bas!
morning, the town’s t
jnstitutions were “\
transacting their usu: \
without hindrance an
meet all demands up
sources. :

The Palmer Nationa’

ed several days ago <
from the governor of
Reserve bank at Atlar
permission of Comptr
Lee for the reopening
ling institution was r
Friday night.

OBon receipt of th
cease to reopen offi
Rfmgting bank made .
preparations to swing
vault doors and pay ou
deposits as usual.

It was pointed out |
clals Saturday that the
opening of any state
refiect upon the fina
of the institution in
but was caused by the
‘checking scores of
‘The fact that a bank
‘open at all, especially
‘of the game, is to be
indication that the {
‘able to take care of !' J
it was pointed out.
The officials of bot
loud in their praise Sa ~
actions of the citizens .
in the crisis, comme: |.

utter lack of hygteria
the days that the ban! Dy

‘pelled by state and !
‘to restrict all busines:
The patience of the

rying on during the en

‘\

ipraised by the financ
were frank in their sta
they were literally “‘sit
of dynamite” during t
‘due to the common se)
‘by the customers. eve!
‘out to the best advant.


‘Jarvis, Woman >
- Taken by Cops

Burst of Rifle Fire Greets Louisiana
~ Officers ‘as They Surprise Trio
: At Tourist Camp

John Blair, alias Donald White, was killed and Mar- —
ltin F. Jarvis, alias “Whitey” Rogers, and a woman known
variously as “Mrs. Blair,” “Miss Todd” and to New Or-
‘leans officers as Juanita Clair, wanted herd for the dou-
‘ble murder of two sisters March 12, werd arrested at
Slidell, La., today. - S SS :

& Hiair was killed when ho fired
upon Slidell officers who went to:

|

a tourlat camp where they were
staying. The other man, Jarvis, and’

U the woman surrendered,

e RR A L D) According to dispatches from
New Orleans the two men were al-
ans so wanted there for the robbery of

COG DoT a 7 Z the Dryades Market branch of the

Canal Bank and Trust company on

G2 s Feb. 24 of $14,000 and the Slidell

ee ~ a) } / a, 5 officers were attempting to arrest
[ V b i) re Ps / the trio on a tip from New Orleans
UW police after Sheriff C. B. Pearson

S and Chief of Police 8. Tilden Davis

( } had identified pictures of the men

as those wanted here.

The slaying and arrests were the
direct result of a Jong distance tel-
ephone call intercepted here last
night by Chief Deputy Sheriff E,
A. Garner, who tipped off New Or-
leans and local officers as to the
origin: of the call. The call was
made by the woman. :

The presence of Sarasota county
officers in Loulsiana !s partially
accounted for by a Up furnished
them by the Herald late last week.
A-post card, dated March 14, mail-
a: . led from New Orleans and signed
“A. L. LeMore, dr..” was received
in the Herald office, asking for cop-
fes of the paper for March 13, 14
and 15, -

: The address given was recogniz-

© : ed as being In a neighborhood like
ly to furnish refuge for criminals.

While the dates mentioned in the
card corresponded wth those on
3& |which the principal atories of the
‘murders were printed. Jarvis had
{been known to use “LeBlanc” as =
jan alias and it was considered Mf \
\likely that he would agafn resort / (/\

ito, such” & misnomer.


U2 BU be @ berrmesvassere,

Sheriff Pearson and the investiga-
tion conducted by New Orleans of-
ficers resuited in the journey of the
local men to that city.

Jarvis, according to an Associat-
ed Press dispatch to the Herald,
confessed to the murder’ here say-
Ing that the women, Bertle Lee
Clements, 23, and her sister, Lacey
Bell Dyel, 30, were killed Jn a fight
at a rooming house where be sald
the women were attempting to rob
him and White, but the officers
said they did not believe he was
telling the truth.

The climax to the search for the
two men came at a time when cer.
tain local people were convinced
that the murderers would never be

trio, following them as far as New

point they were heard from.

It wa thought here this afternoon
that New Orleans officers would
surrender Jarvis and the woman to
Sheriff Pearson who holds a first
degree murder warrant for the man
abd a warrant charging the woman
ap an accessory. It will be with the
understanding, bowever, that if for
some reason officers bere cannot
convict Jarvis of a crime carrying
a penalty higher thao bank robbery
he will be turned back to. Louisiana
autborities,

_It ts expected that Sheriff Pear-
son and Chief Davisaccompanied
by Deputy Sherif Herbert Kiess-
ling will leave New Orleans late to
day or early tomorrow bringing
Jarvis ' who will, presumably waive
extradition =

Both Blair and Jarvis are classed

The card was turned over to

T

apprehended despite the several|:
days’ effort of officers to trace the |.

Orleans from Sebring, the first ||

by several police departments as/t

dict him, if et tances ‘warren '

I SS

L
bur.

patch sald that Blair or White
opened fire on {the Slidell officers
with a rifle but they returned the
fire witb pistols, fatally wounding
him and he dled a few minutes
later,

John Grosch,|chiet of detectives
at New Orleans returned to that
city yesterday |with Thomas Gar-
rity who had bpen arrested at Mi-
ami, Arizona ap a syspect fo the
bank robbery for which Blair and

ed sfch act!


ALLEGED KILLER
MAY BE BROUGHT
BACK IN 30 DAYS

Jarvis to Face Charge of
Murder Here After
Robbery Trial

It was indicated today that Sara-
sota county would be allowed to
take custody of Martin F. Jarvis,
allas “Whitey” Rogers, and a wo
man, variously known, who posed
as the wife of John Bilaltr, killed in
a gun battle with officers at Slidell,
La. Monday when they sought to
capture the trio, to be brought
back here for trial within the next
30 days—with the life of Jarvis at
gtake for the murder of two sisters
March 12, °

However, it will be a somewhat
complicated process with the state
of Loulsjana demanding that Jarvis
firat stand trial there for the rob
bery of the Dryades Market branch
of a New Orleans bank on Feb. 24.

Henry L. Williford, state’s at-
torney, who is inactive due to fll-
ness, but who has heen keeping
close touch on this particular case
through his law partner and asalst-
ant, James E. Kirk, sald today that
he believed that the district at-
torney of Orleans parish would
prosecute Jarvis and send him to
the penitentiary, it being thought
that Jarvis will plead guilty to the
bank robbery charge.

After he Js In the custody of the

apr send him back to the state pris-
on, then the governor of Loulsiana
will be anked to commute the sen-
tence of Jarvis or parole him over
to Florida officers who will, by that
time, be prepared with extradition
papers.
/ He will be brought back here for
trial on the first degree> murder
charge which carries the death pen-
alty in this state. However, if for
some reason he is acquitted here,
then the governor of Loulsiana will
revoke the commutation or parole
and send sim back to the state pris-
on in that state to complete his
term.

There was some hope today that
all this would be accomplished
within 30 days—or prior to the next
meeting of the grand jury in May.
The woman can be held at New Or-
leans for 30 days awaiting extra
dition, She cannot be tried as an
accomplice or accessory without the
trial of one or more of the princi-
pals, therefore it will be necessary
to have Jarvis here as Blair is dead.
_ There ts still a chance that the
district attorney at New Orleans
will waive his claim, temporarily,
on Jarvis and let him be brought
back by Sheriff C. B. Pearson, Chief
of Police S. Tilden Davis and Dep-
uty Sheriff Herbert Kiessling, who
are now in New Orleans.

- —_— = ate wwe me

eaera nae eae A

- at ww ee ad et wd


“JARVIS MURDER

(Continued from 63ag¢@ one.)
knife was opened by him for the

purpose of using it as a switch key
to start bie automobile. Rouse
turned the kulfe over to Chief Dep
uty Sheriff E. A. Garner goveral
days after the killing, but was later
told by Douglas that the kaife
might be dangerous evidence, ac-
cording to his statements.

Garner testified that a knife io-
troduced In evidence was the same
one handed to him by Rouse and
the latter sald he believed “that is
the knife, or it looks a lot Uke it”.

The defense rested at 11:05 0’
clock today and the state brought
back Douglas for rebuttal After’
finishing with this witness Dye
asked the court for permission to
take the jury to tbe scene of the
crime, but defense counsel object:
ed unless it could be shown that
the house was now in the identical
condition that it was after the
crime.

Howeves, Judge Paul C. Albrit-
ton, presiding, ordered that the
jury be takep there but instructed
them to inspect the scene only and
not accept or solicit any testimony.

James E. Dougias, companion of

the shooting began, proved to be
the state’s star witness yesterday
afternoon, telling of the few min-|
utes prior td the ebooting, the so
tual firing of the several shots and


‘COURT GRANTS

WRIT HALTING
TRIP TO CHAIR

Condemried Killer Gets Tem-
porary Reprieve on Last-
Minute Appeal —

B ULLETIN? :

' Martin F, Jarvis, condemned
Sarasota county murderer, won
a last minute reprieve this aft-
ernoon as the supreme court
granted a writ of habeas corpus
staying his electrocution which
had been set for tomorrew:
morning at 9 a. m., according
to a message received by the
Herald at 3:40 p. m. from the

Associated Press at Tallahas-
soe. ’ . ‘
No date for the return of the
writ was set by the high court,
leaving the case “wide open”.
‘and giving the high tribunal an
opportunity to go back and re
view any phase of the case,
Sheriff C. B. Pearson was
preparing to leave the city for °

Aa

Ralford when néwe of the ex-° :

ecution stay was received,

The petition for the habeas
corpus writ was presented te
day hy Jarvis‘ attorney, C.-L,

<, MoKalgy of. Sarasota, \

A last minute move to save Mar

a

tin F. Jarvis, condemned murderer, -

ffom electrocution tomorrow, was
made in the state supreme court at
Tallahassee today asa writ of
habeas corpus. was sought to halt
the execution,.as was predicted ip
an exclusive news story carried {np
yesterday's Sarasota Herald.
Clarence L, McKaig, Sarasota at
torney: for Jarvis, claimed in: his
appeal to the supreme court that
there were many errors of proced-
ure in Jarvis’ arraignment, trial
and conviction, and these were of
such magnitude and importance,
that he should be saved from the
electric chair, at least temporarily,
to allow complete consideration of

the Questions invoiveu.

In the meantime, Sheriff C. B.
Pearson was makiug -preparations
to start for Raiford late this after
noon and will go unless notified prit-
or to the time set for his departure
that the supreme court has halted
the execution, which is scheduled
for 9 o’clock tomorrow morning. at
the Ralford state prison farm. -

Attorney McKaig, in his last-min-

- ute appeal to the supreme court,

claimed that records of Jarvis’ trial
did not show that the prisoner wag
Present in tee court room during
all the proceedings as required by
law. He also contended that Jar
vis was not represented by counsel
when he was arraigned on the mur
der charge and that he was called
to trial without counsel being ‘ak
lowed sufficient time to prepare his .
defense after the lawyers werd .ap-
pointed by the court.

All of these matters were acted
on by the supreme court which
turned Jarvis down some months
ago, it was said here today, It was
understood in Sarasota that Mrs.
Linnie Littlejohn and - another. sis-
ter of Jarvis were in Tallahassee
with Attorney McKaig, who- left
here Tuesday night for Raiford
where he was to have Jarvis signa
the documents going on to Talla
hassee.

HeR pi-D

dare

oth, Fe.
ols [143 4
PI

CONVICTED MURDERER
‘STARS TR TRIP TO GHAIR

eee Coente: ‘Sheriff Starts.
For Raiford Prison With

Martin F. Jarvis
[BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.)
SARASOTA, Fia., Oct. 6—Martin F.
Jarvis, condemned to die in the elec- |
‘tric chair during the week of October |
15 for the murder of Lacey Bell Dyal, |
| left here this afternoon in custody of
Sheriff C. B. Pearson for Raiford state
prison.

| Pale and wan from-16 months con-
frnement in the Sarasota county ai]
Jarvis sat in his cell today, clad in!
borrowed clothing. and heard the
death warrant signed by Governor

Sholtz, read by Sheriff Pearson.

Convicted in May, 1933. Jarvis bat-
“ted sternly for commutation of the
‘@eath sentence which was upheld by
the Bupreme court. A few days ago
the state pardon board declined to in-
tervene, and Governor Bholtz lesued
the warrant for Jarvis’ death.


Miami Herald 106-193),

38 American Detective

The sheriff clenched his fists until the knuckles turned
white. He is by nature a quiet man. There is no color-
ful fluency in his conversation. He is not a man of end-
less shifting moods. He has dependability clearly in-
scribed upon his solemn face. You have only to be in
his presence for a few minutes to feel the force of these
dominant qualities.

“This is the most cold-blooded murder that has ever
gone into my record books. It’s a smudge on the record
of this peaceful city. I mean to erase that smudge. I
want you men to work hard with me until we see it
through.”

While Douglas was relating his tale, Patrolman
Walker returned to the Five Points with the mystery
car. The car had not stood there an hour before a
taxidermist by trade strolled by.

“What are you doing with that machine?” he asked
Fred Walker.

“1 wish I knew who owned it,” stated Walker.

“Why I’ve seen it around town,” said the taxi-
dermist. ‘“Two men, strangers to me, were always in it.
Sometimes young Pete Bridges was with them.”

Walker was about’to telephone this news to Chief
Davis when two young women, who dispense sand-
wiches to automobile occupants who drive up to the
Tamiami Barbecue, passed by and observed the car.
They were Dorothy Miller and Edith Kent. They knew
Patrolman Walker. Both agreed that Pete Bridges had
installed a radio in the car only last week.

Walker phoned this information to Chief Davis who
got in touch with Sheriff Pearson. The sheriff. had

not been idling. away his time. After aiding in the ex-
amination of the two sisters, he stopped at a restaurant
in town to wash his bloody hands. Seated at one of the
tables was a Chevrolet Motor Car Company mechanic.
Sheriff Pearson approached him.

“Do me a favor,” he said briefly. “Go up the street
and see if you can identify a Plymouth sedan. Possibly
you’ve repaired her, or spotted her around the city.”

The mechanic complied with the sheriff’s wishes and
returned with the gratifying news. “That bus was
bought in our place,” he said. “We sell a lot of used cars.
I remember it leaving there two weeks ago.”

pen obtained a list of salesmen, checking them
through. One named Carmichael claimed to have
sold it for cash to a woman and two men. He said the
woman had peeled off the bills from a roll “that could
have choked a horse.”

Eugene Pete Bridges was called upon the carpet. He
was a slightly built youth of approximately 135 pounds,
his height reaching up to five foot seven and one half.
He gave his age as twenty-two. Around headquarters

many of us knew him personally, including the sheriff.

We always considered him an honorable boy. Any in-
formation he might give us would hardly be questioned.

He told of knowing the owners of the Plymouth,
yet was careful not to intimate any close relationship.
He thought they had been in Sarasota about two weeks.
He (Bridges) was an electrician and had installed a
radio in the Plymouth for the above-mentioned parties.
He called them Mr. and Mrs. Blair and Mr. Rogers.

The car wa
He said ]
hours before
Blair explair
“T haven’t
“What cc
“Good, ex
go very far \
No sleep »
Bridges that
north, Sheri
the police co
Having a hu
hend them,
taking Brid

HASTIL*
Lee Cl
killed by re
persons, the
Witness was
Dyel woma:
had entered
a wound wh
The next
like a bomb
Sarasota He
black headli:
murderer, as
death-dealin
versation.
Radio sta
water, and \
ville co-ope:
in on regula
persons, the
details. All p
for them. “fF
dangerous a1


40 American Detective

Rumor after rumor floated through the city. A -hun-
dred local amateur sleuths offered solutions, holding
discussions on street corners, in barber shops, drug
stores, etc.

The Clements woman, it was discovered, had been
separated from her husband, E. R. Clements of Mana-
tee, for about four years. The other woman had also
been married, but her history was not known. They
were daughters of George Morey, now living in Pelham,
Mitchell County, Georgia.

The reputations of the two dead sisters were none
too savory. A large number of men were listed among
their acquaintances. Many declared them to be utterly
unconventional. Both had been charged by the police
with disorderly conduct.

Little progress was reported the following day, al-
though we all worked untiringly. The clothing found
at the scene of the crime could not be traced. There
were no identification marks that might lead to the
manufacturer.

Several neighbors had heard the disturbance.

T. P. Perdue claimed he saw two men wandering
close to the house and later watched them walk away
to an automobile and say to the driver, “My God, we’re
in trouble!” One man was fully dressed, the other
looked almost naked. Perdue could not identify the
driver of the car which had picked them up.

Mrs. J. L. Courtney said the Dyel woman had visited
at her home in the company of a Mr. Blair whom she
did not know. A man named Jarvis arrived, a friend
of Mr. Blair’s. He, too, was a total stranger to her. Mr.

Blair took the Dyel woman to her home. After finish-
ing several drinks, Mr. Jarvis followed them over.
After that, she distinctly heard the sound of shots.

Sheriff Pearson returned from Tampa, a tired and
discouraged man. The killers had not been apprehended,
But nevertheless he carried some valuable information
which he imparted to me.

“On the way back to Sarasota, young Bridges called
one of the men Whitey. He referred to Rogers, I believe.
I remember a man called Whitey with a whole string
of aliases. He was paroled from the Nashville, Tennes-
see, prison three years ago, on condition that he remain
in the state. He broke his parole. I picked him up here
and sent him back. You were in the party. Remember?”

I REMEMBERED the trip well. Besides the sheriff, the
prisoner and I, there was the sheriff’s wife. I re-
called Mrs. Pearson’s attitude towards the prisoner,

“Your wife appeared afraid of him.”

The sheriff nodded wearily. ‘So she did. She asked
him what his real name was. He refused to answer,
merely said, ‘Up there we use numbers not names.’ My
wife then asked his number. This man Whitey gave it
to her. She whipped out a pencil and wrote it down.”

Pearson stopped talking, reached for the telephone.
His wife was at home. Yes, she still had the paper on
which she had jotted down the number. She got it
and read the number off to Pearson.

Sheriff Pearson wired the Nashville prison. Within
an hour he received the information that the prisoner

[CONTINUED ON PAGE 93] .

- Sarasota, Florida, courthouse where the criminal was tried and convicted for the murder of the two sisters..

MA SsEN Sei keke eae

Ne
2rc

Mrs. E. Pea
Nevado, Mo.
seat of her ;
hole was fot

p


te. If
vould
rot to
were
man-

| plea
Pace
and

ounty
years
1 and
r for
tence
’ Re-

veird
athed
ith a
ales-
ich a

istice
ip in
ye of
gone
adn’t
ypped
| she
lings
Id be
ill be
that

ngast
won.
care

ding
ride!
vhen
was
1e in
“hese
t in-
which
TIVE.

TOTP aS ee ee eee se

American Detective

The Clue of the Naked Man

was Martin F. Jarvis, alias Whitey. A
fingerprint description followed the mes-
sage.

F. E. Wiltz, our fingerprint expert,
checked the prints with his records and
found that they corresponded with those of
Jarvis. He was thirty-four years old, weight
150 pounds, about 68%4 inches tall, with a
scar over his right eye, another on the
lower right cheek, nine upper gold teeth,
coiled snake tattooed on his wrist and a
marine emblem on his forearm.

The sheriff called the officers throughout
the state, supplying them with this in-
formation. A tight net was being drawn
around the entire state of Florida. It looked
as if the killer would soon be in its meshes.

About all we could do the next day was
to sit tight. Bert Pearson, son of the sheriff
and a licensed pilot, scoured the country-
side but located nothing helpful. The sheriff
himself composed a telegram to be sent to
Governor David Sholz, which he showed
me, It read:

“Bertie Lee Clements and her sister
Lacey Bell Dyel were brutally murdered
here Sunday night, allegedly by two men,
Martin F. Jarvis, alias Whitey Rogers, and
John Blair. We have used every available
means to apprehend these two men and
have expended all our available funds. We
have sufficient evidence to convict them
when‘ apprehended. Is it possible for you as
Governor of Florida to offer a reward for
information which will lead to their cap-
ture? We have reason to believe they are
in hiding and will take to the highway to
make a getaway in a day or so, and reward
offered at this time will help us. Your
prompt reply will be appreciated.

Signed: SnHeErtrr Clem PEARSON.”

J hung around headquarters all day, hope-
fully waiting for a long distance call from
some Florida city that a 1927 Essex coach
bearing Florida plates had been picked up.
The phone rang continually, as it usually
does in these murder cases. The world is
full of imaginative people who want to be
helpful, but who really retard progress.

On the morning of March 15th, Pearson
called Herbert Keisling and me into his
office. “Boys,” were his words “Douglas is
our only material witness. I just released
him from jail. He’s told us everything he
knows. We're forced to turn to Bridges.
He’s the last card in the deck. Let’s grill
him good.”

Bridges was brought in, and we began
to fire away. Every conceivable question
having direct bearing on the case was flung
at him. We were paying strict attention to
the time element. Bridges was forced to
give a detailed account of his movements
from hour to hour on the day of the double
murder.

For a time he barked back an answer to
every query. At length we cornered him
with an hour he could not account for. He
squirmed nervously in his chair,

Then our questionings began to give re-
sults. The youthful Pete Bridges broke
down.

“All right,” he exclaimed holding up his
two hands as if to ward off further ques-
tions that must have been prodding into

[CONTINUED FROM PAGE 40]

him like the vicious blows of a prize fight-
er, “I helped in the get-away. I picked up
Jarvis and Blair on Cocoanut Avenue and
Twenty-third Street. Blair had on nothing
but an undershirt. Jarvis wore a brown
suit and a gray hat. Both had guns in their
hands. They told me they were implicated
in a shooting mess, hinting there had been
killings.”

Continuing with the story, Bridges re-
lated how he had transported the men to
an apartment house on Madison Avenue
where they were living with the woman
known as Mrs. Blair. He (Bridges) rushed
into the apartment while the men waited in
front in the car. Telling Mrs. Blair a con-
cocted story to the effect that Blair had

Eugene Bridges, who turned state’s
evidence in this murder case and
helped to convict the murderer.

gone swimming and lost his clothes, he suc-
ceeded in procuring proper clothes from
her, and carried them out to the sparsely
clad man.

Then they took Bridges’ car, promising
to pay him $150 for it, their purpose being
to cruise back to the scene of the shooting,
so that they might get their own car started.

Bridges supposed that when they drove
near the cottage, they saw the authorities,
figured it meant sure capture to try to take
the Plymouth, so returned to the apartment
to pack. This done, they headed out upon
the highway, destination unknown.

OW we were getting somewhere. We
had gained valuable information. But
instead of being pleased, Sheriff Pearson
appeared aggravated. And he had every
right to be. If Bridges had come clean from
the start, the fleeing murderers would now
be behind bars, instead of being free to rove
some highway. But Bridges was afraid of
his neck.
Word: reached us that Governor David

Sholz had posted an executive order, offer-
ing a reward of $200 for the apprehension
of the criminals. On the heels of this,
Pearson sent me to Miami along with
Bridges. We searched up and down the
coast and the interior but found no trace
of them.

Bridges was upset all the way. Any min-
ute he expected to come across them. “Have
your gun ready,” he cautioned, “they’ll
shoot right away.” I kept my gun ready and
was hopeful of a chance to use it.

Hardly had we returned when a long
distance call from Sebring, Florida, gave
us our first inkling of the movements of the
killers. It was learned that Bridges’ car
was put in storage there and a 1932 Chevre-
let car, bought and paid for in cash, wag
driven away. The abandoned car had a
blown front tire.

The haze was clearing. The purchasing
of the Chevrolet was a clever move. All
over the state, authorities were ever-watch-
ful for an Essex Coach, This plan of chang-
ing cars smashed a hole wide open in our
air-tight network. Through this gap sped
the killers in their new car, to what destina-
tion, we could not even essay a guess.

A few days later, the Sarasota Herald
turned over a postcard to us, which had
been mailed from New Orleans. The card,
signed “A. L. Lemore, Jr.,” asked for
copies of the paper from March 13th, 14th,
and 15th. On these dates, the principal
stories of the murders had been printed.

We are all familiar with street addresses
in New Orleans. Looking this one up, we
found it to be in a section of the city likely
to harbor criminals. Also Jarvis numbered
among his many aliases the name of “Le-
Blanc.” The two seemed to fit. It looked
as if someone’s swollen ego was going to
land him in jail.

Pearson, Keisling, and Chief Davis
journeyed to New Orleans. Going straight
to this address, they found, much to their
disappointment that the card was penned
by a fanatical man who kept records of all
important crimes.

After this burst bubble, the trio called
on the New Orleans authorities and ex-
plained the cause of their visit. The sheriff
went through the rogues’ gallery and lo-
cated a picture of Jarvis. Upon questioning
the local police, if they knew of this man,
he received the surprising answer.

“Sure we do. He’s one of five wanted for
the robbery of the Dryads Market Branch
of the Canal Bank and Trust Company on
February 24th of $14,000.”

“Show me the other pictures,” Pearson
said.

One of these was identified as that of
John Blair, companion of Jarvis on the
night of the brutal shooting affair. Delving
further into the records, it was found that
they had once been cellmates in the Nash-
ville prison.

Pearson furnished the New Orleans chief
with a description of the recently acquired
Chevrolet. This was at once relayed
throughout the state of Louisiana together
with descriptions of the three occupants...

During: the absence of the sheriff, I was
left in complete charge back in Sarasota.

ae ae

ee si

ing in the ex-
at a restaurant
1 at one of the
any mechanic.

up the street
edan. Possibly

the city.”
ff’s wishes and

hat bus was
ot of used cars.

9
0.

checking them
imed to have
n. He said the
Il “that could

he carpet. He.

ly 135 pounds,
and one half.
1 headquarters

ing the sheriff. :

boy. Any in-
be questioned.
he Plymouth,

e relationship.

ut two weeks.

ad installed a

tioned parties.

Mr. Rogers.

- graves.

The car was purchased under the name of Rogers.
He said Blair came to him not more than a few
hours before and borrowed his own car, an Essex Coach.
Blair explained the battery was dead in the Plymouth.

“T haven’t seen the car since,” said Bridges.

“What condition was it in?” demanded Pearson.

“Good, except for one of the tires. I doubt if it will
go very far without that bad shoe blowing out.”

No sleep was on schedule for Sheriff Pearson or Pete
Bridges that night. Believing the killers would head
north, Sheriff Pearson was sure they could not elude
the police cordon which was being drawn around them.
Having a hunch the authorities at Tampa would appre-
hend them, Pearson headed his car in that direction,
taking Bridges with him for identification purposes.

Ds Servalgniy formed coroner’s jury decided that Bertie
Lee Clements and her sister Lacey Bell Dyel were
killed by reason of the “act or acts of a person or
persons, the names of whom are unknown.” Only one
witness was heard. Dr. Harris told the jury that the
Dyel woman died in the hospital from a bullet which
had entered her back, passing through the abdomen,
a wound which could not have been self-inflicted.

The next morning, news of the double tragedy burst
like a bombshell upon Sarasota. Both local papers, the
Sarasota Herald and the Tribune carried screaming
black headlines. The story of the unruffled calm of the
murderer, as he imperturbably pressed the trigger of his
death-dealing weapon, became the chief topic of con-
versation.

Radio stations WDAE at Tampa, WFLS at Clear-
water, and WRUEF, Florida University Station at Gains-
ville co-operated in the search by frequently cutting
in on regular programs with descriptions of the three
persons, the car, number of the license plates and other
details. All persons were requested to be on the lookout
for them. “Be careful,” warned broadcasters, ‘“‘they are
dangerous and armed.”

Sheriff Clem Pearson of Sarasota, whose tireless

efforts led to the
derer of the two
in this case has

the

final apprehension of the mur-
sisters. Sheriff Pearson’s work
been officially recognized by
state of Florida

®

39

nomena

Crude keys fashioned by the criminal in an attempted jailbreak after his capture. Strangely enough,
the keys worked and the criminal would have again been at large had it not been for a twist of fate.


Jed EON »—Rohe £ t dS Sy b q

THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION (Jacksonville)

Sunday, 13 May 1962, page 18.

Two Raitord
Inmates Are
Electrocuted

RAIFORD, May 12 \W—Twe
Negroes, protesting capital pun-
ishment, died in the electrics
chair at Florida State Prison to-
day—the first electrocutions car-
ried out im the new building.

Both admitted the murders for
which they were convicted and
said they were sorry. .Thesy added
they did not belleve in capital
punishment.

Robert Lee Jefferson went to
the chair at 8:40 a.m. and was

{pronounced dead elght minutes

later -by Dr. H. H. Schweem,
chief medical] officer.

Johanie Hill was pronounced
dead at 9:10 a.m., seven minutes
after the switch was thrown.

Jefferson and Hill were con
victed of murder itn Northwest
Plorida, Jefferson in Bay Coun-+
ty and Hill in Escambia County.

The wooden chair was moved
from the old death house to the
new building. The chair has been
in use since 1925 when electro
cutions replaced hanging in Flor-
ida. ¥
The executions. were postponed
from Tuesday when 28 test
showed the electrical equipment
did not work.


588 Fla. 146 SOUTHERN REPORTER

E. E. JEFFCOAT, allas Elvin E. Jeffcoat,
Plaintiff In Error, v. L. F. CHAPMAN,
Defendant in Error. =

Supreme Court of Florida.

Feb. 14, 1933.
En Bane.
Error to Circuit Court, Union County ;
George Couper Gibbs, Judge.

Joseph W. Nichols, of Clearwater, for plain-
tiff in error. er?

'-. Cary D. Landis, Atty. Gen., and H. EB. Care

ter, Asst. Atty. Gen., for defendant in error.

PER CURIAM.

The judgment of the circuit court remand-
ing the plaintiff in error to the custody of the
defendant in error to await the execution of
the judgment and sentence of death should be
affirmed on authority of the opinion and judg-
ment in the case of J. W. Buchanan vy. L. F.
Chapman (Fla.) 146 So. 585, filed at this term
of the court, and it is so ordered.

Affirmed.

WHITFIELD, TERRELL, and BUFORD,
JJ., and J OHNSON, Circuit J udge, concur,

DAVIS, C. J., disqualified,
BROWN, J., dissents,

¢ eORY

reproduced by
FLORIDA STATE ARCHIVES
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
R. A. GRAY BUILD: NS

Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250
Series Je: Carton 3Y.

Raifosd Florida May 12, 1962

This cartifies thet Robert Lee Jefferson, #A-005987, (CM), was executed
by electrocution in the Death Chamber of the Florida State Prison this
date, the switch being thrown by the State Executioner at 8:0 A. M.,
and death pronounced by the Prison Physician, Dr H H Schweem at 8:48
A. M., and in the presence of the following witnesses:

J D Nolin Panama City, Fla.
W S§ Whitshurst Tampa, Fla.

E G Haynie Tampa, Fla.

J A Myers Tampa, Fla.
James R Crane Tallahassee Fla.
Joe Walker Panama City Fla
-GW Rollins Panama City Fla
Harold K Hopson Avon Park Fla
Rev. V E 02x Tampa Fla

M D Murphy Tallahassee Fla
Rev Earl Tharp. Tampa Fla

Rev F D Gant Micanopy Fla.

aclair

DeWitt
S ntendent


aie

(Jacksonville)

Page 6.

THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION

25 March 1933,

Saturday,

He

To Death at

Jeffcoat Put

ee ee i a late

i re ae i ry 4 tne i} ai

Lak te i baliey ft ie

i ne

at 7 ‘BEER Pe ra a

= is ae Le He Hl ele a

iar oi a il alee if

o ip i TRS ay 8 oon Ha vil
aa E bendy

JARVIS, Martin F., white, electroctuted Florida 4-11-1935,

"(AP) Sarasota, Florida, October 6. -Martin F. Jarvis, condemned to die
in the electric chair during the week of October 15 for the murder of
Lacey Bell Dyal, left here this afternoon in custody of Sheriff ¢C. B,
Pearson for Raiford state prison. Pale and wan from 16 months confine-
ment in the Sarasota county jail, Jarvis sat in his cell today, clad in
borrowed clothing, and heard the death warrant signed by Governor Sholtz
read by Sheriff Pearson. Vonvicted in May 1933, Jarvis battled sternly
for commutation of the death senténce which was upheld by the supreme

court, A few days ago the state pardon board declined to intervene,
and Governor Sholtz issued the warrant for Jarvis' death," HERALD,
Miami, Florida, October 6, 1934, :


| Search Instituted For Twe|
Men Believed Guilty
of Crime — |

SARASOTA, Mch. 13.— AP) —
Two sisters, Bertie Lee- Clements. :
3, and Lacey Beil Dyle. 30. were :
found shot to death in their home .
here early today. Police immedi- |
ately instituted seaich for two !
men, known only to them as:
“Whitey” Rogers and Blat¥ trom.
Nastville. Tenn. and New ‘Or-
leans. respectively.

A man; who gave his name as '
James T. Douglas. 24 of Manatee,’
Pia. who was wou::ded in the
umb when he said he attempted |
te stop the shooting. was arrested |
and jailed as a material witness. '

AutRorities said the two women |
Originally were from Mitchell |
county, Geofgia. and that their ,
father. George Morey, lives at!
Pelham. Ga.

The Clements woman was shot
four times and instantly killed. |
The Dyle woman was ‘sHot once
im the back and died on a hospital
operating table.

q

}Cooperate in the search.

Sethe. camino

‘ 3 x €,y elec Fla ( a ; hw one 9
55

NEW ORLEANS, March’ eee
{icers shot it out with Donald White
early today at & tourist camp cabin at
Slidell, La., near here, killing him and
arresting his companion, Martin Jarvis,
both of whom are suspected of bank
robbery here and murder in Sarasota,
Florida. Z

Also arrested here was Juanite Cialr,
who officers said accompanied the two
men here after the siaying in Sarasota
of two sisters. Mrs. Birdie Lee Clements,
23, and Mrs. Lacey Dyle, 28, on
March 12.

The slayings occurred f month after
the Dryades Market branch of the Ca-
nal Bank and Trust Company was held
up end robbed here of $}4,000 by five
men. Police said they believed the “two
eisters kiiew 00 much about the rob-
bery.”

The arrested. palr was brought to New
Orleans where jJater in the day, police
said, Parvis confessed to the bank rob-
bery and implicated White.

Slidell officers said Jarvis and the
woman did not resist arrest. White died
a few hours after he was wounded. Of-
ticers said he gwung open the cabin
door as they approached and opened
fire with & rifle. They, returned the fire
with pistols and ne fell. They said they
found two rifles in the cabin.

Slidell officers went to the cabin upon
request of New Orieans ofiicers who had
received information that White and
jarvis were there. ‘

er eninge rman + nao ne meneemainmncnt

————— oe

re oro 17a


FLORIDA

P

Jarvis Loses

|-In Plea for

| Commutation

Electrocution for Sarasota

| Murder Set for Today, -

vat Raiford. |

| TALLAHASSEE, April 10, UP)—
Martin F, Jarvis, sentenced to die In
the electric chair this. week, was

denied a commutation to life by the
State Pardon Board here, today.

Jarvis, who is.in‘a death cell at|

the State Prison Farm, was convict-
ed of slaying Lacy Bell Dyal in Sara°
tota, in 1932. — : .

This was the second time the Par-
don Board has declined to commute

Jarvis’ sentence, which has been af-f

firmed by the Supreme Court.

The petition for commutation was |.

made by C. L. McKaig of Sarasota,
counsel for Jarvis. The man's exe-
cution was sct for. tomorrow. °

TIMES-UNION,
Jacksonville, FL 4/11/1935

ee a. ee a a

aoe 00 yy Pe wT tA
| *4.°¢ 4+

a.m. Thureday; low tides, 1:32 a. °

-, Tides

2:20 p. m. Thureday.

FLORIDA, WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1933

PRICE, 5 CENTS

ID, TELLS HIS STORY

DITORIAL

iIOUSE PASSES EARLY'’S BILL

of représentatives has passed the bill of Rep-

ve John L. Early, which provide for the pur-
in the open market with the money allotted
unty from the gasoline tax, Mr. arly was
the passage of this bill on account of the
commissioners of this county have entered
t with a group of bond speculators which
tory upon them, if the matter were left to
» buy bonds from the speculators at par.
nty commissioners were to have their way.
ulators would go into the open market and
somthing Jike 20 cents on the dollar and
ind sell them to the state board of ad-
yr 1 nts on the dollar. Mr. Early’s bill
ne state board of administration to go into
ket and buy the bonds at the market price
-the taxpayers of Sarasota county the prof-
otherwise go to the speculators.

operation of the plan ‘proposed by Mr. Early
e $400,000 to $500,000 of the county's in-
ll be paid off each year with the county’s
ent. If the county commissioners have their
, allotment would be absorbed in paying not
e-half the interest on the bonds and the re-
only an increase in the indebtedness. “A
in, though a fool,” ought to be able to see
antage in the plan of Representative Early.
-man of increased taxes to take care of the
es is not going to scare anvbody. The tax-
sota county would he fit subjects for Chatta-
v were not willing to put up $85,000 to save
hy putting a few more mills on our taxes we
decrease our debt $500,000, in two to three
ll save in interest charges alone, by the re-
. principal debt. more than the extra tax as-
in the end it will prove a big savings,to the
en if’ the expense of the operation of. our
inued on the present basis.

we do not think that the people of Sarasota
Jing to submit longer to the wasteful and ex-
nenditure of their money hv the county offi-
s prevailed in the past. We fec] absolutely
. cost of conducting the operations of this
eo reduced at least 50 per cent and a saving
-the amount alloted to this county from the
can de made in county expenses.
3 that the eeonomic administration of the af-
-puld make it possible to use the state

oun’~
nen! the purchase of bonds on the market
ie ti even below their present assessment.

‘ch emanates from the county commissioners,
that if the state gas tax is used in buying
open market, it will necessitate an increase In
3 all the bunk.
sds to be done, and should be done, is to cut
ses, including the salaries of all county offi-
ney needlessly spent by them in traveling, the

DELINQUENT TAX
BOARD PROPOSED
IN EARLY BILL

Measure Would Effect Ad-
justments and Compro-
mises in County

Delinquent tax compromises and
adjustments would be made Io Sar-
asota, Lee, Bay and Charlotte coun-

ties by a board in each of the four
counties, consisting of the chair-
man of the board of county com-
missioners, chairman of the board
of public Instruction, clerk of the
circuit court,the county tax assess-
or and the county tax collector,
under provisions of a bill introduc-
ed in the legislature today by Rep-
resentative John L. Farly, of this
county, and Representatives Sapp
of Bay county; Wood of Lee coun-
ty, and Butler of Charlotte county.
An Associated Press dispatch to
the Herald said no compensation
would be provided for the delin-
quent tax board, but that !t would
be authorized to employ essential
clerical help at the expense of the
county.

The board would be required toy
hold monthly meetings after July
1, 1933, to recelve and pass on ap
plications for the compromise and
adjustment of delinquent taxes and
the amount to be pald for the re-
demption or purchase of tax sale
certificates or apy portions of the
certificates held by the atate. The
board would be required to grant
or reject the application for relief
within 30 days by a vote of three
of the five members,

Appeals from the decisions of
the bcard could be made within 10
days after the entry of the order In
each case,

DISTRICT MEET
OF M. E, CHURCH
IS ENDED TODAY

Concluding session of the second
annual conference of the Sarasota

te of the taxpayers’ money in road and bridge

BULL

hoon.

acquital.

with the Dyel woman over $
pocket.

woman had dropped.

the opening of court this morninvx
and Immediately placed Jarvis on
the stand. The state objected to
the defendant giving a runolog ac-
count of the*events leading up to
and the tragedy Itself, so defense
counsel was compelled to resoit to
the orthodox form of question and:

ans . :

ro told bis story in a voice
that could not be heard by the Ju-
rors at times and constant warn-
{ngs were issued by the court and
attorneys to him to speak louder.
The jurors several times stated ‘is

district of the Methodist eburch

-~ tava thie after.

The defense took up Its case att

Says He Killed
2 Sisters Here
In Self I Defense

Alleged Murderer Calm as He Relates
Details of Shooting; Denies New
Orleans Bank Robbery

ETIN

At 2 o'clock this afternoon,e argument before
the jury had began, with James E. Kirk, assitant
state attorney, opening for the state. J. Irvin Wal-
den, chief of the defense counsel, was to make the
defense argument, with Dewey A. Dye, acting state
attorney, closing the argument.
that the case would go to the jury late this after-

It was indicated

By JACK GURNETT,
Herald Staff Writer 7
Declaring that he shot and killed Bertie Lee Clements,
23, and her sister, Lacey Bell Dycl, 30, in self-defense,
while the Clements woman was holding a gun on him and
while her companion, James E. Douglas, was holding a
knife in a threatening manner, Martin F. Jarvis, on trial
for his life in circuit court, today made a personal bid for

Under questioning of his chief defense counsel, J. Irvin
Walden, Jarvis told of going to the murder house to get
his companion, John Blair, who was at that time arguing

22, allegedly stolen from his

Guy

He then tried to pacify the two, Jarvis declared,
and the other sister, the Clements woman, then came on
the scene with Douglas, who was with her in another
room, and Jarvis was forced to shoot in self-defense, he
said. The Dyel woman was shot in the back while she .
was stooping over to pick up a gun that the Clements

S

tion from late Attorney Dewey
A. Dyo. “Ll was beat Into a confers
sion by Detective. oss aud plead-
ed guilty before a judge and six de
tectives,” he said.

On. cross-examination by the
state, Jarvis refuted several state-
ments introduced in evidence by
the state and told the jury that he
could not leave the company of
Diair at any time prior to ¢he ar
rival at Slidell.

He readily admitted that he did
all the shooting and drove the car
all the way to Slidell.

Another allas was brought into

acewore were not audible to them.

the ease when Jarvis, although


H , ; Garner arrived there. [n the meun: |
LOCAL OFFICERS time Jarvis was in jai) at Baten

(Continued trom ‘page one.)
officers had to bring him back on
Was @ warrant charging him with
first degree murder and that it
would be necessary to indict him
regardless of whether he was in
Sarasota or in the state p enlten-
tlary at Angola, La.

The officers left here last Sun-
day following the receipt by State
‘| Attorney Henry L. Williford of a
letter from the office of Governor
Allen. The letter, sald, in part:

“Governor Allen, in view of the
circumstances presented to him js
willing to honor the extradition of
Martin Jarvis provided his safe
return to the Loulslana ‘authorities
is guaranteed in the event of a
failure to convict in your state**”

Arriving in New Orleans Mon-
day evening the Sarasota county
officers found it necessary to go

to Baton Rouge, the state capital, |

the next morning. Finding it im-
possible to see the governor that
day they obtained permission
from the state prion commissioner
to go to the prison af Angola and
take Jarvis, unaccompaned by
Louisiana officers, to the county
jail at Baton Rouge so that they
could start the trip home as soon
as the formalities of signing the
necessary documents were com-
pleted.

*Shortly before noon Wednesday
they called at the office of Gover-
nor\ Allen and found the attomey
General, secretary of state, prison

commissioner and other officials

conferring with the chief execu-

tive. . :
The attorney general immedi-

ately asked for the indictment pa-
pers but when the officers were
unable to produce them, they not
being required in the letter sent
to the state attorney by the gov:
ernor’s secretary, he advised the
sovernor to not permit the release
of Jarvis. 2

It was apparent that the offi-
clals of ‘Loulslana had not previ-
ously raised the question of an In-
dictment and therefore it was not
required until after Pearson and

' Jarvis

Rouge, reconciled to the fact that
he would have to face a murder
charge here.

After conferring ‘with the state
attorney today Circult Judge Paul
C. Albritton sald that he would
not call a special grand jury inas’
much as the regular session con-
venes next month. Williford said
that the charge against Jarvis
would probably be the first matter
presented to the inquistorlal body
and that immediately upon the
voting of an indictment, it would
be forwdrdedeto Governor Allen
and officers would await his ap-
proval of the documents. .

‘It was pointed out today that no
just criticism can be attached to
local officers and that the failure
of Louisiana authorities to turn
Jarvis over to therh was unavold-
able as far as Sarasota county
was concerned.

Sheriff Pearson said today that
imm€diately ° recognized
him when he went to the Louisi-
apa prison, and_ recalled = Mrs.
Pearson who went with local offi-
cers when they returned Jarvis to
the state penitentiary at Nash.
ville, Tenn., some three years ago
after his capture here for the
breaking of his parole from. that
institution following his conviction
on a chargo of grand larceny and
receiving stolen property.

However, Jarvis did not talk of
the charges against him here but
seemed reconciled to his fate, re-
marking, as Pearson handcuffed |
him for the trip to Baton Rouge, |
somo 70 miles from Angola, “well,
I guess this will be my last ride.”


SHERIFF] STILL
HOPES TO BRING.
‘BACK SUSPECT

| {
Alleged Killer Gets Long

Sentence for Robbery; .
Woman Under Bond °

Despite his entence of 18 te
28 years In the Loulsiana state

penitentiary on a charge of rob-

bing a New Orleans bank ‘of

$14,000 on Feb) 24, following his

plea of guilty jn Orleans parish .

criminal court yesterday, Mar.

tin F. Jarvis,| allas “Whitey”

Rogers, will be returned to Sar.

asota county fo face trial for
’ the murders of two sisters here

March 12,

This opinion |was expressed toe»
day by Sheriff C. B. Pearson who
returned here late last night from
New Orleans where, with Chief of
Police S. ‘Tilden Davis, Deputy.
Sherlff Herbert Kicssling and C.'B,,
Pearson, jr., ha had assisted offi-
cers there in identifying Jarvis and
his pal, Donald) White, alias John
Blair, as participants in the bank
robbery. ‘

It was a sort] of an exchange of
identifications as Pearson furnished
New Orleans officers witb a picture
and detailed description of Jarvis,
who was identified by bank ene
ployes as ong of the robbers,
while the officers there gave Pear
son a more detailed description of
the man known here as Blair.
| The woman, |Marie Juanita Mes- -
sina, arrosted with Jarvis at a tour
fet camp at Slidell, La, Monday
morning when |White or Blair was
killed, is being held under $10,000

»

bond as a fugitive of justice to be ~

| brought back
;complice and
the murders. Edy

Extradition [papers were being
Prepared today for Jarvis who ts
“playing smart”, officers say, ‘by
taking the “rap” at New Orleans,
realizing that if he.is returned to

Floida he is threatened with the .

electric chair for first degree mur-
der. . :

It {s said that he now blames the
dead man, White or Diair, with the
actual killing Of the women, but it
is pointed out] that he admits be
ing in the housp, witnesses saw hing
with a pistol in his hand, and under
Florida law can! be convicted
with the capital penalty imposed
against him.

Sherif Peargon and other local
officers had nothing but the high-
est praise for New Orleans, Orleans
Parish, Slidel} and Saint Tam

many’s parish officers who assisted . .;

me

them in the round-up of the three

persons,
Harvey A. Rousseaux, deputy

sheriff of Saint Tammany’s parish,
killed White with four shots from
a shotgun, ri dling the criminal
with buckshot] after he had fired at

the officer from a tourist camp

pistol which jammed after the first

bullet was filed, probably saving
the deputy’s Ife.

White fired at the officers,

ed behind a car and shouted, “look
out", warning) Jarvis and the wo-

jumpp-

man to get out of the line of fire.

Jarvis cam@ out of the cottage
with bis ar upraised and a 38
caliber gun was taken from him.
The woman

a8 previously taken
Into custody en she came out of
the cabin to inquire the business of
the officers who were examining
the automobile which caused sus-
Picton.

John R. Elfott, night marsha) of
Slidell, with Rousseaux at the time

of the shooting, was praised by
Pearson and| his associates as a
cool-headed officer.

P. A. Sax 10, chief of police of
Slidell, who was il! at the time, also

Bave the officers every assistance

Possible,

Sheriff Pearson remainod at the
Slidell jal! fen In guarding the
two prisoners, Jarvis and the wo-
man, from pdssible attempt to res-
cue them by inembers of their gang.
En route.tp New Orleans the lo-
cal officers jstopped at all police
stations and seri offices af
leaving Tallahassee, giving de x a
tions of the three persons, : along
with other i ee ne
Fellowing the killing of Blur or
White the New Orleans officers -
checked -the| baggage of the three
and found that it was shipped from
Avon Park, to Slidell,
The “red flash”' final edition of -
the New Orleans States, telling
the capture, po Monday, sald: |

“Donald White, one of five: bandits
to have confcksed participation in the |
robbery of the Dryades Market branch’

‘ (Continged on ppge twe.) :

i] a - ose 4

cottage with a/.45 caliber automatic .

of.’
a" 4

OrNEL< a /
3/2343 3

(I

6 dire bune


4N6@ GElODSS LOVR Up 1168 Leone a
the opening of court this morning} tion from State Attorney Dewey
and immediately placed Jarvis on|A. Dye. “I was beat into a confee
the stand, The state objected to) Sion by Detective. toss and plead-
the defendant sivieg a ruukinnée. wl a 5 phate judge and six de
count of the®events leading up to} On cross-examination by the
and the tragedy Itself, so defense! state Jarvis refuted several state-
counsel was compelled to resoit 0} ents introduced in evidence by
the orthodox form of question and! the state and told the jury that he
sory could not leave the company of
Jarvis: told bis story in a volce| nigir at any time prior to the ar-
that could not be heard by the Ju-| riya) at giidell.
rors at times and constant warn-| 1. readily admitted that he did
ings were issued by the court and/ 4) the shooting and drove the car
attorneys to him to speak jouder.| 41) tne way to Slidell.
The jurors several times stated his} Another alias was brought into
answers were not audible to them./ing case when Jarvis, although
A nickle-plated pistol was then stating that his real name was Mar-
Injected {nto the account Of the/iin Jarvis, sald he sometimes
- tragedy when Jarvis described the} went under the allas, “Claude Rog:
weapon which the Clements woman ers", in addition to “Whitey Rog-
allegedly beld in ber band. He de-| org» sie saig that his hair was
scribed it as having about @ SIX-/qyeq at Slidell by Juanita Marie
Inch barrel. The gun he used WAS|Negsina, woman companion of >
a six-shooter and he shot five times} pjaip
because there was one unexploded} policeman C. M. Ingersoll told
cartridge in the quo when Blair re-line yury thatehe found the nickel-
loaded it, he said. plated pistol under the mattress in
Jarvis said that he aod Blair, who a room next to the murder com
was killed several days later by| partment at 7 o'clock in the morp-
Louisiana officers while resisting/ing {ollowing the shooting, ak
arrest, left the murder scene be though Deputy Sheriff L. D. Hodg-
fore Douglas and denied Douglas’! eg and others said they had made
statement that the two alleged kill-|. thorough search shortly after the
ers bad snapped an empty gun Ali qining, Hodges later admitted
him or had declared “there won't/inat there was a plece of cloth be
anybody come out of that house; |tween the mattress and bed springs
we have killed them all.” This} which he did not disturb.
quotation was credited to them by| ‘The gun was produced io court
state witnesses yesterday, ° by Chief of Police Davis and it
Jarvis said that be and Blalr/ wag admitted in evidence. How-
went back to the neighborhood of} ever, both officers declared that it
the killing because they did not was empty at the time it was found
think anybody was dead. They orig:/ang there were po indications that
{nally intended to get their own au- Lit bad been recently fired, it being
tomobile, which was first abandon-l found clean and odorless.
ed because it would not start when/ Chief Davis said be was io the
they left the house. Having secured/;oom at the time the gun was
Bridges’ car they hoped to pusb It,| royng, ;
thus starting the motor. Policeman August Wrashe told
In direct contrast to the state-/ ine jury that he first met Douglas
ment of Eugene “Pete” Bridges yes | srter the killing at the Bank of
terday, he sald that they took/sarasota corner and that he told
Bridges’ car without his knowledge. | ing officer somebody had been kill-
The whole matter of the shoot-ieq The officers immediately weat
ing was laid to Blair by Jarvis,/¢o the scene of the crimes, leaving
who declared that it was his com:/ Wye points at 11:50 o'clock. Ak
panion who started the trouble, al-itnough Douglas sald from the wit-
though be admitted shooting In] nogs stang yesterday that he bad.
self-defense. He told the jury that/ not been drinking, Wrashe declare
he was forced to flee Sarasota and/ 94 he showed signs of having been
drove all the way to Sildell, La../impibing, Wrashe said that dow, -
where he was captured and Blalring arrived at the house he found
killed, by the latter, who held him obe woman dead and at Greg
at bay wilh @ gun thought the. other wag dead, too,
He (Cirst met Blair in the state but she opened her eyes and said
penitentiary at Nashville, Tenn.|“neyer mind me, take care of my,
trom which he escaped and was lat:| sister”, .
er returned by Sarasota officers! ‘Testifying that :
‘when be wap arrested here several»), 8 de fen Doug pees thos
years ago. the scene of the shooting, Char
Jarvis admitted from the witness | pongs said that he muttered ee :
stand two previous convictions, |p erent statements for a time, bat |
the one at Nashville and the other finally blurted out that there bad:
at New Orleans when be confessed | been g shooting, Rouse Misarmed
to the bank robbery for which he/nim after Anding that he Wwas‘car |
was serving 18 tp 28 years. rying a knife, which was opened.
“I i6-Bot rod the bank,” Jarvisinoosias later testified that the
told the jury im aaswer to & ques «==. (Continued on page twe.)


|

Sih, Salis Nala a sik ti ing Maa
MAES ai ha a ake ed

94

As I sat at my desk running through back
records of this uncompleted hunt, Bridges
came into the office. He had only a few min-
utes previously received a telephone call
from the Blair woman. She was wondering
what had become of her Plymouth, and
also wished to inform Bridges his Essex
was safely stored in Sebring, Florida.

Hurriedly I traced the call and ascer-
tained that Bridges was telling the truth.
The call came from New Orleans, Now we
were on the right track. I got New Orleans
on the phone, tipping them off to be on the
lookout.

The next major disclosure also developed
through the telephone. A man phoned the
New Orleans Police Department and in-
formed a clerk he had just seen two men
and a woman in an automobile with a Miss-
issippi license plate, of the identical descrip-
tion of the Chevrolet purchased in Sebring.
The car was heading towards Slidell,
Louisiana.

The New Orleans chief telephoned
Slidell. Deputy Sheriff Harry Rousseaux
and Night Marshal John Elliot were as-
signed the task of searching Slidell for the
runaways.

They sought out a tourist camp, thinking
it might be an excellent refuge for persons
in hiding. There were a number of auto-
mobiles parked in the camp, which also
contained overnight cabins. The officers
scanned the assortment of cars. Finally they
concentrated their attention on a Chevrolet
parked in front of a cabin. While they were
examining the machine, they saw a woman
hurrying out of the cabin. The sight of the
men examining her car seemed to upset
her.

“This is mine!” she angrily protested.

“You're sure?” asked Rousseaux suspi-
ciously.

“I am. It’s mine—and it’s paid for.”

In the midst of this quizzing, a man came
cut of the house. It was Jarvis. He was
struck dumb with surprise when his eyes
beheld the officers.

“Throw up your hands!”

ARVIS hesitated a fraction of a second,
but one glance into the business end of

a formidable shotgun dispersed thoughts of
escape. His arms went up. When Elliot had
pulled a Smith & Wesson revolver out of
his pockets, Rousseaux snapped steel man-
acles over Jarvis’ wrists.

A sudden shot, followed by others, issued
through the front door of the cabin and
whizzed past the heads of the officers.
Crouching low, and running swiftly, they
maneuvered into such a position that they
_covered both the front and rear doors.

The front door swung open and LeBlanc,
alias Blair, rushed out. Each hand held a
smoking revolver. His hair was di-
sheveled, his eyes held the wild stare of de-
termination to snuff out the lives of the
officers and free his companions,

Rousseaux threw his shotgun up to his
shoulder, braced it firmly, drew a steady
bead, saw LeBlanc over the sights and fired.
‘LeBlanc tumbled to the ground, his body
filled with buckshot. Both revolvers dropped
from his hands—hands that twitched sev-
eral times, then relaxed. LeBlanc was dead
before Rousseaux and Elliot even reached
him. The life of another lawbreaker had
been blotted out.

Whitey Jarvis and the woman called Mrs.
Blair were taken before the chief of police

*

tas

American Detective

at Slidell. Jarvis immediately confessed to
being one of the principals in the $14,000
robbery of the Dryads Market Branch of
the Canal Bank, New Orleans, on Febru-
ary 24th, 1933. He denied knowledge of the
Sarasota sisters’ demise. This pleading
guilty on the bank robbery charge was con-
sidered by Captain Gregson of Slidell to be
smart work on the part of Jarvis. A con-
viction might save him from the Florida
chair,

The woman known as Mrs. Blair ad-
mitted. this name was an alias, as was the
name Juanita Clair, Her correct name was
Juanita Messina.

The bullet-riddled body of LeBlanc was
examined. On the instep of each foot was
a tattooed pig. On one foot was tattooed
a Negro riding astride a pig. This checked
up with other available descriptions serving
to identify the man,

The contingent of visiting officers from
Sarasota hurried over to Slidell. Our sher-

Martin: J. Jarvis, after he had been
captured, numbered and_ placed
behind prison bars.

iff was a happy man. For the first time in
several days, a smile graced his features.
Cheerfully he returned to New Orleans
with the prisoners.

Jarvis was to be detained in New Orleans
to stand trial for bank robbery. After the
completion of the trial, the tireless Sarasota
sheriff was to return for him. Feeling that
the burden of work was permanently over,
Pearson and his party returned to Sarasota.

The wheels of the law revolve swiftly in
New Orleans. Jarvis was given a speedy
trial. He pleaded. guilty to bank robbery,
making it an open and shut case. He re-
ceived a sentence of from eighteen to
twenty-eight. years. Opinion around the
southern city was that he was not a par-
ticipant in this bank robbery but desired
sentence to escape the punishment a Sara-
sota jury would mete out to him,

No sooner was the verdict returned than
Pearson, Keisling, Mrs. Pearson, and I
journeyed to New Orleans to bring Jarvis
and Juanita Messina back through’ the
medium of extradition. The sheriff’s wife
traveled with us solely for the purpose of
escorting the Messina woman. 7

In New Orleans an unexpected stumbling

block fell squarely in the middle of our
pathway. The attorney general advised the
Governor of the State of Louisiana to with-
hold Jarvis until the grand jury in Sara-
sota passed an indictment. As to the woman,
Juanita Messina, she admitted taking huge
sums of money from Jarvis and LeBlanc,

. but denied knowing this was stolen bank

funds. She was released in New Orleans,
for there was no substantial case against
her. Sheriff Pearson was of a correspond-
ing opinion.

Again the long trip to New Orleans had
proven futile. Back in Sarasota, a grand
jury was formed. There was little debate.
Jarvis was immediately indicted. The Gov-
ernor of Louisiana was now asked to com-
mute the sentence of Jarvis, to allow him
to return to Sarasota. However, if no con-

_ viction was reached here, the Governor of

Louisiana would revoke the commutation
and send him back to the state prison to
complete his sentence.

The third trip to New Orleans found
Pearson, Fred Walker, and Deputy Sheriff
R. A. Smith in the party. They went by
automobile. When. they obtained Jarvis, he
was immediately handcuffed. We were go-
ing to take no chances with this recognized
desperado,

Whitey Jarvis was sorely disappointed

-at the failure of the State of Louisiana to

jail him for bank robbery. His plans had
blown into a thousand pieces. But he
seemed resigned to his fate. During a mo-
ment when his sagging spirits were plumb-
ing the depths of despair, he made an ad-
mission.

“Yes, I killed the two sisters, Clements
and Dyel.”

Even before the selection of a jury, the

_air of Sarasota. was charged with excite-

ment. ‘The discussion of a large tourist sea-
son, the condition of the weather, the news
of citrus growers, all were overshadowed
by the exciting news. Merchants left their
shops, important engagements were can-
celed, neighboring towns sent over delega-

‘tions in streams of motor cars.

A dangerous man was on trial for his
life. His face was grim as a carved mask.
He sat straight up in the chair, body rigid,
hands folded in his lap.

ee defense put up a flimsy plea of self-
defense, attempting to show the accused
man was in danger of his life. This was
based upon the finding of a revolver under
the mattress of one of the beds in the house
of death. This weapon was not in the house
at the time of the murder, for the beds
were dissected at the time. It was obviously
planted there the day when its discovery
became known. The reason for the plant
has never to this day been ascertained.

The state set up a case of simple pre-
meditated murder and asked for the death
penalty. Their star witness was Douglas,
who pointed out Jarvis as the man who had
done the shooting. Bridges had exonerated
himself by turning state’s evidence.

On the afternoon of May 17th, twelve
jurors filed into the courtroom with their
verdict. The room was still as death.

A. R. Filson, the foreman, handed the
verdict to Clerk of the Court John R. Pea-
cock. The eyes of Whitey Jarvis were
glued upon the slip of paper. He jerked the
lighted cigarette from his mouth, dropped
it upon the floor and stamped it out.

Peacock scanned the document before

him. Then in a slow, s
voice he read:

“We, the jury, find
of murder in the firs
all.”

As the last four
Jarvis shook like a le:
ing at the sides of
steadied him.

Sheriff Pearson, D
Southard, and I, who
prisoner, arose when
As quickly as possibk
hustling him through
short corridor, and u
is to face the electric
State Prison Farm, |
of doomed men. The

Happy days aroun:
Only five weeks sin
murder and the com
had criticized us for
pouring into the offic
messages.

We always discuss
trials. Of this particu
that Whitey Jarvis v
inal—savagely so af
drinks. However, we
for ingeniousness an:
overlooked this. A
were convinced.

| ES


By GENE LaBONNE

WITH THE DEAD BODIES OF Two BEAUTIFUL
GIRLS DEMANDING VENGEANCE, FLORIDA & ©
LOUISIANA POLICE TRACK DOWN THE KILLERS
WHO TALKED TOO MUCH AT THE WRONG TIME |

TRU-LIFE

Detective
Cases

HE living room ‘of the little .

reyes: on Twenty-fourth
Street and Cocoanut Avenue,
Sarasota, Florida, teemed with

\e activity which always follows

olent death. Sheriff C. B. Pear-

n elbowed his way through the

‘oup of internes crowding the [7

xen doorway and, halting sud- ~ia-

nly, studied the scene before

im,
He recognized Police Chief Til-
en Davis and the medical exam-

may be able to tell us something.”

ier, also a few of the uniformed ‘ fee ia. “«
cre ay ot emtertee fA MARIEALCIE —AMESE.swmH —_paruawan He ured Duc te Pern We
ecause of the large number of Associate Editor Editor Art Editor that fellow over there, In fact, he
cwmen in the room it was impos- MARCH 4 ; mete 1946 may be the killer.” ;

He pointed to a thin, dark-haired
CONTENTS man whose right hand was wrap-
: = : : ped in a red-stained handkerchief.
CRIME IN THE MAKING DSO EM AE Aviat sa we tl ‘_ The man had. a dazed expression
By on his face and seemed unmindful
of the fact that he was in the

ble to obtain more than a fleet-

te Pee ee eee eee “well,” Davis said, “where's the
; ‘ ay. gun you used?”
: The man shook his head. “Every-

runette. Both were fully and SUR: wow cuiddebereiss Vi aiewe hee a y ote Gu @
nartly dressed in clothes of good he and Chief Deputy E. A. Garner.
aality,  s EALTER VERNON Pearson and Davis walked over to
; been him.
bra-
a

reeting to Davis. “This may
all through,” he said. “Ac least i) thing. But I didnt do it dant
se has a chance. Well have te: Tk ne nee ene nae eae atreren do it.”
et her to the hospi pretty ¥ : “Your name?” .
uick. The blonde is dead.” ui b oe aah RMICEOM a: “I'm George Clark. I live at Man-
: ; f : a hia 6 atee. I—I just came here on a
TRU-LIFE SALUTES. errs ant: Veer Ree ee A | 4 visit.” He stopped short; wiped. his

moist forehead.

“Go on from there,” a
said.

“I came to see. Bertie—Mrs. “Ber-
tie Lee Clemonts, the blonde. We
‘were in the kitchen, making sand-
wiches and coffee. Her sister, Mrs.
Lacy Bell Dyel, stayed in the living

TRU-LIFE DETECTIVE CASES bribe! aie, ee ese
Co., at 103 Park Ave., New York 1 March, 1946. Volume 5, No.

Copyright, 1946, by Volitent Publishing C ke d class
matter February 23, 1545 at the Pest Onice at Mow York, Now York ender the
Publishers, wil’ 1879. eal amid 15 cents, yearly ete aa stam: tee

such rial ied by vufficient postage for retum and is
SSeulecds Ge genes ae Printed in U.S.A.

ion with Chief Davis who, an in-
tant later, summoned a detective.
“Stay with her,” Davis said, “In
he ambulance and at the hospital.
on’t leave her side for a minute. Gus. 6 . ' =
f she regains consciousness she (7m Relig ili gts Fratton ipaate ea cies


iddle of our
| advised the
iana to with-
iry in Sara-
) the woman,
taking huge
nd LeBlanc,
stolen bank
ew Orleans,
case against
correspond-

Orleans had
ota, a grand
little debate.
d. The Gov-
sked to com-
o allow him
‘r, if no con-
Governor of
commutation
ite prison to

rleans found
sputy Sheriff
hey went by
ed Jarvis, he
Ve were go-
is recognized

disappointed
Louisiana to
is plans had
res. But he
uring a mo-
were plumb-
made an ad-

rs, Clements

i a jury, the
with excite-
2 tourist sea-
ier, the news
vershadowed
ats left their
3 were can-
over delega-

trial for his
carved mask.
*, body rigid,

plea of self-
‘ the accused
te. This was
volver under
in the house
in the house
ior the beds
vas obviously
its discovery
or the plant
ertained.
simple pre-
or the death
vas Douglas,
nan who had
d exonerated
ence.
17th, twelve
n with their
is death.
handed the
fohn R. Pea-
Jarvis were
fe jerked the
uth, dropped
it out.
ment before

him. Then in a slow, steady, clearly audible
voice he read:

“We, the jury, find the defendant guilty
of murder in the first degree, so say we
all.”

As the last four words were spoken,
Jarvis shook like a leaf. His hands, clutch-
ing at the sides of the chair, somewhat
steadied him.

Sheriff Pearson, Deputy Sheriff Robert
Southard, and I, who were sitting near the
prisoner, arose when we heard the verdict.
As quickly as possible we removed Jarvis,
hustling him through the building, down a
short corridor, and upstairs to a cell. He
is to face the electric chair at the Raiford
State Prison Farm, Florida’s final retreat
of doomed men. The date has not been set.

Happy days around the sheriff’s office!
Only five weeks since the night of the
murder and the conviction! Citizens who
had criticized us for lethargy were now
pouring into the office with congratulatory
messages.

We always discuss post-mortems of the
trials. Of this particular one, we all agreed
that Whitey Jarvis was a dangerous crim-
inal—savagely so after consuming a few
drinks. However, we gave him little credit
for ingeniousness and fertile cunning. We
overlooked this. A few months later we
were convinced.

American Detective

A Negro prisoner (name must be with-
held) squealed on Jarvis. Through him we
learned the murderer had been seen roving
around the cell blocks at night, opening
doors by inserting what resembled a key.
How could Jarvis have cell keys, we won-
dered? Every regular key was in its regu-
lar place on the jailer’s huge ring. :

We went upstairs, opened Jarvis’ cell
and ordered him out. A scrupulous search
of his cell and person began. To our amaze-
ment we found keys fashioned out of a
pocket comb. Two of them unlocked his
cell door, and the outside cell block door,
giving him the freedom of this room. There
was one more lock to pick. That was to a
passageway leading out of the building. The
third key fitted this perfectly but it was
broken. This happened during an insertion.
It was impossible to mend the break, al-
though Jarvis had attempted to by mending
the back with tape. This was a fortunate
break for us. Otherwise, Jarvis might now
be a free man, and we would have had a
shake-up in the department.

We asked Jarvis how he accomplished
this craftmanship. He readily told us.

“One of the Negro prisoners had the itch.
He rubbed a black salve on it for relief.
I got some of this. Ripping the back off of
a book, I tore the tough cardboard into
strips. On these I placed the black salve,

| ESCAPED FROM DEVIL'S ISLAND

| ee men have escaped from this French penal colony and
lived to tell the story; but “American Detective’ has found
just such a fugitive. His story reads like fiction but every line of
itis true. It has the color of an escape story and a setting that
is so dramatic as to make it almost unbelievable.

This is one of the greatest stories ever published by any fact
magazine. You’ll live with this daring fugitive through the long,
trying days when he feared every sound about him. There are
but two ways to escape—one by sea where the sharks are
hungry —the other by land and swamps where raging fever lurks.
They said escape was impossible but, this man accomplished the
impossible and lived to write his thrilling adventure exclusively
for “American Detective.” Order your copy for June NOW!

95

shoving it into the locks. This way I got
the correct impressions. All I had to do
was take out the proper teeth in the comb.
They worked like a locksmith made them
.... 80 would the last one to the outside
door if I hadn’t been impatient and broken
it off in the door.”

We were lucky all right. If that Negro
hadn’t squealed, I’m sure that Jarvis, hav-
ing access to the outside passage, would
have found a way out. We also found a
pocket knife on him which was confiscated.
Otherwise, one of us might have got it
in the back like the two girls.

There are rumors among the under-
world of. the town that Jarvis will never
go to the electric chair. I don’t know what's
going to stop him. There is talk of a new
trial, but that’s vague and remotely re-
moved. Even if Jarvis found some sort of
a weapon, he isn’t the kind to commit sui-
cide. He'll never get the chance to use it
on any of us.

This concludes the mystery of the killing
of the two sisters, and the difficult attempt
to bring the murderer to justice. It jarred
this peaceful community to such an extent
that it will be a long time before the people
erase from their minds the picture of two
girls lying in pools of blood and two men,
one nearly naked, fleeing through the
night.


room, We were going to tell her.

the food was ready when we heard
voices at the door. Bertie thought
they might ‘be some neighbors and
she asked ‘me to invite them in,
too, Then we heard loud voices—
like arguing. Bertie told me to wait
while she saw what was the mat-
ter. She went inside. Then I heard
two shots. I- ran inside and saw
the girls lying on the floor. It—it
was. horrible.”

Clark stared at the stained spot
on the floor where the blonde girl
had been lying. His face was
drawn, haggard.

“Go on from there,”. Pearson
said.

“One man ‘was holding a gun.
The other was standing near the
door, I made a dive for the one
with the gun. He fired again and
hit my hand. Then they both ran
out and got into the Plymouth—
the one standing at the curb, They
couldn’t seem to get it started so
they got out again and ran down
the street. I knew I couldn’t do any
good following them. The. lights
were on in a neighbor’s house so I
ran over and told the people what
had happened. The man. tele-
phoned the police.”

Pearson studied the man before
speaking. “These men you claim
did the shooting—what did they
look like?”

“The man with the gun was.

about 37. He had a moustache and

was almost bald. The other was.

about 10 years younger, He was

about the same ‘height but looked.

heavier. He had dark hair—almost
black.”

Pearson nodded approvingly.
“You're being a big help to us,”
he said. “Now I want you to think
back and try to recall what all the
talking was about. Tell us what
the girls and the men said.”

Clark was silent for a long min-
ute. Then he shook his head. “I’m

sorry,” he replied, “but I can’t re- .

member a thing. It all came so
suddenly and they talked so fast—

But I.did catch the word, ‘talk.

They repeated it several times.”

“That’s all you can: tell “us?”
Pearson asked.

“That’s all.”

Chief Davis and two Ceacthven
took Clark to headquarters for fur-
ther questioning. Identification Of-
ficer F. E. Wiltz busied himself on
the stalled getaway car while
Sheriff Pearson remained indoors
to conduct the search for possible

’ clues.

It was a waste of time and effort.
And, questioning the neighbors
huddled in groups outside the
house, Pearson learned only that
the two young women were highly
respected, that they. seldom enter-
tained guests and had no known
enemies.

SHED, but not satisfied, “the

sheriff hurried back to his of-

fice. He telephoned the hospital
and asked about Mrs. Dyel. The
doctor stated that her chances of
recovery were very slim. She had
not regained consciousness and her
pulse was rapidly growing weaker.
Pearson was about to replace the
receiver when the doctor exclaim-
ed, “Wait a minute! Hold on!”

There was a delay of several sec-
onds. Then the answer came.

“She died this minute! Four 38
bullets were removed from hef
back.”

Pearson thanked him for the in-
formation and slowly cradled the
receiver, His face was a mask of

cold determination. Instantly he |

was‘ on his feet, purrying toward
the chief’s office.

Davis nodded to a chair as Pear-

son ,entered the room. “I just
heard from the hospital.” c

“Yes,” Pearson said, “I heard, too. ©

That’s why I’m here; A double
murder. You can see what we’re

up against.” He added quickly, -

“We've got to work fast. Once the
reporters hear of this—”
Davis was deep in thought, his

The modest home in Sarasota, Florida, where the two
beautiful sisters lived. and met their horrible fate.

eyes fixed upon a card lying on
the desk. The sheriff interrupted
his: preoccupation. “What’s worry-
ing you?” he asked.

Davis looked. up with a start.
“I’ve stumbled on: something. It
gives us a lead, but I don’t know
where. This card is from our files.
It checks with a set of prints Wiltz
lifted from the Plymouth. They be-
long to a very nasty character. I
was considering the usual motives

-for murder—unrequited love, hate,

revenge, fear and personal gain.
i’m just wondering which of these
fits in here.” Davis ran his hand
across his brow.

Pearson waited.

Davis picked up the card and
read. “Martin F, Jarvis, alias Whi-
tey Rogers. Age 35—weighs 150
pounds—height five feet eight and
one half inches. Scar over. right
eye and lower cheek.” He glanced
up at Pearson. “Jarvis has quite
a record. He’s done time in Tennes-
see and Louisiana pens,” he ex-
plained. “I can’t understand how in
heaven’s name did those. two girls
get mixed up with a no-good guy
like that. And why did he murder
them? Was it love, robbery—or
what?”

Pearson stared his surprise. “

- Bertie Lee Clemonts died without
being able to name the murderer.

that is something. What about the

other fellow. Do the files show any-
thing on him?”

“No, but I’m checking with the
Nashville and.New Orleans author-
ities, He may-have been implicated
in those offenses too. I want every-
thing we can get on this case.

' We're going to need it,” he added

“Yes,” Pearson admitted, “Mrs.
Dyel was our one hope.” Then as
an after thought he added, “Have
you heard anything about the Ply-
mouth?”

“It was registered in the name of
a@ dealer. We checked with him.
He said he sold the car to a man
named Blair. The. man’s wife was
‘with him. She paid cash for it. He
took particular’ notice because she
was carrying a pretty heavy bank
roll on her. person, The. man_ took
the car and said he would be back
the next day to sign the necessary
papers. He never showed up. That’s
all he knows about them.”

“Blair could be the other man
and then again Jarvis could have

stolen or borrowed the car fr
him,” Pearson suggested. “W)
about the dealer? He could be
on it, too.”

“We checked the dealer,” Da
said. “He’s O. K.”

The door opened quickly anc
messenger handed him a mess:
from Chief of Detectives, Jo
Grotsch, of New Orleans.

Davis ripped it. open and re
aloud. “Martin F. Jarvis, al
Whitey Rogers, and W. H. Bk
alias Donald White, alias Willi:
Adams had-both served time
Louisiana state pen. Both want
now in connection with the rc
bery of the Canal Bank and Tr
Company on February 14, for 14,'
dollars. Am sending photo of Bk:
who is 25, weighs 140 pounds a
is five feet and nine inches t:
Blue eyes, tatooed on both ar
A marine engineer.”

“A couple of nice boys. So tl
bought the car, and they have
woman with them—and a lot
money!” Davis stated. “If we o
knew how.in blazes they got «
of here. Something went wro
with their getaway car. Ti
couldn’t just vanish in thin :
I’ve got the whole police fo:
questioning people. I’m_hopi

Sherif Cc. B. sind led the ii
vestigation of the dual myster

someone has seen them sor
where.” ,

“Yes,” Pearson added “and )
an extra force out blocking all
roads. They can’t possibly
through.”

-FEW hours later the f

hopeful report came throu
A man had seen an Essex co:
near the scene of the crime. Ir
were two men who fit the descr
tion that had been broadcast.
young fellow had been driving.
_ “Well,” Davis muttered. “Now
have a third man in the case
wonder—”

The phone rang and Da
pounced on it. He listened, son
what. disturbed, the  recei
clamped to his ear. Pearson, at t
other end of the wire, was telli
him that he had located the apa
ment house where Jarvis, using !
Whitey alias, and his pal Blair h
been rooming. Pearson had se
the superintendent of the buildi
who told him that the men h
not checked out. However on i


Z ys “
W Mase bre cognac 2 TA, Cleat «ih Ms ve Oe = CaM it leak 27 Aas a Cade

Le Weve: Siaae KH Pater eke Lut é Oe sa: |

!

_ Y % j a H
OM OMG bes 'g Cade /¢ Pen aN tg oh. fice parce Dafen laut £, | Lo
Via , fs ; “ x ow, A

: whe i hw, af vo Vv pita te, 5 sewn nts od o per er IU a 30
“il i

Lo 4 e<2160—- DD /eheuiy eBay tere So cack og J JO
’ o:

, ‘ fy ' , /, poate _

i ~ fé cae E072 Cit P ites ctcrtett, 2422 Aclok. diner al JZ cexed 5) re fd
; . : / ~ a
a ee rity A~trel.ad S, TZ et % a ff oe Ld
; L hh ; ¥
ra YO is a Z , 2 “
2i« : ee 2004 Cezer 7 Jas cress tir SLoeitncteea OG 4 \2a
. . ‘ ,
- Se fo hg gd te weLt ares x ! Ltn es, Pz, tal ~or Sheee YG KC awtlad
bf GT é Wd |
y | i
het Uisca & tee -,’ CI Lute OF bale tort het 8 “$e 40 | ( 4a
J . c ra va |

7 | —

< or “x 0 Pen 2 ea Oe ae ae fla ¢ +L ty 2¢2~-47 Lao | Ji
ia |
: - ; P Lf ' P a

Cet tere OO, Fe ir See we we oe (ALO AL LL? 7 “ J VA

e oe ae =e

fo ’ vas : Jer , - ae
GA fee ML ESECAt tL Sh LAeczer-ty 4@az712 Lh LL ew alrove altvbaaad

+

'
Y ‘ qa Biss, ¢
CPB LE 6 «tid Cour’ ar,~_dl ecpeoee .

| Cust prof have atlpnee cl
wt fee cee gett recep ved pith ae cs lat of
kOe Baal ot phe Atak Six. : ws ite ctr Aer Fz, Chat -
els hae coer Cb = Vesbertioly. ree befor es oo

eo

a Coos ate i Pee & arate ie Cz P, 422
ake Sy Zac 7 ind, ue ze 4 45 3” vf
(Gee Vhrd Che 62 vA Clee
4 i. GL. a Harker Carfk
CE, Cb


Bis oe VIE
As, “4 hep ig
Vide Se Hi Ha 7

Ag) 16s
Valk Ovy

i f?
fhe

MG Bes svg 4 BE / tf re

[ed hiv» Mey hin Ny liec TR os tb Ip “eal G
i Kye it ; J Calle ct tl Cacds Vanvaul fo Mevty Lei
hed Bell if (ible

Chil lth car, lotaeld circles Van aA ae Suid lice Spe aeni f vans 4o0 / Sf

( Ctau'cs ¢ ft le i phe 2- 75 stl cles Sten il pri WA 32 OT
} / re

fs fi
—a Heth aie SLL Zp CH yp? 2G ( Caer rd AC

7
2 "
yo
2

hee AGC AC icles BOA a hich

“ day hor Pd pL Vi } ale SLL “ Mery 2 oO
ig fre Apu >

phic 2 me Jato Ahaile luff TA d Ld
(@s ar ite 7 Lipo Filey 4. on Moy

SY

bi Hioee Qa! GLEE bday 1 {PU € fe b lay tél

yf mye fe Jail ed Nhe ‘Ae caly hed huts looper nie i ma
fee die ty .; ltt for Teatct ae 2 5a

PA Lt £2 Vin vy" a opelae ral Ay Hoorn Tee, kaa / 7 LU

(, hy Lise! foal 4 Jeet eet. Neel neo oy N \ l&d
eae a ecto Te Hirt oC \Z cg ee Ae * (he Nict 7 Cc

foie Ge e7 Le Ai ¢
u¢ feeeu re Yer DL ae clahesita tl Deak VEE Ives y edpir Viet: ae a
/
le iptickled howole: ov . (oa beat / 2 oat

Lyf dtisos fr zr patie la tcla /¢ Ve [tbe Vas Eu iG. _ 7 /#t oe

A em
fe! 16 4 (Mfc ih ed un PA a hh henadte VG. vy IO

AE to

AH hecir GS a & ae ad ry 0."/ a ae; C4E k

blust feracker frwsius lt fe Ew 3 (ee fir key 200
ltisdew LELOIZLEK WET at Ale r Wa “ vv 2¢
S/ } Wa 4
L~
SF ar.

Cle ti fla G aa peed c Meeks “rt 5 4 he Corifere cen!

, belay) i apaaed td cS tu fuwstleays feces ob har tol Cauclhes WGC. 2 oo

ian f ‘f L peel tt Kon fh einer ash Gg tena dfe'on Y Gut J GC
/ /

get aga fo Aiwrer Luhcta (lies Scene / O78
| BD SIS

i, dete a ALi l (ar fold, bx acer ca th qutout

bey ple 4
Lh } hia JZ,
icced (tt Lis ALU EC* ahsl ae Obi u tomes rer Leah hes iff
, { (eee La ceuly ld lt eeflrr ¢ cafae vrt Cogh Ave alr.

birr~*


5 , ; ra e / /
eu ct/ Vode tt Jha RH ftin toh: M0041 Oecd “OL e ¢ Mee ede
— : f ser pape bin od
Auspieolines Gd bs Gtr Wn ie GQ ve Wlircda wuce 7 Locees
om oy y a CL / p -
freepable At« v 4 Uh. Whee Te ea a t+ ey, 7 (fe ~ bs Ta

Z Ce Koco Lhe + Le |

hé fart o, rhe wapd Lit yuh, 4 Fie eds My Aimee tt
her Ni Yeo G2 acc . J

La Vilisps where haw « hereaente deFiry ba scte
heal of Uffie jh 96 ey ee lie rebe UG So

Cc

I) Let Asi cet Sa Poe, L Pa
a

C C2 Leci ly

fe a wn 4 jj,
Be op , Cofire me the MMborwl ¢
Gethe Voce Orn: ,

Li Low 1” SA

Le «

me's

Lk Lé / aL PLPC AM LAG Cf: ee,
( LY ; be LZ Z “ 7 ra
CVAM My  / Jarl por Ve s': Get

ie J iF | eed LP Fue x Mbpe 4b Ge ke: > “re
fa 4 Lyf ant re 7

Shonn Me riabtirbel ha Ave finathont —~
LP Aeirmby ted (lig BI ry) ae.
y, x

a ~ *
- ee s =
- a .

>) 2


hate 7 Vlora
} Y am 4

‘Me LZ f ff r : :
Y Cllz g ot CO abbhaiine S37 da elev Ve am Ph tr-dler cM Goce
g ’ an v

of ib peatess vA he ae J Ft found ad- thaal Seun, Atrret

- mo % ge ray a , i -

(ads of Fe Stake of Iles da Lpreeal Fesrcre dered fi events
S 3 G

LS Lerten pile eae Va ergo
; a |
RoC, A FAVE

Fall Sinan 1 OS Th, Lifer daw! Carvite ttt Gaz 7 ~
felt Aized Hereun afin His si fou ee een oe arnt 2a
te tat Uf can ot Arte LravprarihA ford Ps, Suet oscar ¢ 6

2

/

ae So , A ’ .
SO SY Py ol Kean Cand durrlinced pa Jo Kaas scl 222 Facaley oa,

Jf Z y :
1G Mag 7h KY eeerz. ST/~ eG, G “Eo F

rf

U, ds féeret cae, Shut aoe
G

re

tu pat G hte neneins a Pyod
i P
coded Cone Shi davre st Fh, oe

Wérida era laser—~ Ji 7 “4

AtAcd.

hes frurd “Fo ’ Lx.

Li AariA
Lf

Arsv3t4
5
? * %
to

!
|


JOHNSON, Henry, electrocuted Florida (Lake) ai , June Phy 19316
i

In the Name and 48 the Authority of the State of F lorida,
f ? 3 : :
“In the Circuit Court of the Sixteenth Judicial Qircuit of the State of Florida, for Lake County, at the ‘

eat BEDE tam thereot, in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and mee shi rty.. ODA”

vo ws

} Ni ‘4 ‘

ste * Lake County to wit: “The Grand Fades of the State of Flo rida, enquiring in kod for the body of the Caunty of Lake, wate ieee

late of the County of Lake, aforesaid, in the Circuit and State aforesaid, laborer............. on the
SRE MiMta ad Sn eh even Se bar ene, she choukand a ine hundred wRa ANAND SY ODM jwith dorce’and ara ie ne

and in the County of Lake aforesaid,

a ie ee 2, tae
r y Po 4 ” « J
¢ Ite Ps . :
') - ‘ aoty cal e
) ‘A 7

4 , a
‘aid in the County, and Statelafor eoaid 4. nigga, fro a premeditated design

*,

Te lt
to effect the death of fons: i Laprence, wil ‘the Haid dgne v. Lawrence by shooting

wo

+s 4 ’ ran ‘. bei t-' “8
her with a shotgun, j 4 ; 4 "ft }

fe
ro ‘a | y ap - '
‘sBcoND COUNT: Ang spe Grand urors ye on. their oaths aforesaid, do further

)

the County of a Aforemaid , in the Circuit

(Present » that Henry Jonson rate °

‘alae State etorosaid,Lanfrer, on the 2lst day of Marci, in the year of our Lord, One

thousand nine hundred and thirty one, with force and arms at and in the Vounty of ;
Lake aforesaid, did unlawfully ané from a premeditated design to effect the death
of Anna T,bawrence , kill the said Anna T,Lawrence by burning her in @ dwelling”
howe i |

THIRD COUNT: And the Grand Jurors aforesaid on their oaths aforesaid, do further
present, that Henry Johnson late of the Younty of Lake and State of Florida,laborer
on the 2lst day of March A,D, 1931,in the Younty, Gircuit and State aforesaid,in

. Perpetration of a robbery of the United States Post [ffice at Cassia Plorida, while :
in the act of said robbery of said Post Office, kill Anna T,Lawrence who was then and “ i
there the United States Post mwagtortat Cassia,Florida by means and by weapons to
the Grand Jurors unknown.The said Anna 1,Lawrence having then and there lawful charge
control and custody of Mail,money and other property of the United states and said

der. belne.nerpetrated.uith dntentitecrod, ates) andpubloiniench wat

money and other property of the United States from the person and possession of the.

said Anna T, Lawrence, Post upnltans aforesaid,

pgainst the form, of the statute in such case made and provided, to the evil example ¢ all others in the Bea, ottand
ing, and against the penny and dignity of the State of Florida.

LEV

State Ajtorney for the Sixteenth Judicial Cirett of the se of Flarldy
Prosecuting for Said S tate ;


VDEAIH WARRANTS

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

STATE OF FLORIDA

To HONORABLE J 8 BLITOH | Superintendent of our State Prison,
and HOWORABLZ B A OASSADY Sheriff of our County of Laxg

me eS a ena ener RRND 0 meiynrn ES! Won Of ott Chroust Court ft
begun on the Sth day of MAY A. D. One Thousand Nine Hundred and
RUKMRE THIRTY-ONE: , one HENRY JOHNSON
was convicted of the crime of MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE
and thereupon. by our said court the said HENRY JOHNSON - was
sentenced for said crime to suffer the pains of death by being electrocuted by the passing
through his body of a current of electricity of sufficient intensity to cause his immediate
death and until he be dead, all of which by an exemplification of the record of said convic-
tion and sentence, which I have cause to be hereunto annexed, doth fully appear;

_ ‘Wherefore, 7, poyus £ caRLrow Governor of said’State of Florida,..}
command you, the said Sheriff of said County of LAKE , that not lesa than
five days prior to the aaaa dayof Juuer , in the year of our Lord One Thousand
Nine Hundred and encatyn THIRTY-ONE you deliver the said HENRY JOHNSON

to HONORABLE J 8 BLITOH,

Superintendent of the State Prison in our County of Union, by him to be kept securely un- :
‘Nil the; pekitenteop death shall be‘eweauted; and that at an hour on a week day; tobe decided '

by the said Superinterdent of the State Prison, in the week beginning with Monday, the °}
—88na dayof sure in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and

: LUANKEXTHIRTY~ONE, within the permanent death chamber of said State Prison in our

1 said County of Union, agreeably to the Six Thousand One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Sec-

. tion o f the Revised General Statutes of our said State, as amended by Chapter Nine Thou-

| sand One Hundred and Sixty-nine, of the Laws of our State, Acts of 1928, you cause the
execution of the said sentence of our said Court, in all respects to be done and performed
upon him, the said  eNRY JOHNSON
for which this shall be your sufficient warrant,

Bas a ae eS
ie ald del tad a

oer

oe

as
aos
ele

You, the said Superintendent of our State Prison, or some deputy by you to be des.
ignated, and you, the said Sheriff of our said County of YAK , unless you |
BE be prevented by sickness or other disability, shall be present at such execution. Such execu- .
tion shall be carried out by you and such deputies, electricians and assistants as you may
require to be present to assist, and shall be in the presence of a jury of twelve respectab
citizens who shall l ao be present, and witness the same; and yo Wo shall reguire

Mig phystcian or of the physician of the

Ste sees Pate 2

os

ryt

Wihereot Fail Not, at your peril, and make return of this warrant, with your
doings thereon, as soon as may be after execution.

In Witness Whereof, J have hereunto placed my
hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal
of the State of Florida, at Tallahassee, the
Capital, thish6th, day of JUNE ;
in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine
Hundred and RuH¥EAKX THIRTY-ONE

ns
SL

I SS Eos

=

2a


|
From the Minute Books of the Florida Board of Institutions
(state cabinet), Series 431, Volume 6 (H), entry for
10 October 1924, pages 13-14:

"Expense Account of Hon. Rivers Bufford Approved.

"The secretary presented to the Board expense account of
the Hon. Rivers Buford, Attorney General, for expenses on trip to
Raiford to attend execution amounting to $22.36. Motion was made

and adopted that the same be approved for payment."


From the Minute Books of the Florida Board of Institutions (the state cabinet), |

Series 431, Volume 7 (G), entry for 15 August 1924, page 562:

ELECTRIC CHAIR- NOTICE GIVEN BOARD Of ITS COMPLETION

The Secretary presented to the Board a letter from Mr. C. S. Hammatt,
State Engineer, to Governor Hardee notifying the Governor when the electric chair
would be completed at the State Farm and ready for the purpose of execution.

The Board had under consideration Mr. Hammatt's suggestion of the
advisability of having present at the first execution lr. Ogle, an electrician
of the General Blectric Company and also Dr. Squires of Sing Sing, New York,
because of his experience in the matter of donducting autopcies after
electrocution. By motion made and duly passed the Secretary was directed to authorizé
Mr. Hammatt to arrange to have Mr. Ogle of the General Electric Company present,
the Board paying his necessary expenses. It was the concensus of opinion of the
Board that the presence of Dr. Squires would not be necessary and therefore no
need for Mr. Hammatt to communicate further with Dr. Squires in the matter.

. The Board then adjourned, subject to call.
_?, a Cc)

(i

GOVERNOR AND CHAIRMAN.

oe

OCALA NEGRO PLAC

E
IN COUNTY JAIL =

Sheriff Fears Mon Violence an
Prisoner Moved From Mar
. Here for Safety

J. J. Johngon, the negro p
who was convicted recently in
and sentenced to hang for havi
faulted ‘a white woman, is j
county Jail here, having been

ferred from Ocala for safe ké

mob violence being feared.

Deputy Sheriff Brigance, of
brought Johnson, coming in an
mobile by way of Belleair wi
privoner, and arrivine: here ‘yes
morning. .

Johnson is in the section of t
devoted to desperate characte
probably will be held there: unt
date for his death is set by Gor
Trammell.

RE
d Ha:
on

i
1

acher
Ocala
& as-
the
trans-

eping,

Ocala,
auto-
th his
terday

e jail
and

il the:

yernor


“Lady I want to see you a minute.” |

She tried to drive past, he caught
the horse and pulled him out to the
aide of the road and asked her to get
out. She refused and he attempted
to pul] ber out of the wagon, when
she hit him over the head several
times with a whip when he then
pulled her from the wagon and ac-
complished his fiendish purpose.

After the crime the negro escaped
through the bushes and pond and
the victim drove to Marsh's atill at/.
Needmore, where she met her hus-
band and told him all

Her. husband \drove to Citra and
telephoned ‘to~ the sheriff at Ocala.
Gheriff Galloway got dogs from the
Marion Farm Stockade and went to
Citra at Once. |

The husband with others, met the
sheriff, at Citra and accompanied the |
victim té the scene of the — crime.
They reached the point at 10 o'clock
Saturday night. They searched the

neighborhood with lanters and got all
evidence, which was epough to justi-
fy the arrest of J. J. Johnson, a ne-
gro, the man the victim passed in

So - He is sa. negro preacher

iv! at Dexter, two or three miles
eroun the Soawe of the crime
After sheriff had talked with

‘Bruce Meffert, ‘who was passing
Citra In ay auto brought the
@beriff.and his prisoner to Ocala, ar-
riving in‘ Ocala at 2 p.m. Sunday. .

| Wecitement ,was at fever heat. ail
the afternoon: bit is new dying out.
The ‘sheriff hag called out the Ocala:
: ‘ecm a See ee

oe 3


i for fape, Ocala, Fla

“/ £1BONE

eg dan, 15, 1
Between 1 and 2 o'clock Saturday
afternoon the .\“oman, whose name
cannot be mentjoned under the laws
of the State, started to return home
from a visit to her brother, named
Moore, who lives at Eureka. She
lives about’ three miles from Citra
net to accompany her homa She
had to traverse ten miles of country
road en route to her home. |
' Filret Seee Her Assailant \
About one mile from Eureka she
passed a white man and boy and at,
tha same time noticed a negro man,|
. few yards from the road, appar-.
ently husting, as he had a gun. She,
drove on up the road and as her wa- |
gon was heavily loaded, she could not
go very fast. Thg woman glanced
behind and noticed the negro man
coming up the road, and she hast-
ened with all possible speed: —
The negro overtook her and spoke
o ber and walked alongside the wa-

| on for half a mile, occasionally
- She became very nervous

‘rom the negro’s actions and she de-.

cided to stop, telling the negro she
was waiting for her brother. She
waited a while but as no one passed
she was compelled to drive on. In
fhe meantime the negro had gone on
abead one hundred yards and sat on
a log. When she drove rm the ne-

913. e@

i
|

Tam PA; AZeRIDA, --6-/3C-/)
F

NEGRO WILL HAL
~-FORHIS ASS
ON WHITE rr

cast) of PREACHER JOHNS ‘
DISPOSED | OF IN OCA
COURT WHILE ARMED
‘MEN ON ON QUARD

ATTORNEY MAKES al .
THREE MINUTES sto

Troops Will Remain to Protect | |
Until Law Takes Its Course Reme-
time Thie- Week

—— ee

Qu. Jan. 7.— (Special)

County furnished an instance d

speedy justice today when
Johnson, the inegro who

white woman |Saturdey, was shed

tried, convictefl and sentenced to
The grand jury was called ,
this morning jand promptly found;
‘Indictment. At 2 o'clock this

noon a petit Jury was engaged in try t4

ing the case, and at 4 vis i the
dict was rendered.

There was never, from the s ux!
any doubt but that the right neg?
had been arrested, but to meet aga
requirements Judge Gober was,a ;
pointed by the court to represent they
negro, which he i asking the ‘usual;
questions of witne - His address"tn'
favor of his clien asics only threa’
minutes. The case against the i
Was & very strong one, the firat ~.
ness being the woman he ad “
saulted. ft

It was only a few minutes. after ne
charge of the court and the ret! ae.
of the jury that the gentlemen :
ed with the verdict of guilty, aha t
court promptly pronounced the
tence, death. The execution, it is bee
lieved, will take place Friday of this |
week, or at some date very shortly,
48 soldiers are still on guard to Pree.
Vent possible Violence, RE.

Quick action by Shertr Gatiowsy:
/ Sunday in calling out the troops —.
itt hecame apparent that feet
| against the negro was very strong u
j doubted! saved him = from eummary
pun ishaipns by a mob.

!

4 oe

‘c A Lyte Ly a,
— ” Pope thor
Sit Uf~fr/

}

Jy

if

VY


JOHNSON, Melvin, black, 26, electcocuted Florida (Yade) on 9-4-1928,

" state Prison Farm, Raiford, Sept. 4. - (AP) - Melvin Johnson, 26-
year-old Miami, negro was electrocuted here today for criminally
attacking a white woman in Miami last year, He was convicted last

Dec, 26. Johnson was placed in the chair at 3:30 o'clock, A shock of
58 seconds duration was necessary to cause death but he was not pro-
nounced dead until five minutes and 15 seconds later, The negro, an
{lliterate, who could not even recall the name of the Judge before whom
he was tried or the names of the lawyer who defended him, went to his
death calmly. He protested his innocence to the last, but declared he
was ready to die," HERALD, Miami, Florida, Sept. 4, 1928.


NEGRO FEND DIE
ON SCAFFOLD WITH
LPS STIL SEALED

J. J. JOHNSON, NEGRO PREACH.
ER WHO ASSAULTED OCALA
WOMAN, Q@OE8 TO DEATH

WITHOUT CONFESSING

OCALA, Jan. 18.—(Spegrak)—J. J.
Johnaon, the ne ro man who was tried
and convicted an heinous crime last

at 11:02 o’clock this morning.  Hils/-

ineck was broken by the fall and tn
| eleven mihutes after the trap was
sprung he was pronounced dead by
Dr. Lindner and Dr. Peek.

The condemned man was accompa-
nied to the scaffold by his two spirit-
ual advisors, Rev. Gary and Rev.
held prayers in hig ““COIN- Dehuties
Bilgance and Smith escorted him to
the scaffold and Sheriff. Galloway
sprung the trap. At the scaffold Rev.
Duke, colored, : made .aé short prayer
‘and the negro Johnson also made a

confessed his crim@at the end but said
he had made his peace with God and
left the world with 11) wil} towards
none,: ah 8

A large crowd of Idlers, curious
minded and others gathered around the
jail to witness the execution.

(16-1013

}shert’ prayer He neither denied nor.


The Florida Times-Union,

Page 15.

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1913.

fwte hoor Mar MEN Trent Tampa: wrers |
phe was taken a week ago. He slept well |

HANGED IN

and convicted here jast week for rape
‘was execute@ here at 11 o'clock this
morning. Elevem, mnigutes after the drop
was pulfied Johason was pronuunced dead
by the physicians.

The negro arrived in the city at. al

a: } : OYeak-
any signs of breaking down untti he
ascended the scaffold and then not to
any great extent. The negro was allowed
an hour to converse with ministers this
morning In lieu of making a statement
confessed to the crime. About two thou-
sand persons, mosily colored, witnessed

the execution.

i


MO Escppes

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT DATA SHEET

Floesaf
STATE INVENTORY #

—_

OFFENDER: J, SOURCE OF DOCUMENTATION
Peer ch te. Toh user (TITLE, DATE AND PAGE#)

RACE: 0 - TAMpA Terbuve

SEX: 1) = dare: Tt
OFFENSE: C’YLUIMINAL ASSAULT p~ &- 1/73 «1?
DATE EXECUTED: SIV \S°, 1S 9-93 SY
county: Jl, - Auelor p~e~ 193 C76
AGE: —— /~/6-/9/3 [+8

VICTIM:

NAME: CANNOT OE Loemntten dBd0e& M® smMTe IMS.
RACE: LO

SEX: F

AGE: —

RELATIONSHIP
TO OFFENDER: --

BACKGROUND
INFORMATION :~—

DATE CRIME
COMMITTED: Us| 12 (<prupo—y)

DATE OF
SENTENCING: >) 1,

DAY OF THE |
WEEK EXECUTED: (3 COWES BAY

OFFENDER ; re
RESIDENCY: DEXTC2 NCOI0K-

MEDIA ACCOUNT
OF CRIMES WOMAN ORWNL BA 4 CALCU
~~ ICCD A Bind MAW (ol ui qG Hen Me CAULHE WD

One SOQSD , YOUD Tr 1M HCO Beary PR nvet<, OW Ks Ae
ME Dine May WHC AHEAD pwHiney , |
Ae STOONPED Meg. AYO

| OAD KD WAC, aX

SHE WAS Stwin(, Onep

LN a ae f
Ow HCO MER ovr or TH CONTE TETO TON

> VIRQUA mE. BUSHES .

. ot the-Sisters of S

Jeck a yaunsont the Negro

Execution of
‘Murderer.

At eiyhtecn minutes past ton vicloni
Festerday morning at the county jail,

Jack Johnson, the negro convicted al
the November
Court, of the murder of W illian: Moses

at Baldwin in July lpet,’ wes ‘Taunched
into “that undiscovered "country from
Whose bourne traveller returns.”
Since his conviction he has become quite
reconciled to meet his fate, and hag at;
tended with much apparent compunetion

ithe Ministrations of the’ Rev. ‘Father
+ Dufan, of

no

Which he has ae been receiyed,) and
; Joseph, who have

“been une asingin els efforts to render
the Prisoner, every possible religious
consolation, Immediately after ten
Yelock, Sheriff Driggs necompanied by
~ Father Dutau, proceeded to the cull and
having told the prisoner that his hour
had come, he quietly arose and walked

to the callows with a self-com posure |

Very unusual under the circumstances,
The Sheriff having’ read the death war-
rant, he was pinioned amid breath] ess
silence, when Father Dufau said that be
had been requested by the condemned
Man to state that he was perfectly Wil-
ling to die for the crimes he had comw-
mitted during life, and thet had he had
4 proper training,-ne shotdd ‘peser have
Come to his’présent death. He hoped
his fate word prove a lasting example
to the recklévs ‘ind impious, and begged
of the spectators to let religious restraint
dictate 4 ail intercourse with their fellow-
Ten. . At ciphteen minutes past ten, the
bolt was withdrawn, and all that was

immotta] of- Jack Johnson ' eae =
€arth,

session of the -Gircuit)

the Catholic Church, finto4

Kh ane val y) ens eu CR A
hw w fy 9 Ra ae Cy NA GO Ww Lu.
fv

}

6-1875

or

Murder in the Fifst Degree.
The Cireui® Court: jury, yesterday,
brought ina verdict of euilty of murder
jn the first degree in the ease of the State
ts, Jack Johnson. Tt will be remem.
hered by those who read the aceount of
the murder in the New Sout, that
Johnson killed Wine Moses, at Upton's
camp, on the Pstoor Tast: July,
the latter cursed
probably swing,

((- Z3-l¥7s5-
Bora THe Neus Sot

pevermvete Ft

because

him. Johnsen will

Wx m/f y7s (CP 3)


The Florida Times-Union, Page 15.

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1913

‘JIMJOHNSON

:
§

and convicted here jast week for rape
‘was execute@ here at 11 o'clock this
morning. Elewem, ininutes after the drop
was pemes Johason was pronuunced dead
4 dy the physicians.
ed_in.the city at a
tte hoor Mar MENT Tron! Talupa, where
+} he was taken a week ago. He slept well
tw show

any signs of breaking down untti he
ascended the scaffold and then not to
any great extent. The negro was allowed
an hour to converse with ministers this
morning In tleu of making a statement
on the seaffold..Fhe negro had F
confessed to the crime. About two thou-
Sand persons, mosily colored, witnessed
the execution. . .

—er

oe as

———<——

enn

MEDIA ACCOUNT | | : AA
OF TRIAL: © 50/\)\/) Jon, CMIEO TEGRHRL THAT Moontny
no AY MDICTM ENC. |

2 ©, 7 . ; ‘ a ae i |
Drie dn oat MHED THE CASE. 440m vLoG2Ncr
MEDIA ACCOUNT
OF EXECUTION:

\

METHOD : HANG NG a TIME: \\02 QO)
PM

STAYS OF
EXECUTION: MOY) ©

EXECUTIONER: Siiconi

- GA (Us

WITNESSES: } 7
PANY CUUOLS ,1DLES AND OHEIS

RITUALS: A
Tce. OM DANY?) LED

) MT THER Scalfsy  ¢
Acbinib a' Se lien KE SCAT UK BU HIS re)

CO oR CONFESsEN
poy fH 4 (e
EXWD \Cr- eas ¥ 6d WODL US 1H

OTHER INFORMATION:

“THR Gack. MAN

WAS HEAVILY QoT-
eee (| PRom RD

TPH C_ KY) OD TRA Nsleoo z TO) “
HD YS CURDBR\ OI (Tien (~

THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION (Jacksonville)
Tuesday , 26 October 1943, page 6.

| Two Are Executed
| At State Prison:

RAIFORD, Oct. 25, (*#}—Two ne- |
groes were executed at the Florida
| State Prison here today, and the
execution of a third was set for
Friday, according to Supt. L. F.
Chapman. °

The two men executed were
James Allen Young, sentenced in
1942 for raping a white woman in
Hillsborough County, and Ruffie
Lundon, sentenced in Alachua
County for killing James Robinson,
negro.

George Washington James, sen-
tenced in 1942 for killing Wilmon
Green, negro. in Pusk County, was
scheduled to be executed today. but
Superintendent Chapman put it
over until] Friday.


» Hundred and dtl

I Seven gaint:
+ pave bc a 4 3

ee: ° i

‘passage of the bill was announced at
ie | 12: :40 by a vote of 46-to 7.
aunt Bina 4 The Negative Vote.
Washington, Feb. 8—Those who
voted against the Hepburn bill were
McCall, of Massachusetts; Weeks, cf
Massachusetts; Perkins and Vreelant.
| of: Southwick, N..Y., and. Sibley, : of
‘Pennsylvania. All of thom are Repub-
licans,

enn ee

"HE ‘MOON >

*K

CCUR TONIGHT

r SHADOW AT 10: 354 AND THE DARK
fs MIDDLE OF THE ECLIPSE
RAT 1: “7 A, M.

to
All:
| at

‘he

| gare RRC EETTSS

hs is the diffused or light shadow of the
_ earth. The dark portion or the un-
' ¢y] Dra is the concentrated or real shadow
which hides the moon from us. The
moon tonight will pass almost through
the center of the earth's shadow
hence the eclipse will-be of long, duga-
i. | tion.

Should the weather be favorable
the beautiful sight presented tonight

Hla

waiting until a late hour to witness

Total Eclipse af the Moon.

the; the interesting features
ible| with this phenomenon.
sur. * Eclipse WI!l Be General,
wit!l| ~Washington, Feb. 8.—This evening's
the| eclipse of the moon will be visible in
At]all parts of North America, as well as
row} in South America, “the western por.
lly | tions of Europe and Africa and North-
ree }eastern . Asia and Australia. Tho
“earth's shadow will first strike the
» of the moon at 12:57 a. m., We s>-

connected

Brean FRERUARY, 8, 1906. Bie wa tai ere

| "BURGLARY. aT.

L Rate = thes, Re. i

ic] wit be welt worth the-ttscomfort—of-

237

Broke Into auathineoe SEs

, Door With a. Crow; Bar— . nd

2 Pook Military, Rifle. Bn. ne
ier Sits a oe,

RE Fd ole by py thet CUNY byte
stk SO ag 3] gel BGK

ized, the © thief “sectiting™ postage
stamps’ to the value’ of’ $186.05,! also‘ a

‘| Krag-Jorgensen! military’: “wfle? “acrha:

thief carried away: Mr. Snow’s ‘shaving
set but left many other, ‘valuable* ‘arti.
cles. Up to, the ‘present. time no’ clue
has. been found to lead, to, the’ identity
of the burglar. A crow. bar. was: “dis-
covered lying by the fence ‘outside of
the door ‘and’this was the. implement
used to effect’ an-entrance., “A! num-
ber of small. blocks. which..had * been
used: in obtaining a, purchase, for, the
lever , were , also,, found. scattered
around the crow bar. They were worn
and. _broken, showing’ that the thief
had. ‘spent some time In: gaining’ ad-
mittance.. The crow bar was ‘inserted
near the bottom, of the door, and the
latter -was pryed. until the, fastenings
were broken,, The, stamps were kept
in an fron box {riside of a, locker. The
door of this’ lo¢ker’ was opened ‘with
a bayonet which Mr. Sriow‘kept® in'a
table drawer. -Before’ attacking:/ the
door of the locker, the thief ransacked
the drawer mentioned and secured
this -bayonet’ which he’ ‘used. for the
‘purpose mentioned. The stamps were
kept {n several boxes, each ‘denom!-
nation being’ separate. » The: stamps
were {jn denominations of one, : two,five
and ten cents.,, The’ thief evidently
dumped them all into one box for con
venient carrying, as one box has dis-

oN

: Tuesday night the: ‘statloner’s. office |,
at the railway. ‘station, was - : burglary, E

a Hé stated. ‘that’ ‘this’ was’

ak peaks Cally of ‘His. Rapidly Ae
"pg a Hee
Glory. ae sinh at

: ‘aie Risto’
: ‘esti? wey: es

4 Sh "am, ready, 10, dle; 7 ae made ‘my . ee ;
peace: with; my God and will: ‘gO. to the

Such, was; Sim: .Jackson’s,, response to.
‘the, .query,, of, a; Record, representatlye,,

Jackson, exclaimed, in a loud ..voice:
“Yes, yes, I am BOrry, but my wife...
was’ not blameless ‘etther?’? She!”

brought {ton herself.” Jackson stata) =
ed that his wife had Jeft him) and shex
had given him’ unending trouble which,
drove him to ‘commit the. ‘rash deed. on

‘the ' “only: oR
crime he had’ ever committed. He.”
sald’ that: he ‘lived’ in St. Augustine
many years and aside from. the: mur:
der of his ,wife he had ,never been,
charged with any. violation ‘of law. He.
sald that now that his end {fs near he .

is anxious to havé tt over. , He did not
appear to be laboring under any men=",
tal strain ‘and spoke very calmlyiof: —
his pending execution. He sald he ta.
going to glory; that he knew God had.
forgiven: him and. he hoped, his wite.-

appeared_and all the others were Jeft
on the window sill. It is not known

- |why the burglar took.the rifle, but it

is supposed as, he also took . several
cartridges that he was preparing hint.
self for an emergency and intended to

ery. .An fron safe: will: be ‘placed in

i the office to protect such. valuables ia
:|future, such as the large quantities of

postage stamps the stationer is com-
belted to keep on hand. .

ANEW FAD

New York Club Planning for Several
Balloon Ascensions.

New York, Feb. 8.—The aeronaut-
ical’ exhibition held In connection with
the recent - automobile : show in. this.
city has aroused considerable interest
in the subject of aerial navigation and
the members. of the Aero Club, which
is composed principally of. wealthy |
members of the Antomobile’ Club of

mT har

America, he* highly ~enthu-

use the weapon in the event of discov: i

| when. mounting the scaffold.:" Before ' -

had also been forgiven for her sins,
Jackson has two ‘children, a boy and’
a * girl: iwho ‘came’ to see him «yestes—
day. He .sald ‘this was. the; first time.
he had set eyes on them. in’ five ‘years,
The only: ‘regret he expressed ‘was ta’.
leaving his * “children. *' He said* that’.
they had no’ mother and°now ‘that he™
{s- going too,: they will -be- left in: the»
care’ of. strangers.'?: Jackson: stated ‘he |
had, been ‘married twice and.that he .
never had any’: trouble” with his first,
wife. He ‘asked “The Record man “te.
send him a copy of the paper. ‘and
sald he would’ carry it in: his “hand

saying» “goodbye”. Jackson .agali, as-
sured his interlocutor that he was not
afraid to die; ‘that he was ‘certain he ’

| would bela ~ glory tmmodiatety~‘after—-—

‘hfs execution and that he hoped to sea
a number! of his) friends present! to- :
morrow morning: when his, soul; will
be launched, into eternity.

Te) a ee

TARCE. PKOWINCE 2 ris

gallows- tomorrow.-without. a: quaver.™°

this morning, relative. to, the, approach; eine
ing .end..of,. the. .doomed : man... When,
asked. if he is. sorry. for..the crime. fei


THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION (Jacksonville)
Saturday, 30 October 1943, page 6

Negro |, |
€Sro Is F
eMForD . xecut d
“one tor J - Gin
NCZrO na, ames Po: TPOTZ¢@
for kilns he dea:n ites Con J
Nezro nD Pero Crem, ‘ today
ne One by 7 County and anornge
e Clectrie woredta ma oecame
YOM at the CAA since 3:5 die in |
James pact’? Prison Fata: |
Was 5€nenceag in te ere |
RAIFORD, Oct. 29 (AP) -- George Washington

James, Polk County negro, paid the death penalty today for
killing Wilmon Greén, another negro in Polk County and
became the one hundredth man to die in the electric

chair since its installation at the State Prison Farm

here.

James was sentenced in 1942.

FLORIDA TIMES- UNION. JACKSONVILLE, TUESDAY. OCTOBER 26, 1943.

i Supreme Court Denies
| Florida Negro’s Plea

WASHINGTON. Oct. 25, (%—The
Supreme Court denied today @ stay -
of execution sought by George
-Wasfington James, Woolfoik Junc-
‘sion Fla.) negro, sentenced to ce
‘Bday for first degree murder.
| The negro was convicted March
(27, 1942. He contended tnat mem-
‘bers of his race were not ade-|
quately represented on the Jury and

hat prejured testimony had been.
‘admitted.

page 7.

|

|

-~-2 —_— ws

MARTIN: JARVIS
TO GO ON TRIAL|
HERE NEXT WEEK

’ |

Jon trial Monday morning with the

| Louisiana officers, Jarvis is certain;
to fight both {indictments to the

Alleged Murderer of Sisters
Pleads Not Guilty When _
Arraigned in Court

Pleading “not guilty”: in a ‘firm,
steady and clearly audible voice,
devoid of emotion, Martin KF. Jar
vis, alleged killer of two sisters
fere on March 12, Thursday after
noo was ordered to be ready to gO

two indictments against him being
tried at the same time. :

He bad not obtained counsel at
the time of the arraignment yesetr
day and was awaiting word from
relatives whom he thought might
furnish funds for his defense. Cir
cult Judge Paul C. Albritton told
Jarvis that if he could not obtain -
private counsel by a late hour to
day, that the court would appoint
attorneys to defend him. The coun-
ty will pay not to exceed $50 for
his defense, a state law applicable
in all capital cases.

Jarvis was brought into the court
room py Sheriff C. B. Pearson, who
returned him from the Louisiana |
state prison at Angola, La., and
stood beside Acting State’s Attor
ney Dewey A. Dye while that offi-
clal read the two indictments. Aft-
er each was read Jarvis replied—
in answer to Dye’s “how do you
plead?”—“not guilty” in a voice
that was clearly heard in the rear
of the court room.

Realizing that his life is at stake
for the two murders which he al-
legedly committed in company with
John Blair, who was later slain by

finish. ‘

Special panel of jurors will prob-
ably be drawn and summoned to-
day to try the Jarvis case.

Just’ when Eugene “Pete”
Bridges, accused ag an accessory
after the fact in aldinig Jarvis, Blair
and thelr woman companion, Juan-
ita Marie Messina, to escape, will
be arraigned has not been determ-

ined as yet. Mr. Dye said today.

* - : Ps
re =e 82 em & a ee ~ #5, age

eT

HERALD
SARASOTA, : FLORIDA, FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1933 _


LOCAL OFFICERS
RETURN WITHOUT
ALLEGED “KILLER

Murder Indictment Asked By

Louisiana Before Hon-
oring Extradition

The state of Loulsiana will
quire Sarasota county officials
to formally indict Martin F. Jar.
vis, allas “Whitey” Rogers, be-
fore they will be allowed to re-
turn him to Florida to face
charges of murdering two sisters
here on March 12, it was re
ported today by Sheriff C. 8.
Pearson who, with Chief Deputy
Sheriff E. A. Garner, returned
late last night from New Or-
leans and Baton Rouge. |
The attorney genera! of Louis!-
ana on Wednesday advised the |
governor, Oscar K, Allen, that the ‘s,
return of Jarvis to Florida without ~
a formal, indictment would be a
risky affair inasmuch as St {s pos-
siblo that Jarvis could obtaln§ as-
sistanco somewhere en route and
gain his freedom through habeas
corpus action which would mean he
would be given time to make his
escape, then being out of the cus-
tody of Loulsiana officers.
It was pointed out that all the
(Continued on wae Five)

ais TS93 3

SARASO ta HERALA

~ p


SHERIFF, DEPUTY
IN BATON ROUGE
FOR CONFERENCE

Sheriff C. B. Pearson and Chief
Deputy Sheriff E. A. Garner were
in Baton Rouge, La., today confer-
ring with Governor O. K. Allen of

state of Martin F. Jarvis, alias
“Whitey” Rogers, wanted here for

|the double murder of two sisters,

Bertie Lee Clements, 23, and LaCey

13.
The officers will present to Gov-
ernor Allen the evidence they have

panion of Jarvis and sweetheart of
John Blair, allas Donald White,
who was implicated in the murders
here and who was siiot and killed
by Slidell, La., officers on March
20 when they sought to arrest the

has held up decision on thé extra-
dition of the woman pending re
coipt of full details of her connec-
tion with the case. She is charged
with being an accessory after the
fact to first degree murder and is
wanted as a material witness here.

It is probable that the: officers
will leave New Orleans sometime
tomorrow arriving here Friday, stop-
ping en route in cities where it will
be possible to lodge their prisoners
in jails for the night. Mrs. Pearson
accompanied the officers to act as
matron on the return trip if the

woman is returned. _

Louisiana on the extradition to this |.

Bell Dyel, 30, on the night of March .

against Juanita Maric Messina, com- |

trio. The Louisiana chief executive |

-_ - ——_ <<. ht emi o> A Ct


JARVIS MURDER
CASE CONTINUED
UNTIL TUESDAY

Defense Counsel Obtains Ad-|.

ditional Time to Confer
With Accused

Declaring that defense counsel
had not sufficient time in which to
prepare their case and pointing out
that their client’s life was at stake,
attorneys appointed by the court

today obtained a continuance until
9 o’clock Tuesday mofning of the
trial of Martin F. Jarvis, alleged
killer of two sisters here on March
12.

J. Irving Walden, chief of the de-
fense counsel, and his two associ-
ates, Sidney R. Perry and Joe Gill,
argued that they had only Saturday
and Sunday in which to confer
with thelr client and to interview
witnesses,

“A man’s life is at stake and we|.
needed more time in which to pre-
pare our defense,” Mr. Walden said.
His argument was supplemented by
his associates. Judge Albritton
quéstioned the attorneys as to the
need for time and due to the crowd:
ed civil Spake allowed them 24
hours.

HERALD

‘and several small children. It is
the usual practice in cases such as
the Jarvis trial to exclude juveniles

| ers and white shirt réplacing the

‘where Sheriff C. B. Pearson took

The balcony and main floor seat-
ing capacity of the court room was
crowded to capacity today and
many were standing in the alsles
and in the‘doorway. The spectators
included a large number of women

from the court room and it is
thought this rule will be invoked
tomorrow,

Jarvis was in the court room, ait.
ting near his attorneys, blue trous-

denim shirt and trousers supplied
‘him at the Loulsiana state prison

charge of htm last Tuesday, return-
ing him to Sarasota on Wednesday
night.

Jarvis chatted and smiled during
the argurfent by counsel for the de
fense—but he was not the debon-
air, nonchalant type that many sup-
posed him to be.

Acting State’s Attorney Dewey
A. Dye raised no objection to the
defense plea for additional time
and offered to issue state summons
for the defense witnesses to elim-
inate an involved procedure of in-
troducing insolvency affidavits and
securing a court order absolving
the defense from the costs of wit-
Desses.

Witnesses and prospective jury-
men were excused and ordered to
report at 9 o’clock tomorrow morn-
ing.


THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION (Jacksonville)
Friday, 12 April 1935, page 6.

Jarvis G
To Death i
S 1soi
tate Prison
e
Prays for “Forgiveness”
But a Not Cor fess Jarvis Goes to Death
7 . . e
ardor. In State Prison
RAIFORD, April 11, (?)}—Prayi
oor for “forgiveness”, but with. Continued frem Page @
out ren & confession, Martin PF. —asennin
Jarvis in the electric chair joe in his cell, attended by the
&t the State Prison Farm today, for sheriff, guards, newspapermen and
Lacy Bell Dyai, one of two Chaplain L. Oo Sheffield.
slain sisters, in Sarasota, two years At 9:08 the switch was thrown
ago. and seven minutes later the prison
“As calm a man as ever did go physician pronounced him dead.
in”, was the epitaph guards gave Lacy Bell Dyal and her ister,
= Bertie Lee Clements, were
No relative or friend was among March 12, 1933. Jarvis and two com-
12 witnesses and the body re- Panions fled the State in a stolen
unclaimed late today. automobile. He wag * captured by
Jarvis’ fina! acceptance of death Louisiana officers severa) days later
Was in contrast to his long and in 8 pistol fight in which John
stubborn fight against the law, first Blair, one of the friends, was
to escape extradition back to Plor- killed.
ida and then to avoid execution. In an attempt to Cscape extradi-
Striding through the death house n. Jarvis pleaded guilty to rob-
corridor from cell to the air, bery of a New Or bank, but
he to shake hands with was finally surrendered to
Sheriff C. B. Pearson of Sarasota, on condition he be returned there if
who a few minutes. later Was to he received leas than life imprison-
pull the switch. | ment. The Supreme Court affirmed
“God bless you.” he said. “ry the death sentence and only yee-
meet you over there.” terday the Btate Pardon Board re-
He was murmuring the Lord’s fused his last plea for intervention.
Prayer when the black hood was |' =
wn over his face.
Barlier he had led a prayer sery-
Ceatinzed on Page 6.
a


’

Death Came
Courting

{Continued from page 21]

“I guess Freddie Dittmer was leveling with
us, all right,” the sheriff conceded. ‘These
are the clothes he described as the killers’.”

“Yeah, he gave us a straight story,” the
police chief said. “But Pete Bixler’s got some
more talking to do. The fellow he tabbed as
Blair and the guy called Whitey didn’t go
to Bixler’s house to borrow his car. They
were picked up, remember, three blocks
from where those girls were killed.”

The prospect of serious involvement in
the slayings of Bertie Lee Clements and
Lacey Bell Dyel quickly loosened Pete Bix-
ler's tongue.

He said now that he'd been driving around
aimlessly a little before midnight and just
happened to be cruising on Cocoanut Ave-
nue when Blair and Whitey flagged him
down.

They said the battery on Blair’s Plymouth
was dead, and Pete offered to tow their car
to a garage. However, Blair urged Bixler to
turn around and leave the area, explaining
that he and Whitey had had some trouble
nearby over being caught with a couple of
girls by the husband of one of them, Blair
then offered Pete ten dollars to lend him
the Essex coach, promising to return Bixler’s
car the following day if he kept absolutely
mum about the presence of Blair and Whitey
in that neighborhood.

Completely ignorant of the murders, Bix-
ler said, he had lied to Chief Tilden and
Sheriff Pearson only because he believed he
was shielding his employer in a minor, but
embarrassing scrape.

Bixler’s description of Blair and Whitey
closely matched those given by Dittmer” of
the two slayers. Mrs. Blair was a petite bru-
nette, shapely and extremely pretty, accord-
ing to the mechanic.

“She talked with an accent and was evi-
dently European born,” Bixler added.

After hearing Pete’s story, Sheriff Pearson
remembered the Plymouth sedan which had
been parked near the murder scene when he
first reached it.

This car still stood on the unpaved road-
way close to Mrs. Dyel’s bungalow. While
Detective Wiltz dusted the sedan for finger-
prints, deputies searched it for identification
papers and, finding none, noted the numbers
of the Florida license plates so that the
registration could be traced later in the
morning.

Witz picked up a clear thumbprint and
partial prints of two other fingers on a door-
sill of the machine, but said it would be all
but impossible to identify these impressions
from card files.

- No sooner had the Sarasota County offices
opened in the morning, however, than the
license tag on the Plymouth was checked.
The plate had been issued to a Sarasota used
car dealer.

This man said Blair had bought the Ply-
mouth from.him only a few days earlier and
was using his plates temporarily until a
change of registration could be effected,

The purchase of the car was for cash, and
Mrs. Blair had counted off the sum—$395—
from a thick bankroll in her purse.

“She must've had at least five grand in
that wad,” the auto dealer said.

He, too, remembered her accent. He said
it was a French accent, and plainly notice-
able as she peeled off the bills to pay for the
Plymouth.

Obviously Blair, Whitey and the brunette

72

with the French accent had fled in Pete Bix-
ler’s car, a 1927 black Essex bearing Florida
license No. 212-842.

Police and sheriff's men all over Florida
were asked to watch for this machine. Broad-
casts over commercial radio stations spread
the alarm for the two-door coach and its
three occupants.

State highway patrolmen blocked the roads
in all directions from Sarasota, and Sherilf
Pearson spent hours aloft in a plane piloted
by his son, Doug, later to be a sheriff of
Sarasota County himself, in searching for
the black Essex. But it was not located.

While the hunt for Pete Bixler’s missing

Sheriff C. B, Pearson spent hours aloft
in a plane, piloted by his son, in an effort
to locate the killers in the get-away car.

automobile was being pressed Chief Tilden
revolved one question over and over in his
mind. What was the motive behind the mur-
ders of the two young women?

Some of the circumstances of the case
seemed highly improbable to the head of
the city’s.police. First, of course, was Bixler’s
story that he just “happened” to be cruising
in the neighborhood at the time of the shoot-
ings, Another was that in their short resi-
dence in Sarasota, if Blair and Whitey had
met Bertie Lee and Lacey Bell, had the rea-
son for killing the girls resulted from such
a meeting?

Tilden also mulled over the fact that Mrs.
Blair was carrying a very large sum in cash.
He thought of her pronounced French ac-
cent, wondering how it could be fitted into
the puzzle. And always he came back to the
vexing mystery of motive. .

He went over the usual causes of murder—
robbery or greed, vengeance, faithless or un-
requited love, uncontrollable passion, mur-
der for hire. None seemed to work into the
facts, as Tilden knew them, of the shooting
of Mrs. Dyel and Mrs. Clements.

Three days passed after the murders and
by then the Sarasota officials knew the Blairs
and Whitey either had holed up in some
hideaway or had successfully slipped through
the police nets flung aut to ensnare them.

On Wednesday—the fourth day—however,
a telephone call told them the Essex coach
was in a garage in Sebring, a small cattle
town about a hundred miles northeast of
Sarasota.

Sheriff Pearson and.Chief Deputy Garner
sped to Sebring, the seat of Highlands

County. Blair had left the Essex there the
day after the murders, and had bought a
year-old Chevrolet in which he, his wife
and another man left town.

As she had done in Sarasota, Mrs. Blair
paid for the Chevrolet in bills skinned from
a tick sheaf of money she carried in her
handbag. The garageman also had noted
her French accent.

Blair had told the garage owner to keep
the Essex “until further notice.” The ga-
rageman had told no one except the local
sheriff about it.

“Just keep mum, then,” Sheriff Pearson
advised him, “If a man named Bixler, who
owns the Essex, turns up to claim it, we'll
know he’s in touch with Blair.”

An identification man went over the Essex
for prints, but it was clean. There was noth-
ing in it to help in tracing the Blairs or
Whitey.

A flier was sent far and wide on the
Chevrolet and its occupants. Meanwhile Pete
Bixler was watched closely, and a check
was placed on any long distance telephone
call or telegram which might come for him.

At the same time the sheriff and Chief
Tilden continued their own efforts to track
down the fugitive trio.

All clues in the case were carefully re-
viewed, From this Tilden and Pearson
reached several important deductions.

As experienced officers, they believed that
the large sum of money Mrs. Blair carried
in her purse, coupled with the trio’s free
spending for cars, indicated that the money
quite possibly was loot from some crime.
A big robbery, perhaps, or a blackmail pay-
off.

The two suits of clothing, almost new,
abandoned with the labels cut from them,
not only further suggested that the Blairs
and Whitey were familiar with criminals’
dodges, but the light weight of the fabric
hinted that the two men were Southerners
and not from the North.

With this information, Mrs. Blair's French
accent led the Florida officials’ thoughts, like
the needle of a compass, to Louisiana—to
New Orleans or the Creole country around
the city at the mouth of the Mississippi.

They got in touch with Detective Chief
John-Grotsch in New Orleans. From descrip-
tions of the two men and the woman,
Grotsch believed he knew them.

“Sounds like Donald White and Martin
ag to me,” he told Chief Tilden. “We've

een looking for that pair in the $14,000
heist of a bank here on St. Valentine's Day.
White has used the alias of Bill Adams, but
we don’t know him under the name of Blair.
Jarvis has an alias, too—Whitey Rogers.
‘They're both ex-cons, and I'll send you their
mug shots. ‘The girl is most likely Elise
Brulac. A kid out of the honky-tonks in
the Vieux Carre, the old French’ Quarter.
She was sweet on White.”

When photos of Jarvis and White were
received, Fred Dittmer and Pete Bixler
promptly identified them as pictures of
Blair and Whitey. Jarvis, incidentally, was
a fugitive from the Tennessee state prison
and, three years earlier, had been arrested
in Sarasota for molesting a girl.

Barely had the information been flashed
to police all over the South to be on the
lookout for White, alias Blair, and Jarvis,
alias Whitey Rogers, before Chief Deputy
Garner intercepted a long distance call to

Pete Bixler.

Elise Brulac made the call. She merely
told Bixler, where to find his Essex coach,
and then hung up. Bixler reported the mes-
sage at once to Sheriff Pearson, but by then
Pearson already knew about it and knew
further, that the call had come from Slidell
Louisiana, a small town across Lake Pont-
chartrain and about eleven miles from New
Orleans,

Pearson phoned Night M:
Elliott in Slidell. The follov
March 20, Marshal Elliott
Harvey Rousseaux of Tan
found Blair’s Chevrolet ou
cabin near the little city.

Elliott drew his pistol «
checked the loads in his saw
They were inspecting the (
woman’s cry came from tl!
“What do you want?” she
French accent was unmistak

Behind her White, alias B}
ing through the doorway wit
hand. He dodged behind |
car and opened fire on Elliott

A big slug whined past }
He slid along the lee side
angling to bring his shotgun
gunman. At the same time
into the shadows and edged
the cabin.

White’s pistol barked aga)
let slammed off the metal
screamed away into the dark
later Rousseaux cut loose w
The heavy double O shot «
the head and chest and s}
ground.

Jarvis now appeared at |
gun in his hand. Marshal
behind him, jabbing the m
into Jarvis’s back, “Drop it,”
“You haven't got a chance.’

White was dead. Elise }
hysterically over his body, hi
from the corpse. Jarvis was
driven, with Elise beside hi
quarters of Chief Grotsch i

There Jarvis not only ac
and White had robbed th

bank, but said he was pre
Clements and Mrs. Dyel we

“White had dated the b

Final Cw

[Continued from p

entious. He was not the sort
a word to his employer
couldn’t have resisted the
indulge in a little braggin;
luck. Actors, reflected Plato
ence.

After futilely waiting an
departed in a fit of petula)
up his mind. He phoned t}

From the superintendent
building at 1037 Hyperi:
Tommy Hood lived, and
the officers learned that the
seen for several days. They
door of his apartment on
Through the slats of draw:
stripes of sunlight played o
but not particularly distur

Some soiled glasses and
stood on a low table. A n
carelessly strewn about th:
was an abundance of cigar
ous ashtrays. Nothing to
Only one seemingly minor
osity. A large couch was ja
double doors enclosing a M
of bed that could be clear:
by raising and folding it in
wall.

The officers moved the :
doors. As they did so, sc
the way the bedclothes +
the officers suddenly ten
they lowered the bed.

Tommy Hood had in fa
stellar role of a macabre

left the Essex there the
‘ders, and had bought a
in which he, his wife
left town.
e in Sarasota, Mrs. Blair
olet in bills skinned from
oney she carried in her
ageman also had noted

1e garage owner to keep
urther notice.” The ga-
no one except the local

, then,” Sheriff Pearson
man named Bixler, who
rns up to claim it, we'll
with Blair.”

man went over the Essex

is Clean. There was noth-
in tracing the Blairs or

nt far and wide on the
cupants. Meanwhile Pete
d closely, and a check
long distance telephone
ich might come for him.
e the sheriff and Chief
heir own efforts to track
trio.

case were carefully re-
s Tilden and Pearson
ortant deductions.
ficers, they believed that
coney Mrs. Blair carried
led with the trio’s free
idicated that the money
loot from some crime.
aps, or a blackmail pay-

! clothing, almost new,
: labels cut from them,
iggested that the Blairs
amiliar with criminals’
ht weight of the fabric
» men were Southerners
orth,
tion, Mrs. Blair's French
‘a officials’ thoughts, like
mpass, to Louisiana—to
’ Creole country around
th of the Mississippi.
ch with Detective Chief
v Orleans. From descrip-
men and the woman,
knew them.
ald White and Martin
id Chief Tilden. “We've
lat pair in the $14,000
on St. Valentine’s Day.
alias of Bill Adams, but
inder the name of Blair.
too—Whitey Rogers.
», and I'll send you their
rl is most likely Elise
of the honky-tonks in
i¢ old French Quarter.
“hite.”
Jarvis and White were
mer and Pete Bixler
them as pictures of
arvis, incidentally, was
Tennessee state prison
lier, had been arrested
sting a girl.
formation been flashed
re South to be on the
alias Blair, and Jarvis,
, before Chief Deputy
4 long distance call to

> the call. She merely
» find his Essex coach,
ixler reported the mes-
ff Pearson, but by then
w about it and knew
had come from Slidell
own across Lake Pont-
eleven miles from New

Pearson phoned Night Marshal John R.
Elliott in Slidell. The following night, on
March 20, Marshal Elliott and Deputy
Harvey Rousseaux of Tammany Parish,
found Blair's Chevrolet outside a tourist
cabin near the little city.

Elliott drew his pistol and Rousseaux
checked the loads in his sawed-off shotgun.
They were ircung a Chevvy when a
woman’s cry came m the cabin door.
“What do .you want?” she screamed. Her
French accent was unmistakable.

Behind her White, alias Blair, came charg-
ing through the doorway with a pistol in his
hand. He dodged behind another parked
car and opened fire on Elliott and the deputy.

A big slug whined past Rousseaux’s ear.
He slid along the lee side of the Chevvy,
angling to bring his shotgun to bear on the
gunman. At the same time Elliott slipped
into the shadows and edged his way toward
the cabin.

White’s pistol barked again, and the bul-
let slammed. off the metal of the car and
screamed away into the darkness. An instant
later Rousseaux cut loose with his weapon.
The heavy double O shot caught White in
the head and chest and spun him to the
ground, ;

Jarvis now appeared at the door with a
gun in his hand. Marshal Elliott stepped
behind him, jabbing the muzzle of his gun
into Jarvis’s back. “Drop it,” Elliott snapped.
“You haven’t got a chance.”

White was dead. Elise Brulac, weeping
hysterically over his body, had to be dragged
from the corpse. Jarvis was handcuffed and
driven, with Elise beside him, to the head-
quarters of Chief Grotsch in New Orleans.

There Jarvis not only admitted that he
and White had robbed the New Orleans
bank, but said he was present when Mrs.
Clements and Mrs. Dyel were shot down.

“White had dated the blonde babe one

night in Sarasota,” he said. “He got a little
tight. White shot off his mouth about what
big shots we were, how we'd heisted this bank
in New Orleans. Later on we got to worrying.
White said the girl would blab.ta the cops,
and we’d have to rub her out to shut her up.

“I told him he’d done the talking, so he’d
do the shooting, too, if anybody did it. When
we got to the blonde’s home her sister came
in from the kitchen, Whitey shot them both.
I was just there with him.”

However, Fred Dittmer identified Jarvis
as the man with the pistol, standing over
Bertie Lee’s body when he entered the living
room from the kitchen, It was Jarvis, Dittmer
swore, who drilled him through the hand.
And the .38 automatic taken from Jarvis by
Marshal Elliott and Deputy Rousseaux was
the weapon used to kill the two young women
in Florida,

Elise Brulac convinced the officers that she
knew nothing about the murders, and that
she'd had no part in the bank job. She was
held only as a material witness against
Marvin Jarvis.

Jarvis eagerly confessed to the bank job
and took a prison term of from eighteen to
twenty-eight years in- Louisiana, hoping thus
to beat the murder trial back in Florida.

But Governor Dave Sholtz in Tallahassee
had another idea about that. He pressed ex-
tradition proceedings and finally Jarvis was
turned over to Florida authorities for pros-
ecution.

In May of 1933 he was convicted of first
degree murder, without a recommendation
for mercy. And on the night of April 11, 1935,

after his attorneys had exhausted every ave- -

nue of appeal for him, he went to his death

in the electric chair in the state penitentiary

at Raiford,

(The names Fred Dittmer, Pete Bixler and Elise
Brulac are fictitious to conceal the identities of per-
sons innocently involved in the investigation.—T he
Editor.) ar

Final Curtain

[Continued from page 33]

entious. He was not the sort to leave without
a word to his employer. Moreover, he
couldn't have resisted the opportunity to
indulge in a little bragging about his good
luck. Actors, reflected 'Platov, liked an audi-
ence,

After futilely waiting an hour, the blonde
departed in a fit of petulance. Platov made
up his mind. He phoned the police.

From the superintendent of the apartment
building at 1037 Hyperion Street where
Tommy Hood lived, and from neighbors,
the officers learned that the actor hadn’t been
seen for several days. They forced the locked
door of his apartment on the second floor,
Through the slats of drawn venetian blinds,
stripes of sunlight played on a scene of mild,
but not particularly disturbing, disorder.

Some soiled glasses and a cocktail shaker
stood on a low table. A man’s clothes were
carelessly strewn about the room and there
was an abundance of cigaret stubs in numer-
ous ashtrays. Nothing to get excited about.
Only one seemingly minor detail stirred curi-
osity. A large couch was jammed against the
double doors enclosing a Murphy bed, a type
of bed that could be cleared from the room
by raising and folding it into its niche in the
wall.

The officers moved the couch, opened the
doors. As they did so, something—perhaps
the way the bedclothes were folded—made
the officers suddenly tensely expectant as
they lowered the bed.

Tommy Hood had in fact been cast in the
stellar role of a macabre drama. It was the

last role he would ever play. He was the
corpse at his own murder.

The actor’s body was jack-knifed between
the mattress and spring. He was dressed in
pajamas and a blanket was wrapped around
him.

Homicide was instantly notified and De-
tective Lieutenant Ralph Weyant, with De-
tectives Joe La Monica and Al Shambra,

-arrived to take over the investigation.

Even the cursory inspection of the corpse
by the three detectives was sufficient to make
clear the cause of death. The dead man's
skull presented an odd, misshapen appear-
ance, like that of an egg which has been
smacked smartly over the top with a spoon.
There were no other marks of violence on
the body. 8

“He sure took a terrific wallop over the
head,” Weyant murmured, glancing around.
“And there doesn’t seem to be any sign of
the death weapon. Let’s take a look around.”

The officers subjected the one-room bache-
lor apartment to a methodical search. It was
evident that Hood had accustomed himself
to a comfortable standard of living. He had
augmented the furnishings of the flat with
tasteful and costly contributions of his own.
A pair of good modern paintings and a rare
wood African figurine attested to Hood’s
sound judgment in art. A well-stocked liquor
cabinet revealed his taste in other directions.
‘There were many photographs of Hood him-
self, showing him in the character roles he
had presumably portrayed professionally.
But nowhere in the room did the officers find
the death weapon which had been wielded
by the killer, ‘

“From the look of the place,” Weyant ob-
served, “Hood was attacked suddenly. There
are no signs of a struggle.”

“Okay, so at least we know an intruder

email one ei

LEARN TO PLAY — OUR PICTURE WAY

Sis fog / LONNIE GLOSSON
*

and WAYNE RANEY
Radio’s Favorite Guitar Stars
NEW HOME
METHOD
Shows How te

Try it on MONEY-BACK OFFER

We've discovered a brand new way of showing folks how to
a? the Guitar... and we guarantee we can SHOW YOU
in 10 days. We do it with pictures, 48 of them, that show
you exactly how to do the fingering, strumming, ete. You
don’t have tostudy a lot of written words like in most courses,
It’s mostly a matter of just doing yourself what you see
being demonstrated in the 48 pictures, It’s the easiest and
best way you've ever seen! What's more, we give you words
and music for over 100 songs we’ve picked for their radio
and stage popularity. Sing and play along with your favorite
records, radio, television programs. Don't delay! Start today.

48 PHOTOS

Show you exact-
ly where to put
your tingers
Over 100 Songs

Words & Music
INCLUDED

0. 69
and we atiful chords the
first day, 6 or money back.

Lonnie & Wayne, Studio 204
1667 Milwaukee Ave., CHICAGO 47, ILL.

po FALSE TEETH
Rock, Slide or Slip?

FASTEETH, an improved powder to
be sprinkled on upper or lower plates,
holds false teeth more 1 ag 4 in place.
Do not slide, slip or rock. o gummy,

ner, pasty taste or feeling. FAS-

ETH is alkaline (non-acid). Does not
sour. Checks ‘‘plate odor’? (denture
breath). Get FASTEETH at any drug
store.

An enchanting perfume of Irre
sistible charm, ollnging for
hours Iike lovers foath to part.
Just a tiny drop Is enough. Full
size bottle 980 prepald or
1.32 C. O. D. Directions free.
ne bottle FREE if two ordered.

2 OS
ROLLDEX, Box 445, Dept. 47
Huntington Station, New York

BUSINESS MANAGER, Dept. 98
Box 23 Cincinnati 6, Ohio

- = OON BOO

<= LUSTRATE
THEO Sine

here are the small booklets of comic char-

ctersTHEYRE TALKING ABOUT, 10 different

i S| booklets and other FUN offers) sent pre-

pald for $1 in plain sealed wrapper. NoC.0.D

NUDKI. Dept. 439, BOX126-B0., G.P0..NEW YORK |

PAY US NOTHING

Make Money-—Sell
FAIRBANKS

Made-to-Measure
TAILORING LINE

“ys \

MAKE UP To $17 or more.

ON A SINGLE ORDER!

Be an independent dealer with this reliable tallor-
ing line! Make a large, steady income taking easy
cash-profit orders. Sell Men, Women, everyone!
Send for your big, FREE Sales Kit—Samples,
Styles, Selling Aids, etc. Get details of our easy
selling plan and how to get your New $55 Suit
that costs you no money Write—

FAIRBANKS TAILORING COMPANY
1716 W. Washington Bhd. © Chicago 12, I.

73

g. I stayed in the kitchen.
s some more loud talk in the
m. All I could make out was
Bertie said. It sounded like,
ant to do is forget we ever
Then the shooting started.
dn’t count, the shots. But
€ seven or eight, anyhow,
ould get there. Bertie Lee
in the middle of the floor,
Bell over there by the door.
ith a gun in his hand was
‘ight near Bertie Lee, and
llow was by the front door.
i at the guy with the pis-
hot me in the hand, then
toward the door. He aimed

in and pulled the trigger, |

ammer just clicked. They
ooked at the girls. I figured
both dead. I wrapped up
nd went for help.”

our old Ford out in front?”
‘son asked. Dittmer nodded.
n't you use it to go for
sheriff pressed. “Why waste
ng up a neighbor?”

got to crank my jalopy to
‘ittmer explained. “I knew
wist her over with a bullet
v hand.”

out the Plymouth, parked
eet from your machine?’

Pearson continued. “The girls’ car?”
“They didn’t have one,” Dittmer
said. “I don’t know whose machine it
is. Could belong anywhere hereabouts,
I suppose.”
“How did the killers get away?” the
olice chief cut in. “Did you hear them
eave in an auto?”

Fred thought a moment, then shook
his head. “I didn’t hear any motor,”
he said. “They must've run off afoot.”

Young Dittmer described the two
slayers as best he could. The gunman
was about 40, tall, thin of face, partly
bald. He wore a’mustache and Fred
vividly remembered his wild, staring
eyes: The man. by the door was
younger, about 25, short and stocky,
with thick black hair and a full face.
The elder man wore a light tan suit,
the other a black or dark blue. Both
were “tough looking.”

As to a possible motive for the
double shooting, Fred Dittmer could
think of none. He knew. Bertie Lee’s
ex-husband and thus was positive that
he was not one of the pair who in-
vaded the bungalow that night of
March 12, 1933.

“And from what the girls said from
time to time,” he added, “I gathered
that Lacey Bell’s former husband
hasn’t been around this neck of the
woods in a long time.”

Both young women worked, were
financially independent. So far as he
knew, he was the only man who had
dated Mrs. Clements, and he did not
believe that Lacey Bell had had any
serious romantic affairs since the dis-
solution of her marriage.

Detectives who searched the living
room of the cottage came up with a

The wild-eyed desperado who wanted
to make certain the two girls would
identify neither.him nor his partner.

total of nine empty brass’ cartridge
cases, all ejected from a .38-caliber
automatic pistol. :

Mrs, Clements had been shot four
times in the back. At the hospital sur-
geons found four wounds in Mrs.
Dyel’s back, also. These, with the slug
that pierced Fred Dittmer’s hand, ac-
counted for the nine empty shells,

No other clues were found in the
bungalow or on the grounds around
it. Davis and Tilden detailed men to
canvass the sparsely populated neigh-
borhood on the outskirts of the city
in a search for witnesses who might
have seen the two slayers, either on
their approach to or their flight from
the dwelling ot their victims.

Meanwhile Mrs. Dyel died shortly
alter her arrival at the hospital, with-
out uttering a word. From her, body
and her sister's, Dr. J. E. Harris ex-
tracted eight bullets which could iden-
tify the death weapon if it ever came
into possession of the police.

Ac police headquarters downtown,
as the early morning hours wore past,
Sheriff Pearson and Chief Tilden
awaited reports from their men, still
at work in the vicinity of the murders.

Neither the man who drove Fred
Dittmer in his quest for the police nor
any other persons living near Twenty-
fourth and Cocoanut had heard the
deadly fusillade in Mrs. Dyel's living
room. No suspicious persons had been
seen around that block.

“Do you think young Dittmer was
feeding us a cock and bull yarn?”
Pearson queried.

“Frankly, I don’t,” the police chief
answered, “I’ll admit that a killer
could cook up the idea of shooting
himself in a hand or a leg to throw

the police off the trail, but I don’t be-,

lieve Dittmer would have shot himself
in his right hand. He uses his left
pretty awkwardly. I noticed that, out
at the house.”

“I'm still going to hunt for a gun in
the weeds around the place,” the
sheriff said. “If Dittmer did the job,
that’s most likely where he’d throw
the weapon afterwards.”

It was nearly 3 a.m. when a police
team brought in the news that two
men had been spotted by a sleepless
housewife getting into a car which
they flagged down at an intersection
about three blocks from the murder
scene at about midnight. The woman
described the car as a dark-colored,
two-door coach. She believed it was
an old Essex, since it looked just like a
machine her husband had owned a
couple of years before.

This could have been the killers’
getaway, arranged for in advance, and
spotted some distance from where the
shooting occurred designedly, the
police chief and the sheriff agreed.
‘They immediately broadcast an alarm
ona dark Essex coach.

Word about this car had scarcely

been passed around all police and
sheriff's officers on duty when Deputy
Herbert Kiessing came hurrying to
headquarters.

“I saw young Pete Bixler with a
couple of strangers in his black Essex
coach at a downtown corner a little
after midnight,” he reported.

A mechanic and chauffeur, Bixler
was rather well known in the city of
somewhat less than 9,000 population.
He was an able, hard working youth
who had never been in any kind of
trouble with the law. Both Tilden and
Pearson found it difficult to connect
him direetly with murder.

“But we'll soon find out,” the police
chief said.

Bixler was at home in bed. How-
ever, before they awoke him, the two
officers investigated and discovered
that his garage was empty.

The young mechanic came down-
stairs sleepily and faced the sheriff and
police chief.

“Who were you with at midnight?”
Chief Tilden asked.

“Nobody,” the young man yawned
in reply. “I was here in bed.”

“Where's your car, the Essex coach?”

“T let a couple of guys take it. Blair
and his pal, Whitey. Blair said his
Plymouth had stalled, and he wanted
to tow it back to the dealer who sold
it to him, to make the guy put in a
new battery.”

Bixler identified Blair as a new-
comer to Sarasota who lived with his

“very aa young wife and the friend
¢

called Whitey in an apartment house
on Madison Avenue. A few days
earlier, Blair had engaged Pete to in-
stall a radio in a second-hand Ply-
mouth sedan he'd just bought, and
had also hired Bixler to drive him
around with his wife and Whitey.
“Naturally,” the youth said, “when
they came around and offered me ten

‘dollars to borrow my old heap, I let

‘em take it. What’s up about my car,
anyway?”

“We'll tell you—at headquarters,”
Tilden replied. “Get dressed. We'll
wait.”

While young Bixler was kept under
guard in Tilden’s office, the chief and
Sheriff Pearson went to the Madison
Avenue address which the mechanic
supplied. There the manager said the
Blairs and Whitey had arrived a fort-
night earlier, taking an apartment as
“Blairs and a friend.”

With a passkey the two officers let
themselves into the Blairs’ flat. It was
empty. The dressers and clothes closets
had been cleaned out, evidently in a
hurry. But in a laundry hamper the
searchers found two men’s suits rolled
into a huge lump. One suit was light
tan, the other ‘black.

The garments were of good fabric
and cut, and seemed to be new, but
the labels had been cut away. Chief
Tilden noted that the cloth was ot
light weight. [Continued on page 72)

seer tas

I don’t know

wounded hand

‘it wasn’t him.

errace was the
Vearson, Chief
ind Patrolman

young women
as 23-year-old
for life on the
dell Dyel.

‘st given alarm
voting.

ie said, “when
n with her, - I
talking. Then
the door open

nd Bertie Lee
ss noise before

were a couple

Sarasota county,
Florida keys dur-
or the fugitives.

DARING

(EER SESS LY

ee

of strange men in there with Lacey Bell. One of the men was
partly undressed. ‘The other wore a brown suit and had on a
gray hat.

“Bertie Lee told them to pipe down and be quiet. As soon
as he heard her voice, the man in the brown suit whirled around
and I saw that he had a gun in his hand.

“He opened fire and Bertie Lee dropped to the floor, Then
the man swept his gun around to Lacey Bell and began pumping
bullets into her.. She clutched at her stomach and staggered
alittle but she didn’t fall. The gunman wheeled and shot at me.
The bullet hit me in the hand. I heard the hammer click a
couple of more times but I guess the gun was empty.

“The gunman then turned to the other man and yelled some-
thing about being fresh out of bullets. Then they beat it out
of the house and I ran outside to get help. I don’t know how
many shots were fired. It all happened so fast I didn’t even
have time to think. It was like some kind of a nightmare.”

1% THE blood-spattered bedroom the investigators found a
bottle of whisky, a pair of gray trousers, a tan shoe, a black
sock, a shirt and an undershirt. One of the men had obviously

_ fled dressed only in shorts, one sock and one shoe.

Under a bureau Chief Deputy Garner discovered a leather
shoulder holster.

The clothing was carefully inspected for identifying labels
or laundry marks.

“Nothing on these,’ Sheriff Pearson lamented. “About the
only thing we’ve got here is the size of the shoe and the collar
‘size of the shirt. Might check on thé stuff, though, and see
if it was bought in Sarasota. That shoe looks pretty new.”

The fingerprint expert squinted at the leather holster through
his magnifying glass.

“Might be able to get something from this,” he said thought-
fully. “I'll take it down to headquarters.”

Outside ‘Sheriff Pearson and Deputy Garner carefully

DETECTIVE

i,
int

This wild-eyed killer, shown staring

through the bars of his cell, ingeniously

fashioned the keys below preparatory

to making a last desperate bid to escape

the penalty imposed upon him for his
wanton double crime.

examined the car parked at the curb. It was a Plynfouth sedan
and. carried Florida license plates.

“Funny they didn’t make their getaway in this,” said Garner.
“Wonder why ?”

His question was answered a moment later when, after re-
placing the distributor cap, he stepped on the starter. Nothing
happened. He switched off the lights. The motor turned
over. If the killers had tried the same trick they might be
miles from Sarasota by this time. :

“Checking the license is going to take hours,” Garner said.
“We'll probably get a phony anyway, or a stolen car. We
might run the car around to the garages. In a town like this
one of the mechanics might recognize it.”

The hunch was a good one. Early next morning a garage
mechanic took one squint at the Plymouth and grinned at
Garner.

“Sure,” he said, “I know that bus. It was sold here two
weeks ago as a used car. Checked it up myself before it went
out.”

The salesman who had handled the sale was called in.

“It was a cash deal,” he said. “T-wo men and a woman
bought it. The woman pulled out a wad of bills big enough to
choke a cow.”

“What were their names?” Garner queried.

“The only names I have in my sales book,” answered the
salesman, “are Mr. and Mrs. Blair. No address was given. I
think they were from out of town.”

“What did the purchasers look like?” the chief deputy
pursued. '

[Continued on page 60]

25

=

ee cere ee

front of which the head-

He pointed to a small cottage in
ath in the darkness. There

ded man, braked his vehicle to a
lights of an automobile cut a bright p

machine carrying the woun

* sudden screeching. halt.
oe In the doorway of the bank building was the stalwart form of | were no lights showing in the house.
3 ‘res - Patrolman Fred Walker. He approached the civilian car Drawing their revolvers, the officers advanced cautiously.
oy i curiously, his eyes alert. Walker’s first act was to rip the distributor cap off the parked
i “What's up, men?” he asked interestedly. car.
ws See a “There’s been a shooting up at Twenty-fourth and Cocoanut,” “You go around to the back door,” said Wrashe. “Pll take
t a the driver yelled. “Two women. Man here shot in the hand.” the front.”
3 The officer galvanized into action. He had recognized his Flashlights in their left hands, guns in their right, Walker
informant as a resident of the town, a talented local amateur
magician.
“Okay, you call the hospital,” he said swiftly. “This fellow
here had better come with me.”
mo Bundling the wounded man into the police car, Walker and
his partner, Gus Wrashe, high-tailed it to 24th and Cocoanut.
Ds é “There’s the spot,” cried the wounded man suddenly as the
car rounded a corner. “Right there where that car is parked.”
A Te 3
i
L , wet \ ASS \
’ y 4 ; { ;
oo % Chief Deputy Ed Garner, left, now Sarasota aS | Oy }
: police chief, took a leading role in the crime’s al Ae San &
successful solution. The author is shown discus- \ “GU ¢ a Pg Ae.
4 sing with him the details of the case. NAR }
7 t i
( q
i )
Lacey Bell Dyel and Bertie Lee Clements, left H
and right below, were the two attractive young a
women who were shot down without warning by eo
a ruthless loud-voiced killer. 5, eee
‘ling glisten- ern
; skin. Blood Fn ee
. : ; v ¥ ~ : * « : i

pen doorway.
ered two men
s, he gasped:
We've got to

‘ive you down
ng at the curb.

ibed in beside
vounded hand

the car down
« city. When
ecelerator was
e curb in front
driver of the


and Wrashe crept across the yard and made their way into the
gloomy interior of the house.

The twin fingers of light played through the darkened rooms.
Finally, in a small bedroom in the front of the cottage, they
came to rest on a gruesome scene.

Huddled on the floor were the apparently lifeless bodies of
two attractive, well-molded women.

One of them, clad in a silken negligee, lay with an arm
shielding her face. Beneath her the floor was red with blood.

The other, dressed in a light, summery frock, sprawled near
the bed. Blood stained her white waist and flowed into an ever-
widening pool. ;

The officers kneeled beside the prostrate forms of the young
women,

“This one’s dead all right,” said Wrashe. ‘But the other
one’s still breathing.” (

| Reshecs as he spoke the siren of the city. hospital ambulance
screamed outside. A white-jacketed interne glanced briefly
at both girls and ordered them removed to the hospital at once.

It did little good. The younger of the women was beyond
medical aid. She had died instantly with four leaden slugs
piercing her breast and abdomen.

As skilled surgeons swiftly prepared for an emergency opera-
tion, the other girl regained consciousness briefly.

A doctor spoke to her softly: ‘You are badly wounded,” he
said. ‘You may die. This may be your only chance to tell us
who shot you.”

Pain convulsed the young woman’s face. Her breathing was

Patrolman Gus Wrashe was one of the first officers to arrive at
the scene of the crime, the trail of which led investigators into
. Louisiana and ended in a blaze of gunfire.

labored as she said, “I don’t know who it was. I don’t know
his name.”

Patrolman Walker brought the man with the wounded hand
to the operating table.

“Was it this man?” he demanded.

The girl shook her head. “No,” she said, “it wasn’t him.
He had a tattooed coiled snake on wrist.”

She lapsed again into unconsciousness.

Meanwhile the small cottage in Valencia Terrace was the
scene of feverish activity as Sheriff Clem Pearson, Chief
Deputy Ed A. Garner, Chief Tilden Davis and Patrolman
Wrashe began their investigation.

Questioning neighbors, they found that the young women
were sisters. The younger, already dead, was 23-year-old
Bertie Lee Clements. The woman now fighting for life on the

hospital operating table was 29-year-old Lacey Bell Dyel.

The man with the wounded hand, who had first given alarm
of the tragedy, told police the details of the shooting.

“T was in the back room with Bertie Lee,” he said, “when
I heard Lacey Bell come in, There was a man with her. I
could hear his voice. They were laughing and talking. Then
there was a silence for a while. Later I heard the door open
again and someone else came in, ”

“Whoever it was started talking very loud and Bertie Lee
said she’d better go out and tell them to make less noise before
they brought the neighbors down on us.

“I went with her into the other room. There were a couple

a
—

of strange n
partly und
gray hat.
“Bertie L
as he heard
and I saw t!
“He open
the man swe
bullets into
a little but s!
The bullet |
couple of nx
“The gun:
thing about
of the house
many shots
have time t:

N THE |!
bottle of
sock, a shirt
fled dressed |
Under a |
shoulder ho
The cloth
or laundry 1

“Nothing
only thing \
‘size of the :
if it was bo

The finge:
his magnify:

“Might be
fully. “I'll:

Outside

DETECTIV

Bert Pearson, now sheriff of Sarasota county,
piloted his plane low over the Florida keys dur-
ing the exhaustive manhunt for the fugitives.

DARING

we


ss

caer Va el

In this neat cottage in Sarasota, Fla., the
bullet-riddled bodies of two attractive sis-
ters were found, launching a search for
the killer and his almost nude companion.

Sarasota, Fla. House lights in V alencia Terrace, a
residential section on the outskirts of the city, began
to wink out one by one. Slowly the hushed silence of midnight
blanketed the suburb as people prepared for bed.
Suddenly the quiet of the still night was shattered. A fusil-
lade of shots echoed into the crescendo of a cannonade. They
came in rapid succession, too fast for accurate count. The
echoes faded away and silence returned, heavy and ominous
with the hush of death.
A man came dashing down the shadowed street. Light from

22

ao HE night of March 12, 1933, was quiet and warm in

VARIN & 2

ia

By CARL WALL

an open doorway limned his tense white face revealing glisten-
ing streams of perspiration that trickled: down his skin. Blood
flowed from his right hand.

Abruptly the man veered and ran toward the open doorway.
He was almost to the threshold when he encountered two men
coming out. Wasting no time in preliminaries, he gasped:

“Ambulance! Two women have been shot. We've got to
get an ambulance and a doctor quick,”

“Come on,” one of the men shouted. “I'll drive you down
in my car. There’s no phone here.”

He sprang into the driver’s seat of a car standing at the curb.
The wounded man, still panting for breath, climbed in beside
him and closed the door. Blood from his wounded hand
dripped on the floor of the car.

Letting out the clutch the driver catapulted the car down
Cocoanut avenue and raced through the sleeping city. When
the automobile entered the business section its accelerator was
touching the floorboards. A police car idled at the curb in front
of the Palmer National Bank building and the driver of the

machine carryin
sudden screechi:
In the doorwa
Patrolman Fre
curiously, his e}
“What's up, !
“There’s been
the driver yelled
The officer g:
informant as a
magician.
“Okay, you ¢:
here had better
Bundling the
his partner, Gu:
“There’s the
car rounded a c¢


CAPITAL PUNISHMENT DATA SHEET

go”
‘ Floacls |

STATE INVENTORY #

OFFENDER TEETERS-ZIBULKA INVENTORY DATA OTHER SOURCE DOCUMENTATION
NAME: merriok SaeKson Tacksen Jww York T1AEGs .
RACE: QA e/s Vas S'3
SEX: ™

OFFENSE: MWUdDe

DATE EXECUTED: Auguct MOAB 82

“VY county: Nacerv Comte

AGE:

VICTIM

NAME: lod Thomas
RACE; BLAOK
SEX: wm
AGE:

RELATIONSHIP
TO OFFENDER:

BACKGROUND

INFORMATION: Trene Wor am oth Ywdae Aretivecn Jodkson
& Melurctime |

DATE CRIME

COMMITTED: Novealoer’ (1 ABBA shor why after

DATE SENTENCED: Agnil 19 1 FS
DAYS BETWEEN CRIME AND SENTENCING:

DAYS BETWEEN CRIME AND EXECUTION:
COUNTY SIZE:

DAY OF THE WEEK EXECUTED: Erion
OFFENDER RESIDENCY:

MEDIA ACCOUNT OF CRIME: |

Ve oecurrodl ot a fectival Jocksorn hod wit Sane
CMO Wooden clue wlan ond Looked vl Load. de found
whom ab + Fea Ee ow A togqe™ans do pang. Wh aut
Oo urmnd, eeksorn stuck. ROM A 3 oe, of He chub
Ferguson eocapged. | ux afk dackaen caused ladarms hood

Am wl mre luwds - be Wert of Bn Feagwoon ol o qiwn .
| to fenof

MEDIA ACCOUNT OF TRIAL:

Hramd Sup oh he Coma, . Tred shady afore - quar
cio on ican

Cordon, a4 ounat rr was 20 over miny.
MEDIA ACCOUNT OF EXECUTION:

We offenad wy prayer + Snon Wed eo, Aicckind o Church
AOU there Kerdrens 40 nie , Dick tay aTrangulalmr

METHOD

wong

PERIOD OF INCARCERATION

STAYS OF EXECUTION

co)

EXECUTIONER

WITNESSES

RITUALS

LAST WORDS

OTHER INFORMATION

Wenr (wad ofso oelameved werd Aor Heorge Fergunoy

WhO Wor Wi oho UT

—-7

'  ~ Convicted

Niwot

‘MARTIN F. JARVIS”
Found gullty here late Wednesday
by a circuit, court jury of the first
‘degree murder of Lacey Bell Dyel,
30, one of two sisters for whose
deaths he was Indicted.

Leeacn

Savon ete PIL.
Wear, 1<IGeE
au [FB F

PI

“AR S Me : 7 : ”~ .
JARVIS, Martin F., white, elec. FL (Sarasota) April 11, 1935,
t

JURY CONVICTS:
HIM ON FIRST
DEGREE COUNT

Fails to Recommend Mercy
for Sisters’ Slayer; Death
Penalty Is Mandatory

By JACK GURNETT

Herald Staff Writer
Martin F, Jarvis, 34-year-old
self-confessed killer, bank rob-
ber, ex-marine and Jack-of-all.

; trades, sits In his cell at the
‘Sarasota county Jall today con. .
demned to death In the electrio
chair at the Ralford state pris-
on farm as.a result of a vers:
dict returned by a circuit court
Jury tate last night finding htm
gulity of murder in the first de
gree without a recommendation
for mercy. .

The solemn verdict of the 12
man jury with A. R, Filson as fore-
man, sealed the doom of a mano
who has admitted to shooting down
two women, Bertie Lee Clements,
23, and her sister, Lacey Bell Dyel,
30, here on March 12, and unless
the supreme court or Governor
Sholtz interfere he will pay the su-
preme penalty as sible for by
Florida law.

The jury took the case at §:10
o'clock following two days of hear
ing testimony and arguments dur
ing which the defense put up a plea
of self-defense, attempting to show
that Jarvis felt he was in danger
of his Hfe when he shot down the
two sisters at their Twenty-fourth
street home. f.

The state attempted to set up a
case of plain, premeditated murder
and asked for the death penalty.

Defense counsel will file a writ:
ten motion for a new trial during
the current week and will argue the
motion on Tuesday when, if the mo
tlon is overruled, the formal sen-
tence of death will be passed by

Circult Judge Paul C. Albritton and
(Continued on Page Five)


pila@imeu. ar
t of names
y thelr full
y signed.

of 164 sig-
‘to, as re-
follows in
Tallahassee

Fla.:
uced in the
ative Early
1g gasoline
of Sarasota
| should be-
ise not less
on real es8-
10other local
rrcement of
ro years. If
reduce tax
» two.)

SUES
CITIZEN

ille, narrow:
owning late

at a local
9 attempted
mber of his
3d to be in

by the fact
i party, said
r, was being
18, Royal is
ie exhausted
swim to her

by Freeman
‘ho adminis-
sures, Sara-
‘d to a call
{ts services
yal was re-
ter receiving
F. Cribbins.

> ear E!

‘SURES

was filed in
yy by D. Lee,
Pulos as de
lvens and Ed-
a attorneys.
‘ft. Vera Cop-
ce certificate
urcuit gourt
(. Waynits as

‘19 Retailers Now Licensed

JA DUNIDING

PLANE CIRCLES
OVER PEIPING

PEIPING—UP— Japanese bomb-
ing planes circles over this ancient
city of nearly 2,000,000 today and
was fired upon by Chinese police
machine gunners but it flew too
bigh for the fire to be effective.
tt was the first real war scare
for the old capital, the residence of
1,300 Americans, since the Sino-
Japanese hostilities began. The
Afmertcans include 600 marines who
are preparing to ald in the defense
of the foreign colonies.

From the bombing plane rained
handbill warnings of war. “Cease
opposing the Japanese, and WMan-

chukans,” the handbills read.
“Break away from’ Marshal Chang
Kai Shekun.

If the Chinese fall to heed the
command the ‘warning said the
“tragedy of Kupelkow will occur in
Peiping and .in Tientain.”

TWO MORE GET
BEER PERMITS

Pearson in New Orleans.

The tip resulted in Slidell, La.,
officers discovering the trio in a
tourist camp and the subsequent
shooting of Blair by the officers
after he had shot at them with an
automatic which Jater jammed. Jar
vis and the woman surrendered and
rendered and the confession of the
bank robbery and sentence of 18 to
28 years followed.

When seen by a Herald reporter
in his cell at the county jail to
day Jarvis said that he had been
nicely: treated by Sheriff Pearson
and Sarasota county officers who
furnished him underwear and other
clothing to replace the denim jump
er and trousers furnished him at
the Louisiana prison. :

However, he was not requested
by the reporter to discuss the crime
of which he stands accused, por
did he volunteer any statements.
Sister of Jarvis was communi-
cated with today and it is expected

which to hire counsel, but in case
he is unable to raise money the
court will appoint one or more at-
torneys to defend him at the cost
of the county which will not exceed
$50.

Sheriff Pearson said today that
Jarvis did not talk much about the
crimes on the trip down to Sara
sota and that he seemed reconcil-
ed to the fact that he must retuin
here for trial.

in This County

Two additional beer licenses
were issued by County Tax Collect-
or Charles G. Strohmeyer today
bringing the total for Sarasota
county to 19 retailers, with no dis-
tributors, manufacturers or whole-
salers licensed as yet.

The new licenses were issued to:

Ralph Mori, 1137 Orange avenue.

Lucille Kah, 114 Lemon avenue.

‘No arrests for operating a beer
retail business without proper Ii-
cense has been reported as yet, but
it was understood that city, coun:
ty and state officers were making
a close check in the county today
for the purpose of determining if

tiff is repre-
alhoun. ;

Self-defense will probably be tbe
point on which the Uefense will
rely, it was indicated today, inas-
much as it was rellably reported
that Jarvis had stated that he had
gone to the home of the two sisters
after his companion,’ Blair, and
that while there one of the two sis-
ters and a map who happened to
be there, said to be James Doug:

las, of Manatee, who was shot in
the hand in the melee, made
trouble,

NEGROES ASK SCHOOLING
_ BAHIA, Brazil (P}—Bahia’s negré
politica) party, the “Frente Negra”
(Negro Front), has launched s

campaign to combat
Torchlight parades indicated popu

lar support of the mo

all places were licensed..:

zi} fs about 75 Baa! cent illiterate.

——

islat tive Pills

GOLF. STREET. AUDITORIUM:

_— ——— - ae ! .

ROE

that she will supply funds with |

iNiteracy. .

ent. Bra-

{
¥
i
|
i.
|
:
!
i
i
3
a_i


JARVIS SUILTY

(Continued frém page one.)
the prisoner remanded to the Ral-

ford prison farm, where the sen-

tence will be carried out, *

It was announced today tbat if

the motion for new trial ts denied
by Judge Albritton that an appeal
will be taken to the Florida su-
preme court immediately.
_ An the 12 jurors filed Into the
, court room with thelr verdict, their
‘faces were hard and drawo; one
could almost read the fate of the
prisoner in the faccs of the tales-
man.

Jarvis, who had been smoking,
stamped out his cigarette, straight:
ened Io hia chair, set his eyes on
the foreman, A. R. Filson, and with
taut nerves watched him hand the
verdict to Clerk of the Court John
R. Peacock.

Peacock haatily scanned the doc-

‘ument and then in a alow, steady,

clearly audible voice read:
“We, the jury, find the defandant
guilty of murder In the first de-

‘gree, ao nay we all.”
An the lant four words were {n-].

toned, wiping out the possibility of

‘a Hfa nentence with the omisslon of

a recommendation for mercy, Jar-

‘vis shook Hike a leaf and then
‘made an effort to control his emo

tions, gripping the arms of his chair

jand biting hia Mpa until they were

white.

80-8 me we a ahs

After the veraict wan reaa we
court room was aa still as death—
not a sound was made for fully 60
seconds; then ooly mumbled ex-
pressions were heard.

Sheriff Clem BR. Pearson, Chief
Deputy Sheriff F. A. Garner and
Deputy Sheriff Robert Southard
wera near the prisoner and as soon
as possible escorted him up the
rear stairway which .opens onto a
private cell block.

The large crowd which sat all
‘ through the trial remained until the
; prisoner had left the court room
and then filed slowly out of the
auditorium, discussing the demean-
or of the condemned man.

It was evident to the lawyers and
other experienced observers in the
court room that the jurors fully
»| realized the seriousness of their ac-
tlon—action that will put Jarvis in-
to a murderge’s Krave, but one
could tell also that the crimes with
which he waa charged were revolt-
ing to the “twelve men, tried and
true.”

But two ballots were taken in the
one hour and 45 minutes the jury
deliberated. The first ballot atood
11 to one for first degree rourder
without mercy while the twelfth
man voted for the same verdict,
with the exception of adding mer-
ay cy After the jurors took the first
a'ballot they returned to the court
6 | room and requeated Judge Albrit-
vtten to allow the court reporter,
ol Lamar B. Dosier, to read the tes-
1)timony of Dr. Cribbins, who had
testified as to the operation per-
formed on the Dye] woman and of
James F. Douglas, eye-witness to
the killings. .

) As the reading of the testimony
was completed and the jurors re-
turned to tho deliberations, Judxe
Albritton instructed them to notify
him when they were ready to xc
1-|to supper. It was then 6:30 o'clock.
But within a few minutes, or about
a- | 6:50 o'clock, they filed in with the
| verdict.

ZaWMAAteo wm were ee

i


LAST EFFORT
1S PLANNED,
REPORTS SAY

Save Killer to be Made,
Herald Learns"

nr

ferer, who, under the terms of &
death warrant signed by Governor
Dave Sholtz, has but slightly more
than 36 hours of life left, will make
one last, desperate effort to escape
the electric chair, it was learned

ed to die Friday at 9 a.m.
Just what turn this move
take was not known to the Herald's
informant, but it was to be made
in Tallahassee. There was specu-
'Jation as to whether it woulld be

‘before the pardon board or the su-

preme court.

He RAz)S

Martin F. Jarvis, condemned mur

by the Herald on high authority.
this afternoon. Jarvis is schedil: .

will

Jarvis, with the aid of his at-

| torneys, has put up a 16-montha’
battle to escape the capital punish-
ment decreed for him by a Saraso-
ta county circuit court jury in May,
1933, but he has met failure at
every turn of the long course which
bas lead through the circuit court
where & motion for new trial was
denied; thence to the state supreme |
court which refused his appeal and
then refused a rehearing, and final- ©
ly to the state pardon board which,
after a study of the case, turagd
him down, refusing to interfere
with the death sentence.

Wan “and pale after 16 months
confinement in the Sarasota county
jail, Jarvis listened to the reading
of the death warrant on Oct. 6,°
and then made preparations for the
last trip which ended at “Flat Top,”
the prisoners’ name for the Raiford
prison farm death house.

Without information as to any
‘move to be made in Jarvis’ behalf,
Sheriff C. B. Pearson who, under
the state law, must throw the
switch that will exact the supreme
penalty, was making preparations
today to leave Sarasota tomorrow
afternoon for Ralford. The official
party will include Chief Deputy
Sheriff E. A. Garner, Chief of
Police 8. Tilden Davis and County
Traffic Officer James A. Adkisson.
The sheriff said he did not know
just who else might make the trip.

rdanaatta FL

(Df }’

1 [192

(1

THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION (Jacksonville)
Wednesday, 23 January 1935, page 6.

Jarvis’ Case |
Again Before
Supreme Court
Petition Filed for Rehearing
on Death Warrant in
Sarasota Murder.
TALLAHASSEE, Jan. 23, (#)—The
Supreme Court today received and
took under consideration a petition
for a re-hearing on its recent de-
cision that a death warrant order-

ed for Martin F. Jarvis of Sarascta
was in due and legal form for his


JARVIS, Martin, wh, elec. FL (Saraseta) April 11, 1935

i ROR then S08

May, 1951

DARING DETECTIVE,

a)

20

officer walking slowly up the street
before the Palmer Bank in the fringe
of the business district. But suddenly
he shouted at his driver to stop and,
an instant later, was running wildly
back toward the cop.
Patrolman Gus Wrashe rode back

with Dittmer and the neighbor to the -

little bungalow, half incredulous of
the story Fred babbled on the way.
But it took merely a glance inside the
living room of the cottage for Wrashe
to send the neighbor back to bring
help from headquarters.

Within half an hour Chief Tilden
Davis was on the scene with several
detectives and uniformed men. Sheriff
C. B. Pearson came rushing up with
Chief Deputy E. A. Garner just as
Detective F. E. Wiltz of the identifica-

The fugitive known as
Blair was also wanted
for robbery of a bank.

The vexing mystery of motive for the double murder,
in their white bungalow home, of Bertie Lee, far right, ©
and her divorced sister Lacey Bell, puzzled the police.

tion bureau began flashing pictures.

A young ambulance interne knelt
first beside the brunette in the middle
of the room, listening for a heartbeat,
feeling for a pulse. Then he moved to
the blonde.

Through his stethoscope he caught
a feeble, irregular murmur. “This
one’s still alive,” he said. “I'll rush her
to the hospital. Her chances to survive
are very poor, but she may ‘recover
consciousness before she dies.”

From Fred Dittmer the sheriff and
police chief got the story of the shoot-
ing in the bungalow.

The dead woman was Mrs. Bertie
Lee Clements, 25. The blonde was
Mrs. Lacey Bell Dyel, 30.

“Bertie Lee used to live up in Mana-
tee, my home,” Fred related. “After
she and her husband split up, she came
down here to live with her sister, Lacey
Bell, who also was divorced from her
husband. I was kind of going around
with Bertie Lee.

“She and I were in the kitchen,
drinking coffee,” Dittmer continued,
“when we heard talking in the living
room. We didn’t notice anybody come
in, but all of a sudden we could hear
Lacey Bell and a couple of men. They
seemed to be arguing.

“Bertie Lee said she'd go see what

ean domme Ms om \
Aum 27D § 2 Sa a VS
PN OR as
2

was wrong. I stayed in the kitchen.
There was some more loud talk in the
living room. All I could make out was
one thing Bertie said. It sounded like,
‘All we want to do is forget we ever
saw you.’ Then the shooting started.

“I couldn’t count, the shots. But
there were seven or eight, anyhow,
before I could get there. Bertie Lee
was down in the middle of the floor,
and Lacey Bell over there by the door.
A man with a gun in his hand was
standing right near Bertie Lee, and
another fellow was by the front door.

“I dived at the guy with the pis-
tol. He shot me in the hand, then
backed off toward the door. He aimed
at me again and pulled the trigger,

but the hammer just clicked. They’

beat it. b looked at the girls. I figured
they were both dead. I wrapped up
my hand and went for help.”

“That your old Ford out in front?”
Sheriff Pearson asked. Dittmer nodded.
“Why didn’t you use it to go for
help?” the sheriff pressed. “Why waste
time hunting up a neighbor?”

“You've got to crank my jalopy to
start it,” Dittmer explained. “I knew
I couldn’t twist her over with a bullet
through my hand.”

“How about the Plymouth, parked
up the street from your machine?”

GEES oy ie Pee ee

Pearson continue:

“They didn't !
said. “I don’t kno
is. Could belong a:
I suppose.”

“How did the k
olice chief cut in.
eave in an auto?”
Fred thought a
his head. “I didn
he said. “They mt

Young Dittmer
slayers as best he
was about 40, tall
bald. He wore a
vividly remember
eyes. The man
younger, about 2.
with thick black |!
The elder man w
the other a black
were “tough looki

As to a possil
double shooting,
think of none. H
ex-husband and t)
he was not one «
vaded the bung:
March 12, 1933.

“And from wha
time to time,” he
that Lacey Bell
hasn’t been arou:
woods in a long ti:

Both young we
financially indepc
knew, he was the
dated Mrs. Cleme
believe that Lace
serious romantic :
solution of her m.

Detectives who
room of the cotti

The wild-eyed des
to make certain
identify neither.b


Fea Dittmer looked with startled eyes at
the blood welling from the palm of his hand
and trickling off onto the living-room rug.
A surge of pain stabbed through the numb-
ness of the bullet’s shock and Fred gripped
his right wrist savagely to fend off the Burt.

His unbelieving look swept from left to
right, from the, still, pallid, dark-haired
young woman who lay sprawled on her back
in the center of the room, to the provocative
blonde, stretched out on her side near the
bedroom door. There was no sign of life
in either.

Fred whipped out a handkerchief, bound
his hand gal hastened to the front door of
the small, white frame cottage that stood
alone at Twenty-fourth Street and Cocoanut
Avenue in Sarasota, Florida. In the strong
light of the March moon he could see: no
one up and down the street, no moving car
he might flag down. The nearest house was
a good hundred yards away. Dittmer headed
for the light showing from a window on its
ground floor.

A middle-aged man came to the door in
shirtsleeves, his pipe in his hand. From with-
in the house came the voice of a radio broad-
caster, summarizing the midnight news.

“There’s been murder!” young Dittmer
sputtered. “Down at the girls’ house. Both
of 'em. We've got to get the police.”

The neighbor drew him inside, glanced
at the bandaged hand and noted the red
stain broadening over the white folds of the
handkerchief. “You're hurt, son,” he said.

“Never mind that now,” Fred said ur-
gently, “Have you got a phone or a car?
We've got to get the police. Bertie and Lacey
Bell have been killed, I tell you.”

A few minutes later he sat beside the
neighbor in a sedan, speeding toward the
center of the city. His hand was throbbing
now and he was trembling in every muscle
as he’ rode silently, on the lookout for a beat-
pounding cop or a prowl car. And now, for
the first time, he began to be afraid of what
would happen when he did reach head-
quarters?

What if the police did not believe his
story? What if they hunted high and low for
the two men he would describe as the killers
and, after failing to find any trace of them,
suspected that Freddie himself had killed
the two sisters?

Through the confusion of his pain and his
fears, Fred almost missed the tall, uniformed

BY STEVE LENNAN

sperate attempt to save.
‘vain. Painfully wounded,

A

ort nate. to escape their fate.

19


sruary
share
loot
sota,
ty to
rew a
years
angola,
would
Pym

vd
we fire
yut it
sapers
is or

3rison
essina

bank
to be

home

had
ut we
it the
ie trio
tenor
» had

rs and
1 AUH
is not
Mes-
th be-

orney-
Jarvis

‘der in .

release
1 home
keenly
od not

d Jury
mur-
ie Lee
eight-
set our
1 back

is ap-
ilty to
Judge
| to be
onday,
> com-
which

sling
con-
two
nty-

Douglas and Bridges were the principal
witnesses against him as the trial pro-
ceeded, and from their testimony we were
able to reconstruct the crime in every de-
tail.

Jarvis, Blair and Mrs. Messina arrived
in Sarasota by rail on Sunday afternoon,
March 5th. They had almost seven thou-
sand dollars in cash and spent freely.
They bought the Plymouth and_ hired
Bridges, as has already been told. On the
night of the murders the four went to a
picture show. Before it was over Blair
and Jarvis left the theater, Jarvis later
returning to get twenty-five dollars from
Mrs. Blair. Jarvis then went to the
Clements cottage where he knew he
would find Blair.

LY, fuer admitted by Bertie Lee, he
went to the front bedroom where he
found Blair in his underwear talking with
Lacey Bell Dyel. Jarvis persuaded Blair
to leave; but the latter on picking up his
clothes discovered that twenty-five dol-
lars, which he said he had had in his
trousers’ pocket, was missing. He ac-
cused Lacey Bell of stealing the money.
An argument followed that developed into
a noisy. quarrel. Lee and Douglas
then entered, Bertie Lee warning them to
“Pipe down or I’ll call the Law.” She
spoke her own death warrant. Four bul-
lets poured into her body and stilled her
voice. She never had a chance to “call
the Law.” Jarvis then turned his gun on
Mrs. Dyel and she went down. In the
shooting mélée, Douglas was shot in the
hand, evidently by one of the bullets
that pierced Bertie Lee’s body.

Jarvis and Blair fled to their Plymouth
outside, but the battery was dead and
they couldn’t move the car. So they
walked to Cocoanut Avenue, Blair still
in his underwear, and here Bridges picked
them up.

Back in the apartment, when they
learned from Bridges that both of the sis-
ters were reported to be dead, they de-
termined on a quick getaway. They re-
turned to a spot near the Clements cot-
tage in the hope of retrieving their car;
but one look at the crowd that had gath-
ered at the house was enough for them.
They drove back to the apartment in
Bridges’ Essex, loaded their belongings
into it, and fled from the city.

Their route was north on the Tamiami
Trail through Bradenton and Palmetto;
then to Parrish, and east through Wau-
chula to Sebring, where they purchased
the Chevrolet. They then left for Slidell,
Louisiana, and arrived there the very day
we reached New Orleans in pursuit.

True Detective Mystertes

From the witness-stand, Jarvis admit-
ted shooting the two women, but claimed
self-defense. He said the women were try-
ing to rob him and Blair, and that he
thought he was in danger of bodily harm
when he fired the fatal shots. ;

Jarvis was tried only for the slaying
of Lacey Bell Dyel, though he had been
indicted for the murder of the two sis-
ters. The jury deliberated an hour and
forty minutes and then brought in a ver-
dict of murder in the first degree; a ver-
dict that in Florida carries the death
penalty.

When it was read Jarvis turned pale.
He bit his lip fiercely and spasmodically
gripped the arms of the chair in which he
was seated. He felt the strong arm of the
— closing in on him and he was terri-

ed.

As for us, we felt repaid for our work in
running down the murderer of Lacey Bell
and Bertie Lee. From the inception of
the mystery we knew we had a tough
assignment in its solution; and it was only
the dogged, diligent work of all the men
on the city and county forces that
brought our quest to a successful con-
clusion.

But if we thought we had heard the last
of the murderer of the sisters we were
mistaken. On December 25th, Jarvis, who
had been held in the county jail pending
an appeal from his death sentence, made
an almost successful bid for freedom.
With some salve given to him by the pris-
on doctor, he made impressions of the
three locks that stood between him and
the out-of-doors. A broken comb, a pen-
knife, a match-box and a piece of glass
were his tools. With these the ingenious
prisoner made crudely fashioned but ef-
fective keys.

A’ the last moment, while making a
careful search of the condemned
man’s cell, I discovered the keys and frus-
trated the escape, much to Jarvis’ discomfi-
ture. Just how far the keys would have
enabled him to go is problematical, but
there is no doubt that they worked and
that with them he could have started on
his way.

On April 19th, 1934, the first-degree
murder conviction of Martin F. Jarvis
was affirmed by the Supreme Court.
There was no reversible error, the court
held, in the presiding judge’s rulings deny-
ing motions for postponement of the trial,
and for a new trial after the verdict was
returned. The murderer of Lacy Bell
Dyel and Bertie Lee Clements must pay
for his double crime by death in the elec-
tric chair,

The coach in which the slayer made his escape from Sarasota immediately following the
double crime. The car later proved a clue that helped to convict him

93

this Man!

Secret Service Operator

38 Is on the Job!

OLLOW him through all the ex-
F citement of his chase of the

counterfeit gang. See how a
crafty operator works. Telltale finger
prints on the lamp stand in the mur-
dered girl’s room! The detective’s
cigarette case is handled by the un-
suspecting gangster, and a great
mystery is solved. Better than fiction.
It’s true, every word of it. No obliga-
tion. Just send the coupon.

FREES

The Confidential Reports
No. 38 Made to His Chief

And the best part of it all is this. It
may open your eyes to the great
future for YOU as a highly paid
Finger Print Expert. More men are
needed right now. This school has
taken men just like you and trained
them for high official positions. This
is the kind of work you would
like. Days full of excitement. Big
salaries. Rewards.

Can You Meet
This Test?

Can you read and write? Are you ambitious?
Would you give30 minutes a day of yourspare
time preparing yourself for this profession?
Would vou like a life of excitement, peotapes |
adventures and high pay? Answer yes an
I'll show you how to attain all this. Send the
coupon and I'll send the Free Reports—also
a wonderful illustrated book telling of the
future awaiting you as a Finger Print Ex-
pert.—T. G. COOKE, Pres.

INSTITUTE OF APPLIED SCIENCE
1920 Sunnyside Ave., Dept. 14-36, Chicago, Ill.
oa Oo

Institute of Applied Science, Dept. 14-36
1920 Sunnyside Ave., Chicago, ll,
Gentlemen:—Without any obligation whatever, send
me the Free Reports of Operator No. 88 and your
new, fully illustrated Free Book on Finger ints,
ze aretire will NOT be sent to boys under 17 years

of age.

City and State Age


1 le i Be x

uch
ight
yere
was
to
in
ided
they

cour-
ly re-
id we
cula-
d re-
! his
15th,
‘rime
| was
> ad-
io be
‘n by
was
busy

now
idges
that
: fear
lined
| the
d up
good
idges’
yy to
gone
a the
) us;
luded

and
zainst
How-
ns to
ny ing

of. us
infor-
it he
usual
state-
bear-

But

and
where

igerly
o this
.e key
“hitey’
’ Pete
» Blair
nouth.
d said
vetween
t they
im out
vyed in
he pic-
i Pete)
e they
nd got
He left

h Mrs.
Jarvis
car out
ve out
Oo men
lwenty=-
stols in
hem as
ve any-
Jarvis
m into:
{a few,
shoot-

ing mess they had been in. We rode
around town for a while and then I drove
them to the apartment. I went inside and
told Mrs. Blair her husband had lost his
clothes while in swimming and he wanted
something to put on. I told her he was
outside in the car.

“Mrs. Blair took his bath-robe and
slippers out to the car for him,

“They went inside and I left and drove
down town to find out more about the
shooting. I went to Charlie Rouse’s road-
house and there I heard the two sisters
had been killed. I went back to the
apartment and told Blair and Jarvis the
women were dead. Jarvis couldn’t get
their car started because the battery was
dead, so I let them use my Essex, when
Mrs. Blair promised to pay me a hun-
dred and fifty dollars for it if anything
happened. They packed up their things
and left, and that is the last I saw of
them.”

And that was that. It looked like a
fairly true account of the mysterious hap-
penings immediately before and after the
shooting.

Glad as we were to finally get these
admissions from Bridges, they were most
exasperating. But it was too late to
worry over what we might have done if
Pete had been as frank in the beginning
as he appeared to be now; or as to his
degree of culpability in withholding this
information for so long. Action. was the
important thing and we sprang into it.

IMMEDIATELY checked the railroad

tickets at Sarasota and found that Mr.
and Mrs. Blair and Jarvis had sent their
baggage to Sarasota from New Orleans,
Louisiana, just one week prior to the mur-
ders. They had arrived on the same train
posing as wealthy tourists. I then sent
the articles of clothing found in the mur-
der room of the Clements cottage to the
New Orleans Police Department as some
of these bore New Orleans labels. I asked
them to try and check back on these with
the idea of tracing the real identity of
the fugitives through the stores where the
articles had been purchased. Word came
back that all efforts to do this were fruit-
less. I was not satisfied. One of the men
in the murder room at least, had pur-
chased clothing in New Orleans, and the
mysterious trio had come to Sarasota
from the Louisiana city. There must be
some link there. I next tried to connect
the trio with a widely publicized bank
robbery which occurred in New Orleans
on February 24th, 1933; but again I was
unsuccessful.

I cabled to Havana, Cuba, believing

Martin F. Jarvis and
Mrs. Juanita Messina
snapped shortly after
they were picked up for
questioning in the Sar-
asota crime.
this picture was taken,
they were in the cus-
tody of a New Orleans
detective

True Detective Mysteries

that the fleeing trio might have taken
passage there on a boat or plane. But
word came back that no passengers an-
swering the descriptions we furnished had
landed in Cuba.

Since we had found no trace of the
fugitives in the seventy-two hours fol-
lowing the slayings, I began to suspect
that Jarvis, a dangerous man with a peni-
tentiary record, might kill Blair and his
wife and try to make his escape alone.
By doing this he would reduce his chances
of being caught, and at the same time
get into his possession the large sum of
money Mrs. Blair was reported to be
carrying. Therefore, my deputies again
went carefully over the county and the
adjoining one of Manatee. Motorcycle
patrolmen scoured the roads continually
examining culverts and possible hiding
places for bodies. And we still were with-
out results.

E checked over all the information

we had; and the weak link seemed to
be the failure to pick up any lead in New
Orleans. So far all the evidence—railroad
tickets, the baggage sent from Avon
Park, the card sent to the circulation
manager of the newspaper, and the names
of the New Orleans merchants in the
clothing found in the murder room—
pointed definitely to Louisiana; and to
New Orleans we decided to go as the last
cast of the die to learn whether we were
to win or lose in this baffling battle of
wits with our fugitives.

The party was made up of Chief of
Police Davis, Deputy-Sheriff Kiessling,
my son C. B. Pearson, Jr., and myself.
All along the eight-hundred-mile route.
we sought information about the hunted
trio by constant inquiries and contacting
all law-enforcement officers. We didn’t
learn a thing.

We arrived in New Orleans Sunday,
March 19th, a week following the double
killing, and immediately interviewed
Chief of Detectives John J. Grosch and
others of the New Orleans Police Depart-
ment; all of whom I want to say, gave us
whole-hearted co-operation. With the in-
formation we brought, Detective Grosch
wasn’t long in identifying Blair as Donald
White, an ex-convict from the Tennessee
Penitentiary where Jarvis had also done
time. Jarvis’ full name was Martin F.
Jarvis, but he was also known as “Whitey”
Rogers. Mrs. Blair was identified as Juan-
ita Messina. She had lived in New
Orleans several years.

Equipped now with photographs and
complete descriptions of the members of
the trio, our plan was to have my son

When

91

--e that’s all I need to

PROVE I Can Make
You a NEW MAN!

By CHARLES ATLAS, Holder of the Title:
“The World’s Most Perfectly Developed Man.”

Won in open competition in the only national and
international contest held during the past 15 years

NE week! That’s all I need to PROVE

I can make you a new man of vitality
and power. I was once a 97-lb. weakling,
with a sickly, flabby body. How I became
“The World’s Most Perfectly Developed
Man” is told in my hook, “Everlasting
Health and Strength,’”’ which I will send
you absolutely free.
Now I offer you a 7 days’ trial of my famous method,
Dynamtc Tension, to PROVES that I can and will put
firm layers of muscle where YOU need them most, tone

up your whole system, and banish constipation, poor
digestion, bad breath, pimples, joykilling conditions.

I've got no use for tricky contraptions that may strain
your heart or other vital organs. 1 don't dose or doctor
you. My Dynamite Tenston is the natural tested method.

it builds powerful muscle, gets rid of surplus fat, gives
you vitality, strength, pep that win the admiration
and respect of every man and woman.

Send for free co) f
F R E E B .°) ° K ! my. book. illustrated Peath
many actual photos. Learn how I

changed from a weak, no-muscle
“runt” to the physique you see here,
Gamble a en mail my coupon—
learn how YOU can now win life's

biggest prize—a handsome, healthy,
husky body! Address CHARLES
ATLAS, Dept. 96-J, 133 East 23rd
St., New York, N. Y.

CHARLES ATLAS, Dept. 96-J, fies
133 East 23rd St., New York, N.Y. eee

I want the proof that your system of Dynamtc-Tension
will make » New Man of me—xive me a healthy, husky
body, and big muscle development. Send me your free
book, ‘Everlasting Health and Strength.”

NAME. oc ccc cscs cctervccnccsscreneseceeesersesseee
(Please print or write plainly)

Adress. ...eeeeeeee Co ccenvecessaensrbersceserecese

CIEY . oc cccccccccrerscsccsensspesevess Btate,.....6- .

©i934 G. A. Ltd.


90

True Detective Mysteries

The Mystery Killings on Twenty-Fourth Street

Bridges along with us on the trip.
At a filling station in Brandenton we
came across an attendant who told us
that a green Essex coach with rear over-
sized tires had stopped there for gaso-
line not) much more than) ten minutes
before we drove up. ‘Two men and a wo-
man were in the car. To say that we
were thrilled is putting it mildly. Jam-
ming down the accelerator of our car, we
sped north out of Bradenton, crossed the
Manatce River and tore down the road
toward Tampa, fifty-five miles away.

As the car sped along at. terrific speed,
Pete loosened up a little. He told us that
one of the two men went by the name of
Blair, and that the woman posed as his
wife; but inasmuch as many of his stories
had contained conflicting statements, I
could not place much credence on_ his
present burst of confidence. That he
knew something damning about the trio,
the Chief and I felt sure; but he had un-
doubtedly been threatened with reprisals
if he talked, and had concluded to keep
his mouth shut. If we ever apprehended
the trio, I believed Pete would come
cleans and Thad to be satisfied with that
thought.

S we sped along the highway, two

men sprang out at us and covered us
with sawed-off shotguns. They gave us
a scare, but proved to be Sheriff Will C.
Spencer of Hillsborough County, and his
Chief Deputy L. M. Tatton, Jr. We had
cautioned all officers to use care in ap-
prehending the fugitives, and these two
weren’t taking any chances. As they had
been watching the road for an hour and
more, and had seen no green Essex, we
were convineed that the mysterious trio
had left the Tamiami Trail somewhere
north of Bradenton and nearer to Sara-
sota. We, therefore, hastened back home,
reaching there shortly before dawn.

At 5 o’clock that morning of March
13th, less than six hours after she had
been shot, Lacey Bell Dyel died of her
wounds, adding a second charge of mur-
der against the perpetrators, and leaving
us with Bridges as our only hope of ob-
taining identification or information that
might help us in the solving of the mys-
tery.

Daylight came, and we were still with-
out trace of the fugitives. As no clues had
been obtained from distant towns, apart
from that of the Bradenton filling station
agent, we decided that the suspects might
be hiding somewhere in Sarasota County,
waiting for the hue and ery to die down
before continuing their flight. I, there-
fore, engaged my son Douglas Pearson,
an aviator, to make a search of our
county from his plane. Taking Chief
Deputy Garner with him, he flew low
over every section of the county, but
found nothing that indicated the presence
of the green Essex or the wanted men
and woman.

Hours were passing, and the case was
beginning to look rather hopeless. I,
therefore, decided to try and extract
something more definite from Pete
Bridges.

After much rambling he finally told me
a story that checked in some respects
with the information I had obtained from
Harry Spencer, night man at the Chevro-
let agency. He said that two men and a
woman had come to Sarasota, about a
week before the murders, and had _ hired
him to work for them. Who they were,
or what they were doing in Sarasota, he
did not know; but he was quite sure they
had had nothing to do with the shooting

(Continued from page 37)

at the Clements cottage. He admitted
that they had borrowed his car about the
time the murders took place, and re-
peated that they wanted to use it to get
their Plymouth started. One of the men
he said was known as Blair. The other
they called “Whitey.”

I nearly jumped out of my chair.

“Whitey?’? Not the ‘Whitey’ we ar-
rested in 1931 and sent back to the pen in
Nashville, Tennessee?” I thundered.

Pete Bridges nodded assent. ;

“Why in hell didn’t you tell me that in
the beginning,” I shouted.

“You didn’t ask me,” he said bes

I was ready to explode; but could do
little more than make the best of it. At
least, we now had something definite to
work on. immediately broadcast
“Whitey’s” correct name, description and
record, which we had on file, over radio
stations in Tampa, Clearwater and
Gainesville. It seemed that my hunch as
to the provocation that lay in Bertie
Lee’s words, “Pipe down or I'll call the
Law,” was proving sound.

We again canvassed every section of
Sarasola, secking to discover anyone who
had) = come in contaclh with Blair or
“Whitey.” But again we struck nothing.
The trail of the fugitives had been clev-
erly covered.

Sarasota is the home of the John and
Mabel Ringling Museum of Art, and win-
ter headquarters of the Ringling Brothers-
Barnum and Bailey Cireus. These two
attractions, together with our mild winter
climate, the tarpon fishing and other
recreations, bring several hundreds of
visitors to the city every winter. A con-
stantly floating population of this type is
extremely difficult to keep an accurate
check on; but dog-tired as all of us were,
we kept on with our quest and our ques-
tions, doing the best we could under the
harassing circumstances. We got prac-
tically nothing for our pains, and we be-
gan to wonder if the fugitives, whom we
were now convinced had taken an active
part in the crime, had not slipped
through our carefully drawn net, ant es-
caped.

Late Wednesday, though, we got a
“break.” A car answering the description
of Pete Bridges’ Essex had been found in
a garage at Sebring, Florida, ninety miles
inland. In it was a copy of a Sarasota
newspaper. We were elated. I at once
dispatched Deputy Garner to Sebring to
make an investigation, and ordered him
to take Bridges along.

f eebion at Sebring, Bridges imme-
diately identified the strange car as
his; and Deputy Garner learned that a wo-
man, who gave her name as Mrs. Marie
Le Blane, had stored the Essex, and pur-
chased a 1932 model Chevrolet special
sedan, paying cash for it. Garner’s in-
vestigation proved beyond any possible
doubt that this Mrs. Le Blane was the
woman we knew as Mrs. Todd or Mrs.
Blair, and she had changed cars to throw
us off the trail.

Following up clues he uncovered, Dep-
uty Garner traced the woman to Avon
Park, a town nine miles from Sebring.
Here, under the name of Mrs. A. John-
son she had sent some baggage by train
to Slidell, Louisiana. We began to realize
that names in this case wouldn’t matter
much; that this woman could evidently
change them faster than we could broad-
cast them. But the shipment of bag-
gage to Slidell, was a clue that seemed
pregnant with possibilities.

Garner, taking Bridges with him, went:

on to Miami, the goal of so many much
sought men, believing that the trio might
make for this East Coast city. They were
disappointed. No trace of the trio was
found there, and the two returned to
Sarasota empty-handed, but positive in
the belicf that the fugitives had eluded
them by only a few hours, and that they
had undoubtedly fled from the state.

We were taking a licking, but discour-
agement could not always be the only re-
turn we could get for our efforts; and we
soon got another “break.” The circula-
tion manager of the Sarasota Herald re-
ceived a card requesting copies of his
newspaper for March 13th, 14th and 15th,
the days immediately following the crime
at the Clements cottage. The card was
mailed from New Orleans, and the ad-
dress given proved on investigation to be
in a neighborhood likely to be chosen by
criminals for a hideout. The card was
turned over to my office, and we a busy
at once to run down this new lead.

Deputy-Sheriff Herbert Kiessling now
suggested to me that we try Pete Bridges
again, being under the impression that
the older the crime beeame the less fear
Pele would have, and the more inclined
he would be to let his tongue tell the
secret which we believed was locked up
in his mind. The idea seemed a good
one, so the two of us went to Bridges’
house. His mother opened the door to
our ring, and told us that Pete had gone
to bed. As it was only 8 o’clock in the
evening this seemed rather strange to us;
and I think we both silently concluded
that Bridges had seen us coming and
sought the sheets as a protection against
further embarrassing questioning. How-
ever, he raised no serious objections to
donning his clothes and accompanying
us to my office.

Care was there, so the three .of. us
took turns in trying to get more infor-
mation from Pete. He insisted that he
had told us all he knew, and as usual
began to ramble around giving us state-
ments that most of the time had no bear-
ing on the information we sought. But
we kept plugging away at him, and
finally wore him down to the point where
he said, “Well, to be truthful... .”

The three of us leaned forward eagerly
with straining ears, and eyes glued to this
young man who seemed to hold the key
to the mystery that was baffling us.

“. . . Mr. and Mrs. Clair, ‘Whitey’
Jarvis and me went to the movies,” Pete
began hesitatingly. “After a while Blair
and Jarvis left with the Plymouth.
Pretty soon Jarvis came back and said
that Blair had been in a wreck between
Sarasota and Bradenton, and that they
needed twenty-five dollars to get him out
of jail. Mrs. Blair and me had stayed in
the picture show. We now left the pic-
ture show (Mrs. Blair, Jarvis and Pete)
and went to the apartment where they
were living. Mrs. Blair went in and got
the money and gave it to Jarvis. He left
in the Plymouth.

“T stayed in the apartment with Mrs.
Blair until midnight. Blair and Jarvis
hadn’t come back yet, so I got my car out
and went to look for them. I drove out
Cocoanut Avenue and saw two men
standing under a street light at Twenty-

third Street. Both of them had pistols in™
their hands, and I recognized them. as °

Blair and Jarvis. Blair didn’t have any-
thing on but his underwear, and Jarvis
had on all his clothes. I helped them into’
the car, and we stopped and talked a few,
minutes.” They told me about: the-shoot-

ing me:
around
them to
told Mr
clothes :
somethi:
outside
“Mrs.
slippers
“They
down to
shooting
house u:
had _ be
apartme:
women
their car
dead, sO
Mrs. [3]
dred anv
happene:
and left,
them.”
And +
fairly try
penings
shooting
Glad
admissio:
exaspera!
worry 0\

* Pete had

as he ap
degree o
informati
importan:

IMME

tickets
and Mrs.
baggage
Louisiana,
ders. The:
posing as
the article
der room
New Orle
of these b
them to t:
the idea «
the fugiti
articles h:
back that
less. I wa
in the m
chased cle
mysteriou-
from the
some link
the trio
robbery \
on Febru:

unsuccess!
I cable,

Companion of the killer who com-

mitted the double murder in Sarasota.

He was shot and killed resisting ar-
rest in Slidell, Louisiana

spend some time haunting the underworld
of New Orleans in an endeavor. to pick
up the trail of the unholy three. There
was a chance that members of the trio
might recognize Chief Davis, Deputy
Kiessling or myself, as Sarasota is not a
large city; but C, B. Junior would be un-
known to them,

While we were perfecting these plans
Sunday night, a long distance call from
Sarasota informed us that a telephone call
had been made from New Orleans to Pete
Bridges in our home town. Having taken
the precaution to have all lines of com-
munication into Sarasota covered, Deputy
Garner was immediately apprised of it,
and he relayed the message he picked up
to us. The call had been made by Mrs.
Blair alias Mrs. Messina. She had called
Pete Bridges over long distance to find
out what had happened to her Plymouth
sedan which had been left in Sarasota
when the trio fled.

We at once traced the origin of the call
in New Orleans. It had been sent through
to Sarasota from an ice plant. We has-
tened to the designated spot but arrived
too late to trap the caller.

ONFIDENCE was fast returning to us,
however. Our luck seemed to have
turned and it looked as if we were now to
get a share of the “breaks.” We all retired
that night feeling sure that we were on the

eve of success; that it wouldn’t be long -

before we had one or more of our elusive
quarry in the net.

The morning gave us further encour-
agement. At 7 o’clock, a long-distance
call came in to Chief of Detectives Grosch
from Slidell, Louisiana, thirty miles from
New Orleans. The reader will recall that
this was the point to which Mrs. Blair
under the name of Mrs. Johnson had for-
warded baggage from Avon Park, Florida.
We had got in touch with the authorities
at Slidell immediately we arrived in New
Orleans, furnishing them with descrip-
tions of the wanted three and the Chev-
rolet.

The long-distance call thrilled us be-
yond our expectation. It was to the effect
that officers in Slidell had arrested a man
and a woman, and had killed another man
in a pistol duel, who had resisted arrest.
They answered the descriptions of the
three we sought. This is how it hap-
pened: ‘

Deputy-Sheriff H. A. Rosseaux and
Night Marshal J. R. Elliott had gone to
the tourist camp at Slidell early that
morning to investigate a tip that some
suspicious people with a car bearing a
Florida license tag were parked at the

True Detective Mysteries

camp. When the officers drove up they
noticed the license number and the style
and make of the car. One of them said:
“That’s it.” He had checked these with
the information we had furnished the
authorities at Slidell.

As they stood looking at the car a wo-
man came out of a camp cottage near by.
Behind her appeared a man, framed in
the doorway. Bearing in mind the dan-
gerous character of the three we sought,
the officers drew their guns, and shouted:

“Come on out. It’s the Law.”

The woman and the man offered no re-
sistance, but stepped out into the open
and submitted to arrest; the man being
relieved of a 38 Smith and Wesson spe-
cial, fully loaded. Believing that the third
member of the hunted trio was within the
cottage, Elliott ordered the pair under
arrest to stand aside, he keeping them
covered.

Rosseaux, with his gun ready for action,
then shouted for any other residents of
the cottage to come out with their hands
up.

There was no response.

Seconds passed. Then minutes, as the
oflicers pondered on the next best move.
Rosseaux had about decided to take the
risk of dashing for the door and searching
the place when a man stuck his head out
of the doorway and fired pointblank at
him. Fortunately, his bullet went wild.
Rosseaux returned the fire.

The man’s head jerked back and disap-
peared as suddenly as it had come. For
a few minutes there seemed no sound
or movement within the house, and the
officers wondered whether Rosseaux’s shot
had found its mark. What was their
astonishment, therefore, when the man
stalked boldly through the doorway, a
menacing revolver in his hand.

HE officers shouted to him to surren-

der, but the stranger, striding toward
Rosseaux, opened fire. Rosseaux stood his
ground in the face of the bold attack, an-
swering the man’s challenge with a stream
of lead. His fire became a withering hail,
and the stranger turned and fled to the
protection of the automobile. Following
up his onslaught, the plucky deputy went
right after his man. Alternating pistol
bullets with shotgun charges he continued
the duel until the stranger finally went
down riddled with lead. As he lay dying,
he raised himself a little and gasped to
the arrested woman who had stepped
near:

“They got me Juanita. I’m dying.
Good-bye, baby; be true.”

He sank again to the ground and then
and there paid the death penalty for his
crimes.

When we arrived at the tourist camp
at Slidell, we positively identified the
dead man as John Blair alias Donald
White. His real name, we learned was
Donald Paul LeBlanc. Among other
marks of identification we found tattooed
on each of his insteps a negro riding a
pig.

At the coroner’s inquest on the death
of John Blair, the woman arrested at the
tourist camp was identified as Mrs.
Juanita Messina, alias Mrs. John Blair,
alias Mrs. Juanita Todd. Her companion
was Martin F. Jarvis alias “Whitey”
Rogers. He had become acquainted with
Blur in the Tennessee Penitentiary at
Nashville; had broken his parole in 1931
and had been picked up by us in Sarasota
and returned to Tennessee. Two years
later he was free again. He then joined
Blair, and the two continued their career
of crime as partners.

Blair and Jarvis were wanted in New
Orleans for the daylight robbery of the
Dryades Market Branch of the Canal

Bank and Trust Company on February
28rd, 1933. It was probably their share
of the fourteen thousand dollars loot
that: financed their activities in Sarasota.

Jarvis immediately pleaded guilty to
the charge of bank robbery and drew a
sentence of eighteen-to-twenty-eight years
in the Louisiana State Prison at Angola.
We expected this, assuming that he would
rather go to prison for bank robbery than
face trial for the killing of Bertie Lee and
Lacey Bell. We had warrants for the ar-
rest of the members of the trio, but it
was necessary to obtain extradition papers
before we could return either Jarvis or
Mrs. Messina to Sarasota for trial.

CCORDINGLY, Jarvis went to prison

to begin his sentence and Mrs. Messina

to face charges growing out of the bank

robbery in which she was alleged to be
implicated.

Thus we were forced to return home
without the quarry which we had
worked so untiringly to snare. But we
had the satisfaction of knowing that the
law had finally caught up with the trio
which had disturbed the usual even tenor
of our lives in Sarasota. And one had
paid the extreme penalty.

I soon obtained extradition papers and
returned to get Jarvis; the Louisiana au-
thorities having decided there was not
enough evidence to extradite Mrs. Mes-
sina, since she was only charged with be-
ing an accessory after the fact.

But again I was baffled. The Attorney-
General of Louisiana insisted that Jarvis
would have to be indicted for murder in
Sarasoto before Louisiana could release
him to Florida, and I had to return home
once more without my man. I was keenly
disappointed, but I was determined not
to quit.

At the regular term of our Grand Jury
in May, Jarvis was indicted for the mur-
der of Lacey Bell Dyel and Bertie Lee
Clements; and again we made the eight-
hundred-mile trip to Louisiana to get our
jail-bird. This time we brought him back
with us.

On Thursday, May 11th, Jarvis ap-
peared in Court and pleaded not guilty to
the murder charge before Circuit Judge
Paul C. Albritton. He was ordered to be
ready for trial the following Monday,
May 15th, just two months after the com-
mission of the shocking crime with which
he was charged.

Deputy-Sheriff Herbert Kiessling

who finally obtained the slayer’s con-

fession on the murder of the two

sisters, in their bungalow on Twenty-
fourth Street

Douglas
witnesses
ceeded, ar
able to re
tail.

Jarvis,
in Saraso:
March it!
sand dol!
They bo
Bridges, «
night of 1
pictures)
and Jary
returning
Mrs. Bls
Clements
would fine

HEN
went
found Bla
Lacey 1x
to leave; |
clothes di
lars, whic
trousers’
cused Lac
An argum:
a noisy
then entei
“Pipe dow
spoke her
‘lets poure
voice, Shi
the Law.”
Mrs. Dye!
shooting 1
hand, evic
that pierce
Jarvis a:
outside, bh
they coul
walked to
in his unde
them up.
Back in
learned fro:
ters were }
termined c
turned to ;
tage in the
but one lo
ered at th
They droy
Bridges’ |
into it, anc.
Their ro
Trail throu
then to Ps
chula to §
the Chevro
Louisiana,
we reached

The coach
do

a window, wounding him in the leg. The burgler turned and fired several
times, one shot going through Terrell's heart.

Johnson and Mills fled but were captured in a few weeks and
Mills confessed, naming Johnson as the actual slayer.

Two other doomed prisoners were scheduled to die in the chair
before Johnson was to be executed, but legal proceedings delayed the date
of their execution and he became the first to die.


JOHNSON, Frank, blac, Florida (?Duval County) on October 37, 1924

DCESERVELS, Flonima,

NEGRO MURDERER DIES

ee =

x. _

Y, OCRGBER & mma

- ~—-

IN ELECTRIC CHAIR

Johnson's was the first :’e
whice the chatr toox The

Chate tnepeeted.

The chair was ine ted pre s2¢
C> ite firet use sf Canacn s:at-
electrician of UCR Caro!.re wre
1 Feported !¢ tm perfect workn.cg ie Coat
The doomed prisoner Was 7 uah:
‘from his cell to the death - "ance:
‘ shortly after 2p m tn comegat. wu ve
his epiritual adviser ana $e s8.-
Guards. He took his seat in tte tg -
und the copper mour:ed atri:g wer:
adjusted while he praved Tae Rack

r4D Was drawn over his head .. ger

the signal from the Warien
ewitch was thrown. A atit’.: a vik ld
his body. caused By the feces
the muscles, was noticeatie 1- i Re
as the current was cut off °-. od
saumped alightly The eure: :
turned on at 4:44 viioek et
prison physicilan proncun:e.: 1-4
tim dead four minutes and Copy wis fe ie.”
Seconds Inter. ‘The physician d:‘lar
ed death was Instantaneous

Witnessed Execution.

The execution was witnesred by thc .
twelve official witnesses rej itred bs !
law, several newspaper men state of.
ficials, and officers of the !aw = The!
condemned man displayed litt!e emo- |
tion In the death chamber, but pre-
vious to being brought in he pace!
lis cell nervously. The morning be-
fore the execution he called tn Cape.
L. & Mosely, prison superintenden?
end made a complete confession of
the killing of Terrell, statin that a4
daserved to die. He said he forgavs
everyone who was connected with his
conviction and execution and was

ready.
Admitted Crime.

Johnson wae convicted of the mur-
der last March. Eugene Mills. another
negro, was convicted on the samu
charge but on the recommendation of
the jury was given life imprison.
ment ipstead of death. Johnson ad-
mitted the erime before trial. sayt.ia
tnat he shet Terrell after entering

-3

Vee

his roem to seb him. Terrell awoke
6nd procuring a pistol fired at the
PceagTn ae the fatter waa eacnvniige!
through a window. wouading *'m 14.
the leg. The burglar turned ard %:.
od several times, one shot going!
through Terres heart. 1

Johneos and Mille fled but were!
captured ia ? few weeke and Mills]
confeesed, naming Johnson as the.
actual slayer. \

Two other doomed prisoners were
ochedule@ to die tn the chair before
SORROOR Was to be executed Put le- |
Gal proceedings deiaved the data
“help execution and he became the
Ciret to die

cc Se Oe oe =

THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION (Jacksonville)
8 October 1924, Wednesday, page l.

Frank Johnson, negro convicted in the
circuit court here of the murder of Atley B. Terrel
locomotive engineer, who was shot to death last
december, yesterday went to his death in the
electric chair at the state prison farm in Raiford.

Johnson's was the first life which the
Chair took. The chair supplanted the noose as a
means of capital punishment in Florida by virtue
of a law passed at the last session of the state
legislature.

Chair Inspected

The chair was inspected previous to its
first use by S.W. Cannon, state electrician of
South Carolina, who reported it in perfect
working order. The doomed prisoner was brought
from his cell to the death chamber shortly after
2 p.m. in company with his spiritual adviser and
prison guards. He took his seat in the chair and
the copper mounted straps were adjusted while he
prayed. The black cap was drawn over his head and
on the signal from the warden the switch was
thrown. A stiffening of his body, caused by the
tension of the muscles, was noticeable and then
as the current was cut off the body slumped slightl
The current was turned on at 2:44 o'clock and the
prison physician pronounced the victim dead four
minutes and forty-four seconds later. The physiciar
declared death was instantaneous.

itnessed Execution

The execution was witnessed by the twelve
official witnesses required by law, several news-
Paper men, state officials, and officers of the law
The condemned: man displayed little emotion in the
death chamber, but previous to being brought in he
paced his cell nervously. The morning before the
execution he called in Capt. L. S. Mosely, prison
Superintendent, and made a complete confession of
the killing of Terrell, stating that he deserved to
die. He said he forgave everyone who was connected
with his conviction and execution and was ready.

Admitted Crime.

Johnson was convicted of the murder last
March. Eugene Mills, another negro, was convicted
on the same charge but on the recommendation of the
jury was given life imprisonment instead of death.
Johnson admitted the crime before trial, saying
that he shot Terrell after entering his room to rob
him. Terrell awoke and procuring a pistol fired at
the negro as the latter was escaping through (OVER)


Following the selection of a fury
‘yesterday morning in the fourth ju-
dicial circuit eourt, eleven witnesses
for the state were heard in the trtal
of Frank Johnson, alias Luther Der-
rill, and Eugene Milla, negreee
charged with the murder of Atley
b&b Terrell. a ratiroad eagineer, be
fore court adjuurned a: 6 ocloek
last night until 9:3@ o'clock this
morning.

Delia Walker and Clinton Owens,
negroes. both teatified that they ae-
sisted Johnsen to leave Jacksoaville
on the morning of December 2@,
Qwene said that Johnson had ceme
to his room, told him he was shet
in the hip, and asked that Owene
get the Walker woman to help him.
Both witnesses testified that they
saw &@ watch, identified by ether
Witnesses as belunging to Terrell
and a pistol tn a handbag that Joha-
son touk with him Owena aleo tege

tinted that JoBhnson had come. ia:

without hia shoes and said that
Jekuson told him that a policeman
had shut him when he failed to beeg
«a cummmand to halt

trank lavis. a pullceman, test?-
fled that he found a pair of ahowe
“vn the porch of the house at 6a

West Monroe atreet, where Terrela |

toqmed at the time he w killed.
The shoes were sald d wens toe
belong to Jomhneva, R. [. Plummesa,
anothor policeman, testified that h
‘tred a shot at w# flecing negro, be
(Nat the black eacaped.

Although the two defendaate
pleaded not guilty to the charges
against them, the Jacksonville pe-
‘lice claim that both confessed to the
‘erime. In the testimony yesterday he
mention was made as to Mills’ one
hection with the case, although
'e said to have confesseed - nave
been waitin outside for Johaeen
_When the latter firet entered Ter-
tell’'a room and later shot him. on
_@urprised by the engineer in the act
‘of leaving the room with his water
und about $160 In money,
‘Johnson's -al ed céafession ia said
to conflict’ with. that of Milla. the

' alleged ‘slayer of rrelt, spteners-"

| ting Mille by stating that Mile wes
, {nN ho way connected with the affaié.
| Neither weng or the Waiker -
an yesterday ave any testimohy
[linking Mille with the ease.
|. Several more witnesses are te be
‘heard this morning, and it te doubt:
(ful if the case will go to the ury
before late thig afternuon, The jury
in the case ig componed of the to!-
lowing men: Charles B. Jones, J. Ia
Jones, KH. W. Boars, TT. W. Beagte,
John KF. Markee, W. HH. Willlamea,
1. Pr. Chambers, W. Bo Mensenger,
W. H. Wainwright, J. F. Cameron,
Fred Wo Conekin and ®& A. Marehal’
The defendants are being repre -
sented by (. ©. Howell, lucal attor-
ney. who was appuinted vy Jadge
Daniel A. “immona to handle thea
cure. Perse {. UGankine, etate'a at-
ntorney, usaiated by W. MM. Madison,
| fe conducting the atate's cane,
—e-

“eT abed ‘pZ6T YOAeW 6T ‘/Aepseupem /(ST[TTAuosyoer) NOINN-SHWIL VdINOl FHL


|S == - sf

LS

FLORIDA

APP. fraeO. taccemageee

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF
; STATE INSTITUTIONS

CARY A. HARDEE -
STATE FA R M H. CLAY <a
RIVERS H. BUFORO ~
R A IFORD ERNEST AMOS
: >, COMPTROLLER
H NATHAN MAYO
lp. J.C. LUNING
ct ke p- S.BLITCH, SUPERINTENDENT STATE TREASURER
“* 7 ve W. S. CAWTHON
. ws ¢ SUPT. PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
oh wt” « wer 6
. | : Oct. 8, 1924.
ee a Hon. Cary A. Hardee, | ae eo
Govenor, _* _ ze
Tallahassee, : cy :
reproduced by: :
“s FLORIDA STATE ARCHIVES, Fla.
_ DEPARTMENT OF STATE
R.A. GRAY BUILDING Dear: Govenor:-
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250 s
Series =, 1 Carton <a The execution was carried out
yesterday on time without a hitch. It
required about Zour minutes from the time
we begen to strap him in'the chair until
| the doctors pronounced him dead.
; ve had a splendid representation _
: SS a :
\. ee af 2
| of gitizens as witnesses, and two news
paper correspondents with a number of others
I presume Mr. Buford, and Mr. Mayo will ~
- make a detailed statement to The Boards
« 4 See certificate on back of warrant. I remain,
on — . ‘ . : . . fol C a ea . 7
- ¥ : |
? Yours very ‘truly; Age
| IP SA fa gf ors
Cf ae FY as
LG isieriatondont BA yc
JSBs dG : ce |
Te, Sia |
bd te oy, |


RICHARD JAMES HANGED,

Pe ren tty ome
TUK MENDED tee WEES NBA
GAINHSVILELM Lawr MIPUUEN GA, 4

-_e— ew ow

Me Acknowledwed the Crtme and
Bald tbe Denth Showld Ne
a Warning to Others, -

(gene ener nee

Qalnerville, Feb. da -hard James. {,
convicted Of murdar in the Neat degree
TTat the dant term of the CHrentt Court, |
paving killed hin wife, wie executed tr t
r {Tha wounty Jall ta-tne At nen, .
‘ Pang before the hae nppoloted fur the ,
hanwing laree crawde maser) arene
the Jall enger ty ace the eondemnerd fn, t
if AV WO) Pather Leneh, who hae been \
“Lonintetertion to the spiritual weeate of the '
tiurderer, merrived, and! war frrorredintoly | «
admitted (o the cell, amd for a few min t
ter wae onmamed in prayer,
Not long after thie Hherit I. W. Ken. | s

nell entered the cell, and called Jamen | -
The Prisoner responded promptly, '

When the death warrant wan read tol °
him, and he was asked If he had anything | !
to pay, Jamea advanced 10 the front of the}!
cell, (neing the epectatora, amd began al ¥

K
i]

few remarks, advising everyone Present
to fake this sed ending of bla cepeer aa a
fatal warning, dle spoke_in a em voice
and nia with were fully collected, nut ever
@ trace of the awful doom before him be-
ing keen upon his countenance, Ile ex. 1,
Dreaned a firm bellef that he had been re- {
deemed, No man in the crowd seemed
more cool or collected that Jumea him. | 7
wel, and his nerve never left him for ar 4
Inatant. He concluded bis remarka with T

ii]

4

"

the hope that everyone would be warned
by Dla wad fate, amd try amt meet him ir
the..beauilful..beyond.. A couple. uf hk
relatives came up to see him and to (heen
he anki: . .
“Tell everybody far and wide that]
Richard haw gone to JSeaua’’ He they | 0
shook handa with) Mhepitt Fennell sant] t
thanked bin for him kindnesa and good | *
advice, cos ‘ .
| The condemned man‘a! hamle were ne.|
| cbrely ted behind him-and he wee ted} le
to‘the fatal trun, where everything had

been made ready, Jile feet were tled, the |"
rope adjusted, . rhrele—ex f—wer 7
Placed over hie hen. Sherif! Fennell |) ‘

reached for the rope which springs the
Reap wT Tae TATE NT iF
“Giatlemen, thins ta the laat.” The trap
us 'sprung, James’ body whot downwant. | a,
Week heme vroken—hy—wte- fatt-- Dre. | y,
lartigue and: iake kept wateh until fm
Afteen minutes had elapaed, and James
| wes pronounced dead. Sheriff. Kennel | er}
Waured the jait''of ~epectatorad and the te
{body was turned over to ‘Undertakera | J
PHIGE & ‘Oraham- Tor interment: ee ©
SHANI” James” was’ teenrded: ae: e- bad] a
‘Negro, and Mat spring, on the farm of J.
R. Flewellen,.,.near Rocky Point, he
ahdt and killed his wife while she wae at-
tending.-a: festival. At-the trial ‘the-ene|-
tire. bulk: of evidence: 'was agalnat. him. |G
Hie own statemént was eno! téfconvict |.

him," and the execution was’ trom Yevery |”
standpoint a, just vindledtjce of the law,--| «;
ennatenieneearemem morte ot Se dg:

ee of

Fr ek (D4 limss- nor |

>


JANE, Slave, black, hanged Tallahassee, FL, circa 1835.

In 1836, Paul McCormick, of Leon County, was compensated by an act of the Legislature
for the execution of his slave Jane for infanticide.-”"A Rouge ’s Paradise” :Crime and Punishment
In Antebellum florida, 1821-1861, by James M. Denham; Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama
Press, 1997, page 210.

THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION (Jacksonville)
Tuesday, 26 October 1943, page 6.

| :
Two Are Executed
| At State Prison

RAIFORD. Oct. 25. (.P+-Two ne- |
groes were executed at the Florida
State Prison here today. and the
execution of a third was set for
Friday, according to Supt. L. F.
Chapman, —

The two men executed were
James Allen Young, sentenced in
1942 for raping a white woman in
Hillsborough County, and Ruffie
Lundon, sentenced in Alachua
County for killing James Robinson,
negro. ,

George Washington James, sen-
tenced in 1942 for killing Wilmon
Green, negro. in Puik County, was |
scheduled to be executed today. but |
Superintendent Chapman put it
over until] Friday.

—~—


c, electrocuted Florida (Polk)

THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION (Jacksonville)
Saturday, 30 October 1943, page 6

RAIFORD, Oct. 29 (AP) -- George Washington
James, Polk County negro, paid the death penalty today for
killing Wilmon Greén, another negro in Polk County and
became the one hundredth man to die in the electric
Chair since its installation at the State Prison Farm
here.

James was sentenced in 1942.

"(Continued trom fage 1)
FIGHING—While interest in Jo-
cal @shing cirotes was chiefly cen-
tered around the landing of the
Grat tafpon of the season by T. C
Stidds, of Oak Park, 11), several
ot ice catches were reported.

TT woney landed four large pom-
pano off the @rat Ringling cause
way, while G. W. Blackburn, Ash.
ing alone, reported a catch of 06
kingfish, indicating that the kiags
are otill here.

MASONS — Regular meeting of
Sarasota chapter, R.A.M., will be
held tonight at the Masonic hall,
East Main street.

MEETING — Sarasota Council,
Junior Order United American Me
chanics, held an abbreviated busi-
ness session last night hearing ser
eral reports on the recent state con.
vention in St. Petersburg and then
adjourning.

SIDEWALK—Sidewalk from the
parish house to the front door of
the Episcopal Church of the re
deemer is being laid by A. aaiies,
contractor. a

MEETING—Hundred percent .at-
tendance fs desired at the meetibg.
of the committée te ereate summer
business which will meet tomor-
row afternoon at 4 o'clock at the
city pier héadquatters of the Sar&
s ~ounty Chafnder of Com-
m Dr. Walter Kéenfiedy 18
chauwant and membets meiude ow.
D. Reagin, Charles Seaties, Walt r
Schucht, Roger V. Mory, Clyde Wil-
aon, Dunning Bright, E. E. Gridley
and J £. Quinn.

MEETING — Sarasota Voiture,
La Societe Des 40 Hommes et 8
Chevatsz, Will Beha 4 fafge repre-
sentation t6 thé 6ixth diatrict
meeting promenade t6 be héld to
morrow night ith Afcaddia&. Dele-
gates and others are instructéd (6
meet at the Tropical Garfefia: of
Main street at ¢ o'clock. On thé
evening’s program is a barbecue
and dance.

DISAPPACGVES—S. B. Jennings,
president of the Satascta County
Weltare abseciation, today wired
disapproval of the aseoclation of
the a "4086 Bocial Welfare
aét Of Florida to Representative
Joba L. Barly and Senator Wal
tee Tetvin. He was instructed to
Wite After aiacustloh concerning
thé ASE at a FOchnt méaeling or the
sheSllatjan.

PICTURES —- Satasdta, as ibe
winter Quarters Of the Ringing
B, Obtained B5MS VvahiAble
City last Bunday when ple
wres Of Afigie Launé, Néll Gils
4oh, Theel Melson, CRAFIBS AbB-
thony; Helen Lesila and aeveral
elephants, assorted trapese ap
tata ahd even a Sarasota pine
tree appeared in the rotogravure
section of the Birmingnen Ps %s,

it® Case (hia RILErMOOL. Vnaiiva vr.
Lemons, Bavannah, is on trial with
Frank.

--——-

~ JARVIS DIES

(Continueé from Page 1)

dent tautness and waa intoning the
Lord’s prayer when the black cap
was slipped over bie tread. ;
_ Twelve men saw him die. None
among them knew -him before he
entered prison.

Their prisoner slept squndly his
last night, the guards said, and was
awakened by the changing of the
guard at § am. He refused ous-
tomary offers of extra fare and ate
a light breakfast.

farly this afternoon the body had
not been claimed and appeared dés-
tuned for burial in the prison grave
yard. .
Thus, though he never confessed,
darvis met the final sentence with
considerably more grace than he
showed frat fi¢eing and then fight-
ing the state's chatges, He yas
indicted for the murdera of both
Lacy Bell lene and her ister, Ber

“i — es bial
ith ons, John t
pe ag sero Re esctped

ms anes cAf and was captured
several days fater in a& gunfight
with Loulslana officers at Biideli,
La., In which Bialr waa killed:

fiather than return to Mlorda,
Jarviéd pleaded guilty ta robbery of
a New Orleans bank February 24,
1983, afd ad sentenced to 18 to
28 years in prison, The maneu-

to Floride officera On the promise
he wotild be returned to Loulslana
if he ceeelved leaa than a life aen-
tence.

He fought the death sentence all
the way to the supteme court. The
final official “no” came yesterday
when the etate pardon board re-
9 Ni «plea t6 f6FEBtAll exétu-

On. '

FIRST TARPON

(Continued from Bane i)

tbat Can't be described,” he shld
Both thé fish’ were placed .ofi
display in front of Tucker's Spot
ing Goods store and Whey were
viewed by hurdredé of peteona
during thé day. Mr. Long played
the big one for 45 minutes Bbefvre
uaniing it afd got siz jumps.
ing of the firat tarpon to:
day béraided the Opening hete of
the weat dconat’h annual three-
thontha’ tarpon plonié. Recerd of
“tifht tacpén” for the past séven
yéars revealed that this ts tné
earliest that on6 of these might
feat Of ame fiah hes been Captur-
4 hereaboute @Nfihg that time.
For 11 of the past 18 yeafs, the
tiret “sliver king” of the season
1] bas been caught By OC. W. Milla,
newpaper publisher, of Sodus, N.
Yi and termer sretident ef the
fearacsta County Angier’ eld. On

Agéfterald, of Birminar . ms

Tem ebattian Masa tube’ a

one othet eeessionmals i938--the
hanne want ta ta 2. H. Ravand:

ver failed and he was turned over.

would be coming along asking for
the same thing, and faw-making
would be eériously impeded.

e® ¢ @

Citles apparantly are urdecided
on the subject of wiping out pav-
ing Hens. Bonds originally sup-
posed to be secured by thene ilen®
are in moat casen now being car
ried by a generel levy and some of
the larger municipalities are pret:
ty well reconciled to the fact that
Httle can be salvaged directly
from property owners,

This group feels that inasmuch
ag apecial improvement bonds are
general Obligatiéna anyway, the
quickest way to clean up the mess
is to wipe out the Mens and get
owners started to paying taxes
again. Another faction, however,
wants to alter state and county
tax foreclosyre laws to permit the
llena to stand. At present cothty
tax foreclosurés cancel them.

ee ¢ @ .

Medical legislation {s beginning
tO Occupy a sizéable space among
proposed offerings. Most impor-
tant of this i@ directed against the
artny of quacks that infest south
Florida téurtat dties éuring the
winter #6a8on.

coal Ae

HOUSING PLAN

fciuandued- teens trom Pare "
ministration is Offering, It is necen-
Bary for the property owners to
thke advantage thereor by fling
thelr applications for thodernitng
loans, and contractors, building mas
tetial dealers, and all tradesmen
should interest themselves and ens
Golitag® thé homé owtierd through-
out the county to improve theit
prope. tles, bechuse after all they
are the first to benefit thefehy,
“Before launching upon the
houseto-hotise campaign in this
county the writer, tegether with
the representatives of the Federal
Housing AGMINItFAUGA, Gonferred
with thé offitera 6f the lehding in-
stitutidie, Ad they Offered their
cooperatl6a With the bettér housing
program And th® percentage Of the
applications a0 far appfovéd is an
evidenced of thelr gb6d falth. ft is
expected under the terms of the
Feder] Housing act that property
owners who ¢an establish good and
slifficlent credit atanding are en-

Uitled t6 BOFFOW Monéey to. MEd érh-

ie thel) homes and théreBy {m:
prove the Américan atahidards of
living, .

“Therefore, if the property own-
dts, K8 coatkactérs, ad thé build:
Ifk thade dd Adt take advantage of
thé provisions of the national houa-
ig Aét, thd Burden of tha faliure
ré8th Updn them aiid riot the Feéd-
6Fe) HdUSlAg AdrMinlatration G¢ the
1ehding tndtitutlond. Over $86
060,050 Rad bééA shent fot Mbdéerh-
ization of homes alica the béttér
Kéusig progtam began inet Atguat.
Naturally this inereases trade and
pita méré mon in eireuiation,
Thera are probably many instances
where poeple hava Been unable ta
bérr6w money diredt ffOmm the

be | dd

sponsible and satisfactoty bidder”
was given the eng muhitions
committee by Heary Rookevelt,
asaiatant secretary Of the navy.

The house wee polaed’ fof 20
hours of debate on the social se-
curity bil] with Speaker Byrns
predicting “the biggest fight”
over the sections levying earnings
and peyrol] tazes for old-age pen
sions.

The senate considered an ez-
pansion of the homé owners loaa
corporation, ;

Director David KE. LAlienths] told
the house ‘PAteratate commerce
committee t personally he fa
vored the priiciple of having the
Tennessee Valley authority bear
cémparable tax bardéns with pri

vate utilities and observe the same.

accounting practices.

From army generals, and in a
letter from Becretary Dern, the
house military - affairs commilttee
recelved expréssionsa of disapprov-
Al of a bill that would #et up an
unlimited pool of inactive national
guard. officers. .

fhe AAA agréed t6 rake, “fain
benéflf payments to farmers ff
drought areas who plant fo whdéat

béechuse of advéred wente | pent
Hons.

GLASS FACTORY

(Gontinued trom Pag i)

Bardsota, probably wotld be om
ployed here. The bheiness wae foun-
ded 85 years ago by Albert C, May
isse, whose aficestora Wdre in the
glass business {a Italy for tiday
year, He has been awarded & sil-
ver medal by the Americaa ihayy
tute of New York city for bis 9x-

| petimental Work In pfedueing the

best non-gldte Headlight yet devel
oped,
Mr. Clement said that if Ké aAa
Oacér Matisse can convinée the
father that Sarae6te Offeta ciithats
tal and ethet advantages for thé
business, ahd it is aetually mered
here, thet @ adles offanisation
would be maintained ih Mow York
City. The plaht will require & Neer
espace Of approéxitnately 1662180
feat, The firm’s only ecompetiters
afe located in Rochester, N. Yu
and Laccaster, Ohio, The eder
Matissé, Mr, Olement sald, ta 17
years of age. He 18 unable to céfhe
to Barasots to make a personal if:
ventigation at (hls time.

in additidn to the equitable ell
mate in Sarasota; Mr. Olement sald,
“the kind of labor wé need is bet
ler here.” Ha hae, been In Baratota
@ moath with his family, and be
said téday that he was completely
“sold” on Sarasota, He speat a
thonth on the east deast beford
ing here-and statdd that he bélje
conditions for. lddustrial altes
are better on the west coast.

MYSTEAY WRITER 6183
BUFFALQ, N; ¥, April 1)
=Atifia Katharine Green, 86, writer
of detective mystery thriller, died
this morhing after an illness of sev-

er-’ “tenth Mise Green, in prt

every cane made to the loweal re-).

S293 8%
yl ao

SERAEADED

rr

Prays for “Forgiveness”
But Does Not Co: fess
Murder.

RAIFORD, April 11, (P)—Praying
Quietly for “forgiveness”, but with-
out lea & confession, Martin P.
Jarvis in the electric chair
at the Btate Prison Farm today, for

“As calm a man as ever did go
hie’ was the epitaph Guards gave

No relative or friend was among

unclaimed late
Jarvis’ fina) acceptance of death
Was in con to ng and

8 : fy th house
corridor from Cel to the chair
he to shake hands with
Sheriff C of Sarasota

pull the switch.

“God bless you,” he said. “ry
meet you over there.”
He was murmuring the Lord’s
Prayer when the black hood was
drawn over his face.
Marlier he had led a prayer sery-

who a few minutes. later was to |

THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION (Jacksonville)
Friday, 12 April 1935, page 6.

teat ios

Jarvis Goes to Death
In State Prison

Continued on Page &,
EET,


Covaty’s Oldest Daily eee

re

‘ ees

¥

sy

ees

JARVIS, Martin

r
4.
‘

Probably chewere tonight and
# | Peiday, colder In northwest and =
Jeentral weet portions Friday.

7

ay.
preerees ee

~

A FLORIDA, THURSDAY, APRIL II, 1935°

PA!

Full Ascsotated Prese Leased Wire

o.

ECTRIC t

Reaches House

Gets
Here

. O. Long, of: this
in Sarasota coun-

cau, sday was
he | ver seen.
of tive strikes re
uty and was play-
3 for approximate-
iaking nine jumps

bs should realize
every angler on
vion after aliliver
n to landing Sara-
rst of the season,
pleasing to the
t gave me a thrill

n to page 2)

R PEACE
ASUNDER
 STRESA

ight, 1936,
ATED PRESS: -
y, Ay fi} 11—Freach
ing for their views
ty of treatin, went
he conte with
nd y. ap-
rmined 4 to” make
| to the Léague of
Ge-~==~ the basis
by | mference.
Fla of Frapce
minister, Pierre La-
9 their parley with
\inl, Prime Minister
mald of Great Brit-
a Secretary Sir John
sociated’ Press was
informed that
ed the ,onference

EARLY’S BILL,
ONCE VETOED,
PASSES HOUSE

Of County Gas Tax Mon-
ies to Buy Bonds:

"Representative John L. Early’s
bill—House Bill No. 1139—passed
by the 1933 legislature, which
would have required the state
board of administration to use
gasoline tax monies accruing to
Sarasota county strictly for the
purchase of bonds; and which was
vetoed by Governor Sholtz after ad-
journment of the legislature, was
passed today by the house over the
governor's veto, the Associated
Press has advised the Sarasota
Herald. The measure will now go
to the senate.
The title of the act is: ;
“An act authorizing and direct-
ing the state board of.administra-
tion to use all the monies derived
from gasoline taxes and credited to
the account of Sarasota county,
Florida, for the purpose of purchas-
ing at a price below the par value
thereof and at the lowest bid any
bonds of said county to which such
monies, as credited to such county,
would be applicable, and providing
for the fiscal administration of the
purchase of such bonds which
otherwise shall be in conformity
with Chapter 14486, acts of 1929,
laws of Florida, as amended: And
provided that said bonds so  pur-
chased shall be held jn trust by
said board of administration and
returned only when it has been
specially determined to be for the
best interest of the state of Flor
ida and said county.”

In urginr ‘> house today to pass

nant the wrave isane

Measure Would Ri Require Use,

the meas": cer the governor's
veto, Rep: ‘tve Early inform-
ed the hv

*he chief execu-

Sarasota Killer
Dies In ‘Chair’

MARTIN F. JARVIS”

SILVER HOLDS
ATTENTION OF
SOLONS TODAY

WASHINGTON, April 11—(7)—
Silver gleamed anew in the capl-
tal today as the senate agriculture
committee tossed toward floor
consideration of the yetersy 16-to-

1 ratio tesue of Willlam Jennings
days. e

Meeting just after President
Roosevelt by proclamation had
boosted the price of newly mined
domestic silver from 64% to 71
cents an ounce, the committee ap-
proved the Wheeler bill to require
the purchase of 50,000,000 ounces
of silver monthly until the propor-
tion of the white metal reached
one-fourth of the monetary stocks.

These purchases would be sus-
pended whenever’ 16 ounces of
pure silver equalled one ounce of

PRICE 5 CENTS

Pays With Life

For Mu

rder Of

Sarasota Woman

Slayer Of Lacy

Bell Dyal Meets

Death Calmly and With A
Prayer’ On His Lips

RAIFORD, April 11—A.P.—With the Lord’s prayer
on his lips and “malice toward none,” Martin F. Jarvis, 2
small man of 37 from Sarasota, went to the electrio chair
at the state prison farm today ‘for killing Lacy Bell Dya!
in a double slaying March 12, 1933.
2 The current entered his body at

Jarvis? Death
Ends Dramatic
Criminal Case

Thé execution of Martin F. Jar-
vis today brought to a close the
most important criminal case in the
history of Sarasota county and
satisfied in full the promise of
Sheriff c. B. Pearson, made a few
hours after the killings when news-
papermen were interviewing him.
The promise: “I will see those
murderers in the electric chair if
it takes every cent I earn and every
ounce of energy I have in the next
four years.”

Although Jarvis was the only
one of the two murderers to die in
the eléctric chair, the other one,
Yohn Bisir, an srry |
vict, died “it, the ‘hithids of the
falling from a toed’ of buckshot
when he elected to shoot it out
with officers when they atten’pted
to capture him at Slidell, La., a few
days after the murders here. Jar-

g and a woman, known as Biair’s
wife and otherwise identified as

(Please turn to page 8)

ELK NOMINATE

9:08 o’clock and seven minutes lat:
er he was pronounced dead by the
prison physician.

On his walk through the deat
house from his cell to the chair:
room, Jarvis paused to shake the
hand which was to throw the
switch.

“God bless ydu,” he told Sherif
C. B. Pearson, of Sarasota, “1'
meet you over there.” '

Guards sald afterward:

; “As calm a man as ever did g:
n.”

Clad in the black coat and trous
ers in which the state dresses it:
condemned, Jarvis sedately led ;
prayer service In hia cell half a:
hour before the execution, Callins
for the sheriff, guards, newspeper
men and the Rev. L. O. Sherffielc
the prison chaplain, he asked ther
to bow their heads while he praye
in ay even voicg for forgiveness.

Goereral times be asked the chr:
1s flgin's help in Ninprovising th
prayer,

He sat in the chair without eri

(Please turn to page 3)

SAYS LENDING
BODIES AIDING

NEW ANCCIMIALC

HOUSING PLAN

'|their whereabouts.

| SARASOTA (FLA.) HERALD

a"

LC | [- 35

Jarvis’ Death
Ends Dramatic

(Continued from Page 1)

Juanita Messina, were captured at
Slif{dell. Jarvis was finally
tradited but Louisiana officers

“| would not allow the woman to be |*

extradited as a material witness or
accomplice.

The murders of Lacy Bell Dyal
.|and Bertie Lee Clements occurred
around midnight on March 12, 1933,
and within a short time a state.
wide man bunt was on. However,

.| tbe hunt ws not at its full heighth
-] Until the morning of March 13
-| When: Sheriff Pearson finally learn-

ed the identity of Jarvis, whom he
had delivered to the state prison at

.| Nashville, some three years before,

#8 a parole violator. Jarvis was

| sent to the Nashville pen for the

theft of an automobile.
The search for Jarvis, Blair and

-}the woman, who had taken the
- fantomobdile

of Eugene’ Bridges,
during their stay here, went on for
severa] days without clues as to
Then it was
learned that the Bridges’ automo-
bile, had been left in a garage at
Sebring when the fugitives pur-
chased another car, Their own car,
& sedan, was left in Sarasota when
it failed to start after the woman
had been shot down at the Twenty-
third street house.

But the officers failed.to pick up
the trail of the fugitives in Se-
bring and there were no further
developments until Bridges tipped
officers that he had received a tele-
phone call from the Messina wo-
man in’ Slidell. She wanted to
know what had happened and to
tell Bridges when he could find his
car.

Chief Deputy Sheriff Garner re-
ceived the tip in Sarasota and im:
meulately notified Sheriff Pearson
who, with Chief of Police S. T.
Davis, was in New Orleans conduct-
ing a search of the underworld
haunts In the hope of learning some:
thing of the whereabouts of the
killers. Then the Slidell officers
checked a suspicidus automobile at
a tourist camp and the killing of
Blair and the-capture of Jarvis and
the woman resulted.

Sheriff Pearson attempted to gain
custody of the murderer then, but
Jarvis pleaded guilty to robbery
charge in connection with the loot-

ex-

ing of » New Orleans bank on Feb. |
24, 1933 and was sentenced to 18 to.
28 years im the Angola state prison.
However, Pearsoa, determined’ to
bring Jarvis back-to Florida for
trial, finally succeeded in extradit-
ing him on the promise that if he
received ‘less than life here he
would be sent beck to Angola to
finish his term and the state of
Florida could obtain bim at the ex-
Piration of that time. ‘
So Jarvis came back to Sarasota
for a 16-months confinement in the
county jail, receiving the death
sentence after his conviction which
Wag the signal for the start of a
long and stubborn fight for a new
trial or onametasen to a life sen-
tence.

But Jarvis tailed In all Chane at-
tempts—although he. came danger
ously close to escaping. last Christ-
mas when he succeeded in unlock:
ing most of the several do be: |:
tween him and freedom witb. the
ald of. keya made from combs after
impressions had been: taken; with
& medical salve. ,

U.S. WATCHES
- SILVER ACTION

WASHINGTON, Ap! April 11—(P—
With’ the silver movement in con-
gress getting up steam againg the
capital watched today to see wheth-
er President Roosevelt's proclama-
tion boosting the price of newly

mined domestic silver: 6% cents
would check or accelerate the drive
for more far-reaching action in be-
half of the white metal.

Though some quarters saw in the
action « possible attempt to head
off other monetary moves, some
emphasized that {t developed from
the fact that the world price: for
silver had approached to within a-
fraction of 64% cents, the price
the ‘reasury has been paying for
newly mined metal.

.Congressional silverites - greeted
the president’s action in boosting:

‘the price to 71 cents with satisfao |’:

tion, but apparently were not. ex-
cited over it. They went right
ahead with more sweeping plans.

HEADS AUXILIARY
BRADENTON, April 11—UP,-
Mrs. J. A. Hinton of Tampa Is
new head of the woman’s auxiliary

PAY: RANSOM
KIDNAPED'

CHICAGO, . April 11—UP) — An
unrelenting search was pushed to
day for Richard Perrot, 4, whose
father said rarisom had. been de
manded. Richard has been mis#
ing @ week. ‘

The father, Max Perrot. foreman
In a tool manufacturing plant, said
he’ expected his son back before
Sunday, .{ndicating ransom de
mands were met. The boy, mute
since ad {injury at birth, was be
Heved the victim of a moron.

RICH CANADIAN
DIES IN ORLANDO

ORLANDO, Fla, Ap Fla, April 11—UP--
J. E. C. Trudeau, 45, millionaire
Canadian mine owner and official
of an ofleompany, is dead, the vic-
tim of pnuemonla. /

An ardent sportsman, Trudeau
was here with the Montreal Inter
national league baseball Yub, of
which he was vice-president and
largest stockholder. He had béen {II
since Friday and died last night.

Mrs, Trudeau and a daughter
were expected to arrive today -by
airplane from Montreal.

MEXICANS TO
GALL STRIKE

“MEXICO, D. F., April 11—LP)}—
The general.confederation of work-
ers and peasants which claims 40,-
000. members, has voted to call a
nation-wide general: strike, a

Uniéss labor difticulties ‘in -yari-
ous parts of the ‘country ‘are set-
tled, a formal ‘call ts expected
within a few days.

Reinforced petrols of federal
troops were posted ‘today. in the
principal cities: in the atate:to pre
vent disorders... Clashes. Tuesday
between strikers. and troops re
sulted Jn deaths of three men.

Workers’ organizatjons charged
12 labor leaders - ‘were: shot to
death - Saturday in Las’: - Bayas,

OR

of the St. Johns Prespyi:-- which

will meet next ‘year at Sanford.

Tamaulipas, “by — of Gor. Vil-

J sarvoal.”

‘BOY?

EOWARDS THI
The double. feature
the Edwards theatre t
“George “Wiite’s Scan
with Alice. Faye and C
and “The-Casino: “Mv
with Paul, Lukas. ond}

worth,’ ee ey av 3
Murder mysteri

pected to! hold: an! bo
bound and ‘one of: the f
mysteries ‘te come’ out:

is thet Mi pp hia
duction, “The o}
is showing.; ..
' This new mystery pi
sively that the field «
virgin soil for excelle
plots for 8. 8. Van Di
tery-weaver, bas pluck
sclence’s newest disco)
basis of his murder p)
The picture brings :
Vance to the screen fn
who ably assisted {n
“perfect crime” of a d!
son plot by Rosalind )
makes her debut as a
on the screen.

RITZ THEAT

The do@bie feature
the Edwards theatre to
dan includes Clark
Claudette Colbert in “I
One Night,” and Nanc
“Jealousy.”

“Jealousy” {gs a gripp
featuring Nancy . Carr
Murphy ‘and Donald: Co

Adapted from a stor)
Campbell, it tells the

blind, ning love
destro e involvec
‘H ‘able’ supr

are Inez Courtney, Art
Raymond Walburn and.

ton. Direction. was by
Nelll.

TREASURY REP:
‘WASHINGTON, April
Position of the treasur
was: receipts, $29,619,
penditures, $36,467,954.42
$2,464,022,828.96; caistom
for the month, $10,753,7(
celpts for the fiscal ye

‘|July 7), $2,971,534,281.58

tures, $5,223,598,29638
$2,676 330,262.82 of ' emer
penditures); e xcess of
tures, $3,252,064,014.81; gx

$8, 607 ,041,288.29.

~

es TS living room of the little

house on Twenty-fourth Street

and Cocoanut Avenue, in Sar- <
asota, Florida, teemed with the
activity which always follows vio-

~ Jent death. Sheriff C. B. Pearson

elbowed his way through the group
of interns crowding the open door-
way and, halting suddenly, studied
the scene before him.

He recognized Police Chief Tilden
Davis and the medical examiner,
also a few of the uniformed of-
ficers and plainclothesmen. Be-
cause of the large number of men
in the room it was impossible - to
obtain more than a fleeting glimpse
of the bodies of the two women
lying on the floor. Moving closer,
he saw that one was @ blonde and
the other, a brunette. Both were,
fully and smartly dressed in clothes .

f good quality.

. The ssecieal examiner had been
kneeling at the side of the brunette.
He arose and nodded a greeting to
Davis. “This one may pull through,
he said. “At least she has a chance.
We'll have to get her to the hos-
pital pretty quick. The blonde is
dead.” -
While the internes were lifting
the woman onto a stretcher, Pear-
son held a hasty consultation with

Chief Davis who, an instant later,

ummoned a detective.

: “Stay with her,” Davis said. “In

the ambulance and at the hospital.

vies. Lacy Bell Dyel

28 : .

WITH THE DEAD BODIES OF TWO BEAUTIFU
GIRLS DEMANDING VENGEANCE, FLORIDA §

was the first victim in the double
murder. She was followed in death by her pretty sister.

SENSATIONAL DETECTIVE

Don’t leave her side for a minute.
If she regains consciousness she
may be able to tell us something.
“He turned back to Pearson. “We
should get some information. from
that fellow over there. In fact, he
ay be the killer.”
me pointed to a thin dark-hair-
éd man whose right hand was
wrapped in a red-stained hand-
-kerchief. The man had a dazed
expression on his face and seemed
unmindful of the fact that he was
in the custody of Patrolman Gus
Wrashe and Chief Deputy E.
Garner. Pearson and Davis walked
over to him. ben ‘3
“Well,” Davis said, “where’s the
ou used?” :
ouThe man shook his head. “Every:
body keeps asking me the sam
x 5 ew

do it.” ro
“Your name?”

“I’m George Clark. I live at ~
Manatee. I—I just came here on a
visit.” He stopped short; wiped his
hoist forehead.

“Go on from there,” Pearson said.
“I came to see Bertie—Mrs. Ber-
e Lee Clemonts, the blonde. We
vere in the kitchen, making sand-
wiches and coffee. Her sister, Mrs.
acy Bell Dyel stayed in the liv-
g room.: We were going to tell
her the food was ready- when we
heard voices at the door. Bertie
hought they might be some neigh-
bors and she asked me to invite
hem in, too. Then we heard loud
oices—like arguing. Bertie told me
o wait while she saw what was the -
matter. She went inside. Then I
heard two shots. I ran inside and
jaw the girls lying on the floor. It
t was horrible.” .

Clark stared at the stained spot
bn the floor where the blonde girl
ad beer lying. His face was.
awn; haggard. ‘ rt
Se on from there,” Pearson

- By GENE LaBONNE

“One man was holding a-gun.-
Phe other was standing near the
joor. I made a dive for the one
th the gun. He fired again and
t my hand. Then they both ran
ut and got into the Plymouth
the one standing at the curb.
hey couldn’t seem to get it start-

LOUISIANA POLICE TRACK DOWN KILLERS
WHO TALKED TOO MUCH AT WRONG TIME

€

, est home in Sarasota,
The moswsned the door to fate,

Florida,

~

thing. But I didn’t do it. I didn’t ed so they got out again and ran

down the street. I knew I couldn't
do any good following them. The
lights were on in a neighbor's
house so I ran over and told the
People what had happened. The
man telephoned the police.”
Pearson studied the man before
speaking. “These men you claim
did the shooting—what did they
— like?” :
e man.with the was
about 37. He had a inaiiache and

< was almost bald. The other was

“about 10 years younger. He was
about the same height but looked
heavier. He had dark hair—almost
black.” 3
‘“ Pearson nodded approvingly.
“You're being a big help to us,”
he said. “Now I want you to think
back and try to recall what all
the talking was about. Tell us
what the girls and the men said.”
Clark was silent fof a long min-
ute. Then he shook his head. “I’m
sorry,” he replied, “but I can’t re-
member a thing. It all came so
Suddenly and they talked so fast
—but I did catch the word, ‘talk.’
They repeated it several times.”
“That’s all you can tell us?”
Pearson asked. Ries
“That’s all.”
Chief Davis and two detectives
took Clark to headquarters for
further questioning. Identification
Officer F. E. Wiltz busied himself
on the stalled getaway car while

© beautiful

tw
where. the | murderer.

and to their brute

. tained guests and had no known-

* + being able to name the myrderer.

Sheriff Pearson remained indoors
to conduct the search for possible:
clues. ¢ seria

It was a waste of time and ef-
fort. And, questioning the neigh-
-bors huddled in groupg outside the
house, Pearson learned only that
the two young women were highly
respected, that they seldom enter- ~

enemies.

| meer but not satisfied, the
/@ sheriff hurried back to his of-
fice. He telephoned ‘the hospital “
and asked about Mrg: Dyel. The
doctor stated that her chances of
recovery were very slim. She had
not regained consciousness and her
pulse was rapidly growing weaker. ~ ‘
Pearson was about tq replace the ~~ -
receiver when the doctor exclaimed,
“Wait a minute! Hold on!”
There was a delay of several sec- °
onds. Then the answer came. .
“She died this minyte! Four 33
bullets were removed from her ~
back.” ‘ i Fi
» Pearson thanked him for the in- ~
formation and slowly cradled the
receiver. His face was a mask of
cold ae Instantly he
was on eet, hurrying tow
~the chief’s office. a = ite
Davis nodded to a chair as Pear- AG
son entered the room. “I just heard
a the hospital.” ©- S
“Yes,” Pearson said, “I heard, .
too. That’s why I’m here. A double —
murder. You can see what we're
up against.” He added quickly,
“We've got to work fast. Once the
reporters hear this—!t :

Bertie Lee Clements died without

dS *8Tq *oeTe *9¢ feqtum futqdeW *STAUVE

*SEb6T-LI-t (e9oseaesg)

Chief of Detectives John Grotsch, what disturbed, the receiver clamp

pews ‘was deep in thought, his’
ed to his ear. Pearson, at the other

pe ay Sey ners suarvoaeataa

pe upon a card lying on of New Orleans.

3 sk. The sheriff interrupted Davis ripped it open and read end of the wire, was telling him
is preoccupation. “What's worry- aloud. “Martin F. Jarvis, alias “that he had located the apartment
‘Ing you?” he asked. Whitey Rogers, and W. H~ Blair, house where Jarvis, -using h

: vis looked up with a start. alias Donald White, alias William Whitey alias, and his pal Bls
“Tiye. stumbled on something. It Adams, had both served time in had been rooming. Pearson had
es us 2 lead, but I-don’t know ~ Louisiana state pen. Both wanted seen the superintendent of the
ere. This card is from our files. now in connection with the robbery building who told him that the
; checks with a set of prints of the Dryades Branch of the Canal men had not checked out. How-

tz lifted. from the Plymouth. | Bank and Trust Company on Feb- ever on investigating they found
ey belong to a very nasty char- ruary 14, for $14,000. Am sending that they most certainly had skip
ter. I was. considering the usual .. photo of Blair, who is 25, weighs ped. There ‘also had been a woman
otives for -murder—unrequited 140 pounds .and is five feet and | with them known as Mrs. B
lpye, hate, revenge, fear and per- nine inches tall. Blue eyes, tattoo-* although the superintendent had

sonal gain. Xm just wondering ed on both arms. A marine en-) heard them call her Miss Todd. =
a of these fits in here.” Davis “Well, that certainly is amazin

: .. gineer.” ;
“fan his hand across his brow. a “A couple of nice boys. So they - news,” Davis declared. “Do you
Pearson waited x bought the car, and they have a ~- know if they had a young fello

| Davis picked up the card and © woman with them—and a lot cf with them at any time? I’ve just

--*Martin '+F. Jarvis, alias money!” Davis stated. “If we only * received word that they were seer

jtey Rogers. Age, ‘35—weight, knew how in blazes they got out in an Essex coach and a youn
50 pounds—height, five feet eight of here. Something went wrong chap was at-the wheel.” 2

d one-half inches. Scar over right.“ oa “Great Scott,” Pearson exclaim
eye and lower cheek.” He glanced ~ : ed, “another one? There mus
-up at Pearson: “Jarvis has quite a : a whole gang of them.” fon
record. He’s done time in Ten- . An alarm was immediately sen
hhessee and Louisiana pens,” he - out to be on the lookout for
explained. “I can’t understand how Essex coach with three men an
{mn heaven's name those two girls | | a woman in it. ‘

~ got mixed up with a no-good guy Davis wired New Orleans agai
like that. And why did he murder for information on a woman knows

‘them? Was it: love, robbery—or as Mrs. Blair or Miss Todd. La
~~ what?” pres - fs that night, weary and exhausted

~ =) Pearson stared in surprise. “Say Davis entered his office. He san
that is something. What about into his chair and resting his el

-~the-other fellow? Do the files show bows on the desk he saw the re
>» anything on him?” ; : port. he had been waiting for o

“\ +) ‘No, but I'm checking with the Mrs. Blair or Miss Todd. He picke

Nashville and New Orleans author- it up, tearing the envelope qui
-.. ‘ities. He may have been implicated She had recently sold a lot ¢
in those offenses too. I want every- property in New Orleans. They h
thing we can get on ‘this case. no record against her. She seem

. e’re going to need it,” he added to be okay.
- Doniye : i The following morning as he en

' yes.” Pearson admitted, “Mrs. Z se abhad te vise sate sh =

Dyel was our one hope.” Then as 3 S = d
an afterthought he added, \“Have — = s. grungy . a oe Pearson at the other end fair we
you heard anything about the Ply- vestigation o * val mystery. shouted into the mouthpiece. “I & Les Johnson oS ys g Frances Wilson.
with their getaway car. They  80t an idea. I'm going over to te » Det. nsf rttiams, Gord? .
Frances VV"

OF cde denier. We checked the ane couldn't just vanish in thin air. aupert My son lo Sing:
we mtd he soli! the eat to a meh ee whole police force out ™me up in his plane and I'm g¢
questioning everybody. I'm hoping ing to scour the road with a pa

~ named Blair. The man’s wife was , : sees
with Aim, She fyi bast for it, He {someone fas sen (hem. scme- of Hocutt. «ive \oving ae HERE WAS A WOMAN WHO ADMITTED THAT SHE
ae ~ ‘
KNEW HER FRIEND HAD BEEN MURDEROUSLY

too

took particular notice beeause she © "Ye. Pearson added, “and I've | Davis called back, “All right.
tell. ‘The man otk the car and © SS Sus force out blocking all keep someone close to the phon
; the roads. They can’t possibly get Let me know as soon as you fin

Ow, rain-freighted clouds scud-

d he would be back the next

day to . through.” something.” ded in i

Se i eine mt nope dteP atte Dons, Peund It Lane Beach, car ATTACKED. YET SHE WAS FOUND- SLEEPING.

a ful report came through. A man his father in a colusr-ovaster riGep aeee nae ito oe IN THE VICTIMS BED IT DIDN'T ADD UP
co eo 8 8 @

Blair could be the other man
had seen an Essex coach near the across the sun-scorched count@perts, cruisin:
po i es ee oe an scene of the crime. In it were two east of them, then toward € in radio car 910,
him.” Pearson suggested. “What men who fitted the description that everglades. Not seeing an A
, 4 ‘ had been broadcast. A young fel- they shot north toward Tamp

. Johnson kicked the foot-feed and b
: ox was num “ eg -
they f ied, thule eax baci the powerful car leaped ahead. son wheeled = gg er

about the dealer? He could be in
a low had been driving. They were thinking of turn ted into life. « Soon they we:

5 Fe OR deale ” Davis “Well,” Davis muttered. “Now we back when Pearson shouted to Hm the floor ae 2 "e158 Ai lying hills foreated arg yg nes een th a ee ae

. said. “He’s okay.” a, Rave a third man in the case. I son. “Say, do you see what I seegenue. . . .» tlantic These changed after a few min- e yard, two other police cars
} 7 e wonder—” he had the binoculars pressed tig? 4at’s in North Lo utes, to flat, thinly settled are meme Sirendy parked. A> ihe Ghee
| The door opened quickly and a The phone rang and Davis to his eyes, peering down ong@@lmed Roberts cane Beach!” of small truck farms and as they found Traffic Patrolmen Bob
messenger handed him a wire from pounced on it. He listened, some- (Continued on page 78) . Let's go.” our ter- fields. | green — _ Al Dufalt: of the

c 5 : rote On Atlantic Avenue a rural mail trolman ‘caoree “Webb” of North

e cate ee
ie are ae ued:

- 31


a cat, bis eyes blazing and his face
* contorted with fury. Fe
You cant pin anything on me,”
he snapped.

Jarvis-and Jeanne Martel were

_ hustled to New Orleans and’ the

Florida authorities were notified of
the capture.
Sheriff Pearson, Chiet of Police

ad Tilden Davis core Deputy Garner
<- lost no; time: reaching New
: say Jarvis von brought before

~ wen’ Jarvis, you better sing,”
- Pearson stated. “We have a lot
e 2 you—including the murder

of two Sarasota women.”
“You can’t touch me on that,”

» Jarvis sneered. “I was there, sure,

but Blair killed them. I didn’t.”
Pearson spoke tersely, “That's

* about ag thin as anything I’ve ever

heard, and I've heard plenty. We
have proof Jarvis, that you were
the one with the gun in your
hand.” { %

} Jarvis’ snapped back, “I didn’t
kill them! Blair and I did meet
them at a tavern one night. We

- both got tight and talked too much.

The next day Blair got to wonder-
ing about the dames. He was afraid
they would spill what we told them.

“So he killed them.”

“What were you afraid they
would spill?” Pearson asked quick-

‘Jarvis, not liking the idea of the

hot seat in Florida, confessed to

the Dryades Bank robbery. He said
they had bragged to the girls how
easily they got away with it. Then,
he said, the next day Blair got
panicky and shot them.

Brought to trial, Jarvis was sen-
tenced in the Orleans Parish Crim-

‘inal Court to 18-28 years.

June Gordon swore she knew
nothing of the murders. She was
Teleased after being reprimanded
for keeping bad company.

Clark and Stone also were proven
innocent of having anything to do
with the crime and were cleared.

Governor Sholtz of Florida be-
gan a fight for the surrender of
Jarvis. After a lot of legal haggl-
ing, he finally won the extradition
and Martin F. Jarvis was brought
back to Florida, There it was prov-
en that the cold-blooded murderer
was guilty. Knowing they had him,
Jarvis, under cross examination ad-
mitted his guilt.

He was convicted of the horrible
crime in May, 1933, and on April
11, 1935, he died in the electric
chair.

e

Editor’s Note: The names Stone,

‘Clark and Gordon, as used in this

story, are fictitious in order to pro-
tect the identity of innocent per-
sons and save them from all pos-
sible embarrassment, THE END

3 eta

Specia ice officer Arthur Ahearn “opened all 6 new locks at Brink's
with RA file to prove $1,500,000 robbers didn't need a master bye

Louis Arrighi (right), ship
in connection wi

“> Sohn Oravsky, 57, in Newark City Hospital aret reconciliation ot
with. prreoged aan didn't work. Police say he _ shot her, tried suici

ard joke. is hives as he was questioned by a3}

Toni Hughes (left), 29, and Helen Keller, 27, hug their attorney, Glenn
the bludgeon slaying of his wife, Angelina. ib

Lane, after a ies Angeles jury acquitted the girls of extortion charges.

NEW 14 Piece Sew-Easy
DOUBLE- DECKER
WORKBOX om T

Fitted For Every Sewing Need
Opens to put all sewing needs at fingertips! -
Thread, scissor, pincushion on “Top Deck”.
Thimbies, needie and threader in triple com-

| partment “Bottom Deck". You'll love DOUBLE-

DECKER WORKBOX KiT—sturdy red and white
plastic. See complete outfit in gift box, on FREE
10 Day Tricl SEND NO MONEY!
Send name and address, we ship COD for
$1.98 plus postage, or send. $2 and we ship
postpaid. Purchase price refund if not delighted.
SCOPE SALES CoRP., Dept. SK400A

1 Orchard St, New York City

part of your money

‘= tem years they
tain they wiitgws maney when they get back $4 for every $3 invested ia
U.8& Sevings Bomds.

They cat oxedy past of their pay each Why dent maving mosey
week in U. 4 Savungs Bonds acc

posecaney try peintymagnarrsiseatnd
Magnan Peewee Ame ee 8 we se eee

81


next to do, they saw Josephine
White emerge, . responding to
Mann’s stricken calls, The four —
fled in the darkness. .

All this the girls freely admitted. ;
Ray, however, denied the guilt of
murder. But he had constructed
the death weapon, and this was
considered premeditated. He had
struck Mann with the weapon. And

Rosie Leatherwood eventually lost
her extradition fight and was re- _
turned to Long Beach, where all
the girls were certified to juvenile
court. Her confession checked with
the others, and with one made
later by George Ray.

é All four declared the beating of
Mann was originally | planned by
George to “get even.” Mann had,

attorney, fought extradition.
t the others wiltingty returned to
ornia.
.George Ray admitted to burg-
“Mann’s house. But he
tained he was innocent of
urder, because he had merely
~ jnocked Mann down. During the
a p back to Long Beach the of-

thought a minute, then shook his j :
head. “No, somehow that doesn’t
click either. There’s something in
this affair that hasn't yet come
to the surface.”

_ to me as Mrs. Blair. French I think.

- Anyway she had a foreign accent.”

“An accent? That should help
to trace her. Did they tell you

_ how they would get the car back

_ to you?”

~~ “No, they said they would let me

ty

eee

cers obtained signed confessions
from Frances Williams and Frances
“The story portrayed a

a ernest havea ot wie bleh

pes and ended with a bloody
dnight carnival of death. © .

ee roduce Company. All had heard
of the hi
‘war ts. When , David Ray,
— of George, with his wife
d child, decided on driving out,
e others had’ come along.

y at Fargo’s truck farm. After
g that day, David and fami-

' ear that looked like an Essex coach
. standing in a service station: Doug
Swept. the plane: low and they saw
ne men and a woman get out of
e car, and get into-another one

“4 pad drive away, | Z
“>| Young - Pearson quickly landed

e plane at the nearest airport.

There the sheriff got in touch with
. the nearest authorities and had
. all roads blocked.

Pedfson borrowed a car and lost
no time getting to the garage.
On inquiring about the car, which
Was an Essex coach, he learned
that it belonged to the garagemen.
His wife and her two brothers had
left it there and had gone off in

larger car to visit her folks.

Not taking any chances, Pear-

son checked with the patrolmen
who were on the lookout for the
car. They had stopped the car and
the passengers were okay. The de-
scription of the occupants did not
fit those of the hunted men.
; Pearson, disgusted, hurried back
to his office to see if there were
any’new developments on the case.
; Deputy Herbert Kiessing, who
had come in from another case,
was waiting for him. When Pear-
Son told him about the Essex coach
his face lighted up with interest.

“I saw an Essex coach. It must

Wheel.”

Kiessing added quickly,

“|The four had become acquainted "
' while working at the Herndon

wages paid in Califor- ~-

Soha had Gus out ik: ee ened

; had driven on’ to Riverside to © §
- i ay with friends. This explained

> th Ford. Car. 4am While they were wondering what

they said, “cussed out” the girls

and ordered them: out of his house,
after inviting them to stay all

night.

The contoaniona “agreed that

George Ray constructed the death

weapon in the victim’s garage. Late

that night the quartet. purposely

made a commotion in the yard of
Mann’s home. When Mann rushed
outside to investigate, Ray struck
him with the pump and knocked
him down. But he continued to
thresh about and groan. Ray then
tied the victim’s hands with the

-red-checkered shirt and went in-

side to ransack the house.

A short time later, after having ©

ransacked the house, Ray came out.

“Harry’s a nice young chap, though.
I doubt if he would be mixed up
in a thing like this.” ~

Pearson grabbed his hat. “May-
be not,” he said, “but we’re going
to find out, and fast.”

Pearson punched the

buzzer came to the

door. Pearsoh got right to the

point and asked him about his car.

Harry looked from one officer to
the other but said nothing.

“You better talk, Harry,” Kiessing
advised. “Things look pretty bad
for you. I saw you in the car that
night.”

Harry gulped hard. “They said
they’d kill me if I told,” he cried
desperately. “Where’s my car? I
want my car!” Then he added,
“But please don’t tell them I told
you.”

“You haven’t told us anything
yet,” Pearson snapped. “We'll do
whatever is necessary to protect
you, but you’ve got to tell us every-
thing—and fast. Start from the
beginning. First of all, who are
those men?”

“Blair and Whitey. They hired
me sometimes as their chauffeur.
That night, on my way home, I
was driving on Cocoanut Avenue.
I saw them running down the
street. I stopped and asked what

their apartment. . Then they

‘

he had burglarized the house. He
— charged with' first degree mur-

- der.
Still pleading not guilty, on July
20th, 1945, George Ray was brought’
before Superior Court Judge Leslie ©
Still. The suspect conferred with

his attorney. If convicted by a jury,

he faced the possibility of death
in California’s lethal gas chamber.

Suddenly he heeded the advice

of his counsel and switched his

‘plea to one of guilty. Judge Still

considered the evidence, and sen-
tenced Ray to spend the rest o;
his life in San Quentin Prison. “~

His three girl gee were

immediately freed.
~ OTHE END GU 4,

wanted to borrow my car. They
had trouble with their own and
they had to get some place. By that
time I was sure something was
wrong, especially when they warn-
ed me not to tell anyone that they

“had borrowed my car. Later when
I found out what had happened, I~

was so, scared I haven’t left the
house since.”

“When you chauffeured for them.
did you ever take them to see
Mrs. Clemonts or Mrs.
Pearson asked.

me. Maybe it’s a good thing. They
would have rubbed me out, too.”

Harry stopped, his face rigid and
mask-like. He felt uncomfortable
under their keen eyes.

“Go on,” Pearson urged, “keep
right on talking. Why would they
rub you out if they had seen you
in the tavern?”

“I don’t know for sure, but when
they were riding in the back of my
car that night, they were speaking
very low. I could hear a few words
now and then. They were saying
something about the two women
and the tavern, as though there
was some connection.”

was planned.”

changed their mind and said they

Dyel?” as

“No, I never took them there, :
but I did see them together one —
night in a tavern. They didn’t see ©

é

Ying notified headquarters that he
* was storing a car that fit the de-

scription of their broadcast. It had
been left there two days previous.
Pearson and Garner raced to

_Sebring, 100 miles east of Sarasota.

After showing his badge, Pearson
questioned the garage owner.
“What were you supposed to do

_ with the car?” he asked.

.“Nothing. I' was told to keep it
‘here, in storage, until I heard from
‘them. The car they left in the
name of Stone, But I heard one
of them being called Blair. He’s
the one who bought a Chevrolet
from me. A 1932 model. There was
@ man and a woman with him. The
woman paid cash for*the car.”

After examining the stored car
for possible clues, Pearson phoned
headquarters. He described the
Chevrolet and issued orders that
all officers and troopers be notified
of the switch in cars. Ȣ

The officers at Sebring said they

‘would keep an eye on the Essex

and would let Pearson know of
any new developments.
On their way back to Sarasota,

been mixed up in the bank robbery

Cs

2 able to ferret out the suspects’
hideaway or pick up their trail.

“Finally, two nights later Garner
hurried into Pearson’s office. “The
woman with the accent,” he blurt-

“She called from Slidell, Louis-
called Stone and —

out to locate the Chevrolet.

UISING along the, road out-
side of Slidell they kept sharp

light on the license plate. “With

the right numbers, too!”

” Elliott quickly jammed on the
brakes and the officers leaped out.

They were walking around the
car cautiously when suddenly the
door of one of the cabins opened
and they heard hurried footsteps.
A woman’s voice, with an accent,
was shouting a warning to some-
one inside.

Rousseaux, spotting her, sprang
forward, clamped his hand over
her mouth and pushed her aside.
“Stay: out of sight or you'll get
hurt,” he advised roughly.

“What’s up!” Blair demanded
coming through the door with a
45 automatic drawn in readiness.
When he saw the officers he snarled
viciously and his automatic spat
twice.

Deputy Rousseaux answered the
shots and Blair crumpled to the
ground, dead.

The woman screamed, and El-
liott, who had been edging his way
to the cabin, had Jarvis cornered
as the latter came to the door
with a murderous 38 in his hand.

The Night Marshall's warning ex-
ploded in the air. “Stop where you
are, Jarvis, or I'll drill you full of

_ holes. Drop that weapon and put

have been around one o’clock that was wrong. They said nothing and <‘Well,” Pearson exclaimed, “that Pearson and Garner compared ~ your hands up.” The order was tn Business Since 1909 [Epee
,_ Right. It swished by me but I they climbed in my car quickly. tears it. So they did know the girls. notes and ideas about the case. crisp. 30,808 Satisied Castomers | BOOK
~ Tecognized Harry Stone at the They told me to drive them to This was no chance killing. This 4 “I wonder if the girls could have Jarvis, his glance murderous, THE NEWELL COMPARY

dropped his gun and moved like

_A MAGAZINE
FOR MALES .

on sale at your newsstand
now!

0° ¥99 STOP TOBACCO?

Banish the craving for tobacco as theusands
Pm ctaccaterd 20 with Lobacco Redeemer write for tree book
let lethng of imyurious effect of tobacco and
of 2 treatment which has reheved many men

107 Ciayten Sta., St. Louis 5, Me,
719


ef? / 7
VA Vil a fr Lowe
Vi L. Sled GY Heres
DI”
| for a Stave

43.709
FO

kee )gt2 So»


FIRST FLACTROGUTION
IN STATE'S NEW CHAIR

| Frank Vwuurne is Put to Death
Raiford for Murder of
acksonville ‘Engineer.

8 Wags

ORD, Fila. Oct. 1-(By the
cfated. Presd.)-—Frank Tagen

" d@hason. a a fire ae AB be
executed ty rtrocutivn {in Wiorkda
F with the act of | :


JOHNSON, Arthur,

black, hanged

at Gainesville, FL 7-

NEGRO SLAYER T0 of
HANGED HERE TODAY;

—— | PROTESTS INNOCENCE

Tork
being
ice. to

y hard
9 eight

'es the
arlton |!

——————_—— +

for the};

m Mel-
trustees
yids for
ly been

‘or the|
regard
yearn-

as, but

on ace].

Waldo,
e now
ig and
5 class
~from

| Road |:

.OD—
ERY-
CO.,

+f) the Putnam coutny jail where he had

Arthur Johnson Lays Blame on
Other Negro Present at the

Murder. me eu 3

Arthur Johnson, negro, will go to,
his death on the gallows here today
for the murder February 24 of BK. C.
Cross, young white employee of the
state road department maintenance
camp. Johnson will be hanged in the
yard of the county jail between 10)
a.m. and 2 p. m., legal hours for ex-

ecution in this state.
Johnson has calmly protested his |

innocence since he was convicted at

the spring term of circuit court here |
last month. Although two members of
his own race positively identified him
as the slayer of the young white
man. the negro declares he is inno-
cent of all guilt.

“I was there and I ought to serve
some time, ‘but I didn’t kill him,”
Johnson told Sheriff P. G. Ramsey in |
the presence of newspapermen.

Dan Watson, held as an accomplice |”
and who was released on an order of
Nolle Prosse following the conviction
of Johnson, is the man responsible for
the murder according to the condemn-
ed man.

Colored ministers have visited John- |
son every day in his cell at the coun-

nal wide

|
man and eight negroes.

ty jail. “I am ready to go,” the negro |

declared today, “but I hate to be |

hanged for something I didn’t do.”
Excited State Wide Interest.

~ Johnson’s arrest and subsequent

attempts to effect his removal from

een carricd for safe keeping excited!
interest. Less than a’ week
fter the murder a mob estimated at); °
approximately — fifty armed men
| stormed the Putnam county jail in!
Palatka, fired a number of shots into |
the structure and wounded Sheriff P.
|M. Hagan of that county. Nine
pare ile men were arrested and la-
ter free dof complicity in this attack.

Previous Hangings.
In the last twelve years there have
been nine hanged here, one white

In January 1910 R. H. Owens, a
white man was hung for the murder |
of two men.

In 1910 Brooks Foley, colored, was
hung for making a criminal assault
upon an aged negress near Archer.

In August, 1911, Fortune Perry and
his brother Cain, colored, were hung!
lfor shooting Deputy Charles Slaugh- |
ter and a companion named White |
iduring a raid on a skin game.

Tom Smith, colored, was hung in|
1913 for the murder of Dr. Spencer.

In 1914 Boysie Long, colored, was
hung for the killing of Deputy Geo.
Wynn.

On the 24th of February, 1922,
Brown Boyer, colored, was hung for
killing Deputy R. E. Anow.

Ther will be no more hangings in
Alachua county. All future cases of
‘capital punishrment will take piace
in the electric chair at Raiford.

aisle =|
|

Subscribe for

The Jacksonville Journal

Delivered by carrier

15 cents per week

Order now from

RE EAL J OY RI

*
Pee A CURE Ma RRO

y

x


= Geinsville, Pi ae _ {- eee

B hans:

4s ne a we

“Johnson Avthor,

yf ee ee gO mw WU wa waew

our eee

TH |GALMLY WITHOUT CONFESS! im Fr

rire president of uve |
eee of tlorida, will tour the
as representative of the local:
the jail: for farewell services and a Rotary club in the interest of the \
last good-bye to one of their Yacé Wiorida Educational Loan Corporation, .
who was to pay the penalty for one jas the Rotarians of the state are,
af the most brutal murders in the | conducting a drive to provide funds.
bo history of Alachua county. Prayers , for sending worthy young men thru’
FTER and songs were offered all during the college in this state, and have form-'
SPRUNG forenoon and shouting could be heard ed the loan corporation through ,
or some distance around the jail. ‘which it will be distributed. Dr. Mur- |,

: A Most: Dastardly Crime. | phree will be aecorhpanied by John’ 3

r50 A. M.!
| The crime for which Arthur John-; Turner of Tampa, vice president of

d at poe : | é
2 j/; |son was hung yesterday was said to International Rotary, '

e one of the most dastardly, | —
convicted

| state

h Smile’ “on
Ready -to

cold | c ao z
looded, murders known in this coun- ' WE KNOW THEY

y in years. On the night of F ebruary | | ENTENZ

ARE GOOD
5e EVERY_.
PFU CO;

¢

Ad

BATEY

yee

1 by De

ab ut fifteen
ebro asked

en Held at the
yon made|

ea fen,”

hake a sign by holding |

itcuit court
C. Cross,
uary 24th,

y hanging
as sprung
|pronounc-

reply to
uty Dun-)

i

he eet
say-

meet him

t
2
n
r
a
C
g
a
to this city from Abbany, Ga.,

| and it was while

han simply because the young man:
eprimanded him for brushing
gainst him on the street.
ross,
assin’s bullet had been married only
| short time, having recently moved
to take

a position with the State Road De-
sivieted, A - on the j Bartment.
~ w teferen e to hig!Short time after the murder, and car-

[ried to another jail for safe keeping
he was in the Put-'
good to nam county jail-that a mob stormed
the jail in an attempt to get him away
but were dispelled by the diligence of
Sheriff Hagan of that county.
sheriff was shot through the hand
during the encounter with the mob.

Johnson was arrested a

The

|The negro was then taken to Jack-

sonville where he was held until his
trial.
Florida’s
yers was appointed by Judge Long
| defend the negro. Col. Davis saw that

Col. Robert W. Davis, one of
most eminent criminal law-

r 10

4th he shot. to death a young white: | WHERE.
| DISTRIBUTORS.

{
i

Young
who was the victim of the as-'

a

(7.2248)

the Bop,

STOPPED HIS PAINS

“T was suffering with a severe cold,

j
e
Ge
{
1
i:

| !

+
J

t

\

heacache, backache, and pains in my ;f

b

abdomen,” writes J. B. Dring,
Re i. “After taking
and Tar

YOrt,
Horey
Folev
lv relieved of Miy Cold and pains.”
Couhs resulting from

Asthma, Hay Fever, Croup

and:

_Whocping Cough are quickly reliev-'

ed with Foley’s Honey and Tar.

Soid everywhere.

and sentenced by Judge Long to hang.
the date having been set by Governor.
Hardee.

'

i

The!
largest selling cough medicine in the |,
i AWW orld

oa
The hanging of Johnson yesterday!
marks the end of capital punishment |

by hanging in this county.

tric chair will be substituted Biter!

n and bid

dis ‘and whos
i Oi: toda

ae for Vio}

pgro sekv-

sentence
Ay, stating

ating the! § .

Negro had been|very kind |f -  WHAT’S THE USE
ye he had bee confined i
4 | j Killing yourself—-or allowing washerwomen
i ie with | | to ruin your clothes? Follow out
Hated “Wav ne his | a! oh De" UWE PRIRT CA CREST PS ANRarc ip a i SARTO aE

it hands, Alniost evéry he was offered a fair and impartial | January - 1, 1924 and all prisoners con- |
pena. by While the, trial, witnesses were summoned and: victed of murder wil be sent to Rai-
oe a jury impaneled. He was convicted ford for execution by electrocution. |,
ahd eae costae Ps at PC AER esheets oahtereaged iooeapmree tarersoort ain

The elec-|

New- :
Foley’s |.
in conjunction with).
Cathartic Tablets I was entire-:

Bronchitis, | |

uv Wi

1 by by

WILL
, JOB
OUSE

Preaident

-agages to
norrow on

unemploy-
1ediate ac-

gram calls
19 ‘fe in
ork re-
yns ui the
1 will'‘be a
proposition
trol with a
> value of

it the Capl-
ident assur-
arty majori-
‘fll work for
ent of both

1 relief plan,
je price fix-
ovision§ for
i scale of
e them out

(ILL
‘ARM
UESTS

al insurance
ed in charge
ans’ through
nance Corpo-
and farmers
‘ir crops for
nhtatn their

‘e . rize Winners: —
ual Flower Show ©

Garden Club

Sweepstakes es Award is Won
By Miss Mae LaDue; |
Mrs. Cummer Second |

Miss May LaDue, member of the
Bignonia circle of the Sarasota Gar-
den club, was the winner of the
sweepstakes prize in the club’s
third annual flower show now un-
derway atthe Mira Mar auditorium,
it was announced today by Mrs. E.
W. Pinkham, general chairman.
The show will cloge tonight at 10
o’clock. . \
Miss LaDue, with a total of 53
points, will receive the Paul Re-
vere silver bow] donated by Mrs.
Pinkham. The bowl was won last
year by Mrs. A. E. Cummer.
Runners-up for the sweepstakes
prize, open only to Garden club
members, and the points obtained
by each one follow: Mrs. A. E.
Cummer, 4114; Mrs. Fred Albee, 34;
Mrs. J. B. Cousins, 26; Mrs. Ralph
Caples and Mrs. Joseph Alexander,
tie, 21 points each; Mrs. James
Pratt, 1914; Mrs. E. W. Pinkham,
18%; Mrs. Allen Clarke, 18; Mrs.
William Selby, 16; Mrs. John Bur-
ket, 11; Mrs. Walter Frauenheim,
7; Mrs. H. J. Goodman, Mrs. A. E.
Hall, Mrs."Joseph Halton, each 6;
Mrs. Francis Corrigan, Mrs. F. Ss.
Hodge, Mrs. Floyd Zfegler, Mrs.
George D. Lindsay, Mrs. A. B.
Smith, Mrs. W. R. Powe, Mrs.
Lewis Cadwell, Mrs. Watson Phil-
lips, Mrs. Arthur Goclo, Mrs. John
Horigan, each 5; Mrs. Harry Clark,
Mrs.. W. H. Donaldson, Mrs. Solon
Gillette, each 3; Mrs. Clyde 8S. Ford,
1%; Mrs. Thomas Reed Martin, 1;
Mrs. E. A. Smith, %.
Attractive special prizes were
awarded by the Garden club in ad-
dition to the seals, W. F. Smidt
carried off the men’s prize, a ciga-
rette case, for Class 67. Handsome

vases and flower containers wera

Envoy To Paris

Jesse Isadore Straus, New York
merchant, was named ambasgador
to France by President Roosevelt.
(Associated Press Photo)

STOCK MARKET
PRICES MOUNT
IN NEW DEALS

NEW YORK—C#)—Back from
banking wars,. security markets
received an enthusiastic welcome
in Wall Street today.

Stocks whirled from $1 to $7 in
a strong, active opneing and clung
tenaciously to top prices as trad-
ing wore on, aithough
slackened appreciably.

Bonds mado a bid for promi-
pence, but thelr advance relative-
hy subdued. Most of the leading
commodity markets, notably the
New York/Cotton Exchunge and
the chicagh Board of Trade’s grain
pits, will not resume until tomor-
row.

Old time favorites of the stock
mkrket, such as United States
Steel, American Telephone, Ameri-
can Can, Dupont,-General Motors,

Abana Anna OW at Naw Tareeav Pann.

volume

GOVERNOR MAY™
OFFER REWARD
IN MURDER CASE .

Many New Angles in Double
Killing |Here, Are - Un-
P covered by Officers

Descninitenssisingsitilpeiniiciamns

Developments in the double mur
der of Berti¢ Lee Clements, 23,
and her sister, Lacey Bell Dyel,
30, who were killed in their home
on Twenty-fourth street late Sun-
day night, thew thick and fast to-
day. They ron

1. Appeal | to Governor Dave
Sholtz for the posting of a rewar@

for the apprehension of the two

alleged killers, Martin: F. Jarvis,
and John ©

lallas “whitey” Rogers
Blair.

2. Revelation that the two men,
sought by omeers for the murders,
were picked up a
street and Cécoanut avenue, a few
minutes after the killings, by Eu-
gene “Pete” Bridges and taken over

a circuitous jroute to their apart-

ment on Madison avenue.

3. Revelation that Blair was clad
only in an undershirt and both men
were holdin
in their hands at the time Bridges
ana them up.

. Sheriff’sjofficers learned that a
Sei known as Mrs. Blair and

sald to be formerly a Miss Todd .

from New Orleans, had_ recently
sold some property in that city and
at the time she is alleged to have
left here in the company of Jarvis
and Blair had upwards of $7,000 in
cash in her possession.

5. It. was learned that two hours
after the oe the two men re
turned to their Madison avenue
apartment and picked up Mrs. Blair
and their be longings.

. 6. The release from jail of James
T. Douglas, 24, Manatee, apparently
the only eye witness to the shoot-
ing, who was phot in the hand and
left for dead} by the kfflers. He is
under orders of Assistant State’ a
Attorney Kirk to not leave his
home, pending disposition of the
case,

7. Officers|learned that after the
shootings Hridges was promised
$150 for his Essex cdach, 1927
model, which was apparently useé
in the ) Betas ay,

Twenty-third —

revolvers or pistols /

™~

¢ EL/

‘Chair’ Praying |
| RAIFORD, "april n- ® —

‘praying quietly for “forgiveness” |

\
‘put without leaving & confession, ;

‘Marvin I. Jarvis, died in the el-
ectric cnair at the state prison,
farm today for killing Lacy Bell
‘Dyal, one of two slain sisters, in
‘Sarasota, two years ago. |: |
' “Ag calm & man as ever did g°
‘in, was the epitaph guards gave
| |

pana :
tive or friend was among

No rel
ithe twelve witnesses and the’ body ,

‘remained unclaimed late today. |

\ : ‘ i

SUN, Gainesville, FL 4/12/1935 qt 5
2/1929tpage |

eae meee

Madam Secretary

asad — --

Frances Perkins, secretary of ta
bor, leaves the White House after
a conference with President Roose-
velt. (Assoclated Press Photo)

HIGH SCHOOL

SCALES DOWN

TUITION FEES

Parents who have had more than
one child attending Sarasota high
school can continue sending their
children under the tuition plan on
a graduated cost scale, according
to a plan announced today by A. T.

Weaver, principal.
Mr. Weaver nald tho teachers had

decided to charge the first student
at the regular rate of $5 per month,
whife_for each additional member
of re family, it will be $1
less—swat is, two for $9, three for
$12, four for $14, and five for $15.
The above figures, Mr. Weaver
‘pointed out, are only applicable
where the same parent {fs paying all
the tuitions. He explained that a
number of pupil’s tuftions are being
paid by? different citizens who are

ahitdawan in tha tInenl

YOUTH DROWNS
IN ATTEMPT 10

SWIM “MIAKKA’

Clarence Tatum, Son of Late
Riley Tatum, Presumably
Victim of Cramps

Clarence Tatum, about 23 years
old, son of the late Riley Tatum,
was drowned late yesterday after-
noon while swimming In the Myak-
ka river about one-half mile north
of the Sugar Bowl road, near the
Graham Easterling camp at a place
in the stream about 100 fect wide,
presumably the victim of cramps
which are thought to have selzed
him while near the middle of the
river.

According to Preston Rawls and
Nick -Ridley, jr., who were swim-
ming with him, slightly in the ad-
vance, Tatum was swimming with

one hand, holding a package of
cigarettes tightly clutched in the
other when he wasn soon to go

down. The others made every pos-
sible effort to reach him but were
unsuccessful, it was reported.

The sheriff's office was notified
and Chief Deputy Sheriff E. A.
Garner and Deputy Sheriff Robert
Smith went to the scene of the
drowning and assisted in dragging
the stream with selnes and other
available equipment. A call was
sent into the sheriff's office and
Deputy Sheriff Herbert Kiessling,
with a boat, oars and_= grappling
hooks, along with Captain Ben
Seale and a group of Sarasota Sea
Scouts rushed to the scene but the
body had been recovered.

H. H. Rawls, said to be ar “cle
of young Tatum, located the Jody
with a small fish hook and line.

The victim, whose father was
killed {fn an automobile accident in
Ohio several months ago, was one
| of a family of several brothers and
sisters. His mother also survives.
Funeral arrangements, in charge of
Thacker and Van Gilder, had not
been completed today.

CITIES CAN’T TAX
UNBENEFITTED LAND}:

TALLAHASSEE—(?) —Taxation
by cities of unoccupied and unim-
proved lands brought within city
limits in boom days and which
have not and do not now receive
benefits of city property was’ held
unconstitutional in an opinion by
the state supreme court. The opin-
ion was written by Justice Whit-
field in deciding quo warranto pro-
ceedings brought by taxpayers
against the city of Avon Park.
Although agreeing. with the tax-
payers’ contentions, the court held
thoy had failed to scek the proper
legal remedy and declined to order
their property released from city
jurisdiction. It was pointed out,

however, that the taxpayers could
aniatn tha oelty from imposing 1I-

To

Be French paroy

TAPE Le

| | Andre Lefebvre de ta Boulaye
{above), personal friend of Frank-
Mn D. Roosevelt, will be named am-
bassador to Washington to succeed
Paul Claudel. (Associated Presse
Photo)

FLORIDA CHAIN
STORE TAX IS
RULED Ih INVALID

|
|
|
{
|

s/kanusaron=linatss Flor-
ida chain store tax was declared in-
valid today by the supreme court in
the case brought by the Louls K.
Liggett company and others. Jus-
tice (Roberts delivered the opinion.
| The court has upheld taxes on
chai stores in several states and
oberts said the Florida tax would
ae been upheld had it not pro
vided for distinctions as to counties.
The Glass bank roform bill was
efetred by the senate banking com-
{ttee to a subcommittee. The
banking committee also decided to
continue its investigations of the
Kev York Stock Market.

TOURISTS AME
SPE

air of Men Kill -
isters in Home;
Flee after Crime -

Slayings Take Place in Home ,

On 24th Street; Search.
Spreads Over State —

known here as
ements, 23, and
el, 30, were kill.
ed shortly before midnight last |
night in what/ sheriff’s officers
and police describe as the most.
cold-blooded double-murder on
record and officers all over the
state are seeking the alleged
killers, known|/as Martin F. Jar-
vis, allas “Whitey” Rogers and
another man/| known only as
“Blair” who stole a car belong-
Ing to Eugenp “Pete” Bridges
and escaped.
The two wo
{n their home/on ‘I'wenty-fourth
street just off Cocoanut avenue with
a gun thought fo have been in the
hands of Jarvis! alias Rogers. The
younger one was killed instantly,
four bullets lodging in her body,
while her sister died at a local bos-
pital about 6 ojclock this morning
following an emergency operation.
Details of the shooting coming
from various sources differ to some
extent but it ia generally assuined
that the two mien had been dripk-
fing and had cajled at the home of

Two sisters
Bertie Lee C
Lacey Bell O

uglas, 24, Manatee,
home at the time
of the shooting, told a Herald re-
porter today pt the county fail
where he was being held as &@ ma-
terial witness} and being given
treatment for al bullet wound in the
left hand, the bullet having passed
through his thymb, that the shoot-
ing started almost without notice.

Douglas said)that he was In con-
versation with, the Clements wo-
man, with whom he had been keep-
ing company ‘for several months,

house and began an argument with
the Dyel woman. The younger Wo
man went into the front room warn-
ing the two men to “pipe down” but
the responsé fo this admonition
was a fussilade of shots that down
ed the women/and wounded Doug-
las who sald |he was in such &
“tight spot” that he could do noth-
ing, expecting) any second to be
killed. :

the two men
ing simply that the “guy in the
brown sult” b
belleved to ha
or .38 caliber.
After the shooting quieted down

e been of either 32

ay

n were shot ao

when the twg mon entered the-

He was uncertain as to which of
{d the shooting say- |

the pistol which is |

\

L


or .38 caliber. |:

E After the shooting quieted down
| Douglas ran tp his car, parked in
front of the house, and started to
crank. it when! he heard what he
supposed to @ gun svappiog on
an empty cyli ders He then rus
to-another house some distance
away, where he found Ted Lewis,
local young n, to whom he re
lated the situation,

Lewis -took| Douglas in his cir
and rushed td the Palmer bank
whore he f und Patrolmen. Gus
Wrashe and Fred: Walker who re
turned to thp honle where they
found the Clements woman. dead
and the Dyel woman _ mortally
wounded.

Lewis said that when he arrived
at the house,|‘shortly after the of
ficers, he found the dead womas
lying on the floor, near the foot of
a bed with her head under a chair,
on her back.|! The. sister was alsc
lying on the
Patroiman ’ (
er and Van Gilderambulance,whict -
took the wofinded woman ‘to. tht
hospital. ||

Dr. O. H. Cribbins, Dr. J. HE. Har
ris and Dr. Aj/O. Mortan performe |
an emergency operation, Wik
they were pyéparing for: the
ery the wom n talked at times an
although watnéd that. she, was i
; tion she refused: t
make a statement, Dr. Cribbin |
said today. The surgeons did every .
hing possidip.to save her life bu -
‘ghé ied at 5jo’clock, it: was said.;,

been at sae (
evening and| it: was: thought. tha ~
they were é ‘ the. time: ry (
y iti was ‘al t, thats. Bot!

SPena i ACantln ied Say ghage tweed 7:

wy ee fey: ee, ' waite
4 .


‘atignting they found that they
ost certainly had skipped. There
so had been a woman with them
10wn as Mrs. Blair, although the
iperintendent had heard them
ul her Miss Todd.

“Well, that certainly is amazing ©

ows,” Davis declared. “Do you
1ow if they had a. young fellow
ith them at any. time? I’ve just
‘ceived word that they were seen
‘ an Essex coach and a. young
lap was at the wheel.”

“Another one?” Pearson exclaim-
. “There must be a whole gang
them in on this.”

An alarm was immediately sent
it for officers to be on the lookout
r an Essex coach with three men
id a woman in it. ;

Davis wired New Orleans again
r information on a woman
1own as Mrs. Blair or Miss Todd.
tte that night, weary and ex-
wsted, Davis entered his office

left it there and had gone off in
his larger car to visit the folks.
Not taking any chances, Pearson

checked with the patrolmen who’

were on the lookout for the car.
They had stopped the car and the
Passengers were O. K. The descrip-
tion of the occupants did not fit
those of the hunted men. ©

Pearson, disgusted, hurried back
to his office to see if there were
any new developments on the case.

Deputy Herbert Kiessing, who.
had come in‘ from’ another case,
was waiting for him. When Pear-
son told him about the Essex coach
his face lighted up with interest.

“I saw an Essex coach. It must
have been around one o'clock that
night. It swished by me but I rec-
ognized Harry Stone at the wheel.”
Kiessing added quickly, “Harry's a
nice young chap, though. I doubt
if he would be mixed up in a thing
like this?”

The killer's last visit to. Florida ended at the State Prison, shown above. The

they climbed in my car quickly,
They told me to drive them to
their apartment. Then they
changed their mind and said they
wanted. to borrow my car. They
had tfduble with their own and
they had to get someplace. By that
time I was sure something was
wrong, especially when they warn-
ed:me not to tell anyone that they
had borrowed my car. Later when
I found out what had happened,

I was so scared I haven't left the

house since.”

“When you chauffeured for them,
did you ever take them to see Mrs.
Clemonts or Mrs. Dyel?” Pearson
asked.

“No, I never took them there,

‘but I did see them together one

night in a tavern. They didn't see
me. Maybe it’s a good thing. They
would’ have rubbed me out, too.”

Harry stopped, his face rigid and
mask-like. Hé felt uncomfortable

walled building indicated. by arrow houses the death cells and electric chair.

d found the report on his desk.
der the name of June Gordon:
2 had recently sold a lot of prop-
yy in New Orleans. They had no
cord against her. She seemed to
O. K:

Che following morning, with his
1 acting as pilot, Sheriff Pearson
arted a plane in a final effort
locate the elusive Essex sedan.
-resently they were taking a
ler-coaster ride from east to
st and then shot north toward
mpa, Discouraged,: they were
sut to turn back when Pearson
»ped his son’s shoulder and then
nted downward. A car resem-
ag an Essex coach was parked
wa service station. Pearson’s
1 swooped the plane low and
‘y saw two men and’ a woman

out of the car, climb into an- -

ier one and drive away.

7oung Pearson quickly landed
: plane at the nearest airport.
ere the sheriff got in touch with
: nearest authorities and had
roads blocked.

’earson borrowed .a car and lost
time in getting to the garage.
inquiring about the car, which
3 an Essex coach, he learned
t it belonged to the garageman.
3 wife and her two brothers had

Pearson grabbed his hat, “Maybe
not,” he said, “but we're going to
find out, and fast.”

wus Pearson punched the
buzzer, Harry came to the
door, Pearson got right to the
point and asked him about his car.

Harry looked from one officer to
the other but said nothing. “You
better talk, Harry,” Kiessing ad-
vised. “Things look pretty bad for
you. I saw you. in the car that
night.”

Harry gulped hard. “They said.
they’d kill me if I told,” he cried
desperately. “Where’s my car? I
want my car!” Then he added,
“But please don’t tell them I told
you.” ;

“You haven't told us anything
yet,” Pearson snapped. “We'll do
whatever is necessary to protect
you but you’ve got to tell us every-
thing—and fast, Start from the be-

ginning. First of all, who aré those
men?”

“Blair and Whitey. They hired
me sometimes as their chauffeur.
That night, on my way home, I
was driving on Cocoanut Avenue.
I saw them running down the
street. I stopped and asked what
was wrong. They said nothing and

under their keen eyes,
“Go on,” Pearson urged, “keep
right on talking. Why would they

rub you out if they had seen you |

in the tavern?”

“I don’t know for sure, but: when
they were riding in the back of
my’ car that night, they were’
speaking very low. I could hear a
few .words now and then. They
were saying something about the
two ‘women and the tavern, as

though there was some connec-

tion.”

“Well,” Pearson exclaimed, “that
tears it. So they did know the girls.
This was no _chance killing. This.
was plann

“Did you ever see a woman with
them?” Kiessing ask
\ “Sometimes. She was introduced
to me as Mrs. Blair. French I
think. Anyway she had a foreign
accent.”

“An accent? That pen help to
trace her. Did they tell you how
they would. get the car back to
you?” F ,

“No, they said they would let me
know, They scrammed pretty fast
and I wasn’t anxious to spend too -
much time with them.”

“You’re sure that’s
know?” Pearson asked.

all you ,

“Yes, and if they ever find out

Pearson and Kiessing held whis-
pered conversation.

When, they turned back to Har-

ry, Pearson said, “We won't take
you back with us to headquarters.
We'don’t want the killers to know
that we contacted you. So go about
‘your. business as usual and let us

know if and when you hear from

*‘them.” He removed a small pad
and pencil from his pocket. “Now,
_ let’s have the full description of
your car and your license plate
number.” -

Back in his office, Pearson sent
several officers to keep a close
watch on Stone. Wires and calls
were relayed to all points. Radio
stations WFLA at Clearwater and
WDAE at Tampa were used to
broadcast descriptions of the. crim-
inals'and the car. .

Finally, four days after the mur-
der, a garageman-at Sebring, no-
tified headquarters that he was
storing a car that fit the descrip-
tion of their broadcast. It had been
deft there two <ays previous.

Pearson and Garner raced to Se-
bring, 100 miles east of Sarasota.
.After showing his badge, Pearson
questioned the garage owner.
“What were you supposed to do
with the car?” he asked.

“Nothing. I was told to keep it
here, in storage, until I heard from
them. The car they left in the
name of Stone. But I heard one
of them being called Blair. He's
.the one who bought a Chevrolet.
from me. A 1932 model. There was
a man and a woman with him.
The woman paid cash for the car.”

“Two days!” Pearson rubbed his

, forehead, “in a Chevrolet that no

one would bother to. stop. This

woman—did she have an accent?”

The man thought a moment.
“Yes. French or Spanish or some-
thing.

After examining the stored car
for possible clues, Pearson phoned
headquarters. He described the
Chevrolet, issued orders that all of-
ficers and troopers be notified of
the switch in cars.

The officers at Sebring said they
_ would keep an eye on the Essex
* and would let Pearson know of any

new developments.

On their way back to Sarasota,
Pearson and Garner compared
‘notes and ideas about the case.
What puzzled them the most was
the motive. Why were the two
‘women murdered? Suddenly Pear-
son’s face lighted up.

“I wonder if the girls could have
“been mixed up in the bank robbery
in New Orleans? That verbal quar-

*“rel—and the word ‘talk’. There
must be some ‘connection.” He
thought a minute, then shook his
head, “No, somehow that doesn’t
click either. There’s something in
this affair that. hasn’t yet come
to the surface.”

- Back at. Sarasota, Pearson
thought they ‘should put a double
guard on Harry Stone, They just
weren’t getting anywhere. The
trusted officers, who were called
upon in the emergency were unable >
to ferret out the suspects’ hide-
away or pick up their trail.

Finally, two nights later, Garner
hurried into Pearson’s office. “The
woman with the accent,” he blurt-
ed. “She called from Slidell, Louisi-

(Continued on page 24)


RDINARILY, the neighbor-

hood around Twenty-fourth

Street and Cocoanut Avenue
in suburban Sarasota is peaceful
and quiet. Residents of the sparse~-
ly settled area are, for the most
part, elderly couples who came to
Florida’ to escape the rigors of
blustery northern winters.

Thus it was something of a sur-
prise to Sheriff C. B. Pearson when
Deputy Herbert Kiessing routed
him from bed on the sweltering
hot night of March 12th, to re-
port that two women had been
riddled with bullets in their little

| four-room bungalow on tree-lined |

Twenty-fourth Street.

Slipping quickly into his clothes,
Pearson checked his wristwatch
‘and saw it was a few minutes after
_midnight. Before leaving he awak-
ened his son, Deputy Doug Pear-

son, and told him to notify the -

Sarasota Hospital and Chief of
Police Tilden Davis. ~

Ten minutes later he braked out-
side the brightly lit bungalow and
alighted. A Plymouth stood near-
by. The tableau that met his eyes
as he entered the house rooted him
on the threshold. A curvaceous
blonde, becomingly garbed in a
form-fitting black satin dress, lay
sprawled face up on the living
room floor. An ominous red stain
extended from a breast wound to
an ever-widening pool of blood on
the highly polished floor.

Several feet away, in a doorway,
was the body of a second woman,

24

LH ith the

WA!

FRENCH
ACCENT

an attractive brunette. Both ap-
peared to be in their late 20s, and
each bore a striking resemblance
to the other. Framed in the door-
way near one of the brunette’s
outstretched arms was a burly,
grim-faced patrolman.

“What’s the story, Gus?” asked
Pearson, recognizing Officer August
Wrashe.

“TJ was standing in front of the
Palmer Bank when this guy comes
running up to me,” said the officer.
“He’s as white as a sheet and all
out of breath. He tells me two
women have just been shot in the
bungalow, so I come running. When
I saw he was telling the truth, I
called you.”

“where is he now?”

Wrashe nodded to the kitchen.
“He’s in there, waiting to be ques-
tioned.”

Sheriff Pearson found a tall,
good-looking young man in his
early 20s sprawled in a kitchen
chair. He looked up as Pearson
entered.

“what’s your name, son?” ask-

‘ed Pearson.

“Albert Henson. I live over on
South Florida Avenue.” k
“who are the women in there?”

“They're sisters. The blonde is-

Mrs. Bertie Lee Clements. She’s
about 28 years old. The other one,
the brunette, is Mrs. Lacey Bell
Dyel and she’s about three years
older than her sister. They’re both
divorcees.” es .

“Do they live here alone?”

pa

Who was the beautiful

brunette? More important,
who “was the wild-eyed
man with her? "If he's
who we think he is" said
Det. Davis, "catching him
won't be easy. He's stir-
wise and knows each and
every trick in the book. Oh

_ no, he is one smart cookie!”

¥

“by Charles
lL Burgess:

APRIL- (45

0

' beautiful
important,
wild-eyed

? “If he's
1e is" said

itching him
He's stir-

s each and
e book. Oh
rt cookie!"

les
MBess

* Sheriff Pearson wrote down the
*. descriptions and returned to the
parlor. He found a white-jacketed |

interne completing a cursory ex-
amination of the two women. “The
blonde is dead,” he announced.
“The brunette is still breathing
but I wouldn't give a plugged
nickel for her chances. They were
both shot four times.” _-

S two attendants gently eased
the brunette into the waiting
ambulance, Chief of Police Tilden
Davis arrived with several of his

men. Trailing behind them was
Identification Officer Frank E.
Wiltz. ‘

Apprised of the situation, Davis
instructed one of his men to ac-
company the ambulance to the
hospital. “She may come to long
enough to identify the gunmen,”
he said, “so stick close to her bed-
side.”

_ Questioned further, Henson said
he was certain that robbery was
not the motive for the attack. He
revealed that the sisters’ maiden
name was Morey, and that they

s

‘ had come from Camilla, Georgia.
‘They had been separated from
their husbands for several years,

and had, until recently, been em-+
ployed as salesgirls in a downtown
department store.

The officers agreed that the time
element was becoming an increas-
ingly important item in the case.

As a result, Chief Davis left for-

headquarters to begin erecting a

Marie Dubois was a tall curvaceous
wench working .in the Vieux Carre
as _a singer. One night, it seems,
he'd dropped in, asked her to his
table for a drink, admired her
charms. From then on it was murder.


his car was in Sebring. That’s all
she said. I traced the call.”
Pearson immediately got in
touch with the Slidell authorities.
Night Marshal John R. Elliott, of
Slidell, and Deputy of Tammany
Parish, Harvey A. Rousseaux, set

out immediately to locate the

Chevrolet.

RUISING along the road out-
side of Slidell they kept sharp

eyes on all cars. They slowed down.

as they approached a tourist camp.
Suddenly Rousseaux said, “Look, a
Chevrolet sedan.” He flashed his
light on the license plate. “With
the right number, too!”

Elliott quickly jammed on the
brakes and the officers leaped out.

“Now watch yourself,” Rousseaux

advised. “These guys are bad medi-

cine, with a mile-long record
against them,
Keep your eyes peeled.”

They were cautiously walking
around the car when ‘suddenly the
door of one of the cabins opened
and they heard hurried footsteps,

A woman’s voice, with an accent, |

was shouting
one inside. .

“Watch it!
she screamed. :

Rousseaux, spotting her, sprang
forward, clamped his hand- over
her mouth and pushed her aside.
“Stay out of sight or you'll get
hurt,” he advised roughly.

“What's up!”
coming through the-deor’with a
45 automatic drawn in readiness.
When he saw the officers he snarl-
ed viciously and his automatic spat.
twice.

Deputy Rousseaux answered the
shots and Blair crumpled to the
ground, dead. ;

The woman screamed, and Elli-
ott, who had been edging his way
to the cabin, had Jarvis: cornered
as the latter came to the door with
a murderous 38 in his hand.

The Night Marshal’s warning
exploded in the air. “Stop where
you are, Jarvis, or I'll drill you full

a warning to some-
Somebody’s here!”

of holes. Drop that weapon and.
put your hands up.” The order was -
crisp. ;

Jarvis, his glance murdefous,
his gun and moved like a
cat, his eyes blazing and his face
contorted with fury.
“You can’t pin anything on me,”
he snapped.
Jarvis and June Gordon were
hustled to New Orleans-and the
Florida authorities were notified of

But, no matter how shopworn it

has become from repetition, it is
still true that an ounte of preven-
tion is worth a pound of cure. It
is far easier to keep a child from
becoming a criminal than it is to
reform him afterwards,

Curiously enough, it is the police’
“actuated only by desire to keep

who, in recent years, have recog-
nized this and taken the most ac-
tive part in the prevention fight.

In days gone by both uniformed
officers and detectives were looked

24

wre ad

murder included. ©

Blair, demanded .
. nothing of the murders. She was

the capture. t

Sheriff Pearson, Chief of Police
Tilden Davis and Deputy Garner
lost no time in reaching New Or-
leans. Jarvis was brought before
them, ,

“Well, Jarvis, you better. sing,”

Pearson stated. “We have a lot -

against you—including the murder
of two Sarasota women.”

“You can’t touch me on that,”
Jarvis sneered. “I was there, sure,
but Blair killed them. I didn’t.”

Pearson spoke tersely, “That’s

* about as thin as anything I’ve ever

heard, and I've heard plenty. We
have proof, Jarvis, that you were
the one with the ‘gun in your
hand.” oes
‘Jarvis snapped back, “I didn’t
kill them! Blair and I did meet
them at a tavern one night. We

both got tight and talked too.

much. The next day Blair got -to
wondering about the dames, He
was. afraid they would spill what
we told them. So he killed them.”

“What were you afraid they
act spill?” Pearson asked quick-
ly. . > Negi

Jarvis, not liking the idea of the
hot seat in Florida, confessed to
the Dryades Bank robbery. He said

. they had bragged to the girls how
. easily they got away with it. Then,

he said, the next day Blair got
panicky and shot them. '
Brought to trial, Jarvis was sen-
tenced in the Orleans Parish
Criminal Court to 18 to 28 years.
June Gordon swore she knew

released after being reprimanded
for keeping bad company. .
Clark and Stone also, were prov-
en innocent of having anything to
do with the crime and were clear-
ed. AE pate
Governor Sholtz of Florida, be-
gana fight for the surrender. of
Jarvis. After a lot of legal hag-
gling, he finally won the extradi-
tion ahd Martin F. Jarvis was
brought: back to Florida. There it
was proven that. the cold-blooded
murderer was guilty. Knowing they
had him, Jarvis, under cross ex-

amination admitted his guilt. «

He was convicted of the horrible
crime in May,. 1933, and on April
2, 1935, he died in’ the electric
chair.

_Editor’s Note: The names Stone,

Clark and Gordon, as used in this
story, are fictitious in order to pro-
tect the identity of innocent per-
sons and save them from all. pos-

upon generally as being tough,

-hard-hearted, interested only in

convicting and sénding to jail as
many people as possible in order
to make a record which would lead
to promotion. Every boy, law-abid-
ing or otherwise, considered the
cop on the beat his natural enemy,

him from having a good time. The
idea that a policeman should try
to. prevent young boys and girls
(and adults too, for that matter)

‘glad when a_ criminal
’ straight. On numerous occasions I

from becoming criminals wasn't
thought ridiculous; it just wasn’t
thought of ‘at all. '

This attitude about the police

J was entirely unfounded. I have

only known an infinitesimal few
out of the hundreds I have met
who tried to “make cases”. Prac-
tically all of them were sincerely
went

have known them to dig down in
their pockets to help such persons.
ANY cities now have an entire
bureau of the police depart-

ment devoted solely to the preven-
tion of juvenile delinquency. The

one in New. York City, the Police’

Athletic League,:;is more or less

_ typical of that in other places. The

aim of the League is not to kill
the gang spirit in boys—a spirit

which seems to be born in them— °

but to turn it into channels which
will satisfy the boy’s desire for ex-
citement, competition and adven-
ture, Tac, ae

This they do by holding baseball
and other. athletic contests be-
tween groups of boys in the same
‘and different neighborhoods; by
arranging baby shows,.in. which
the boys enter their little brothers

,/ and sisters for prizes; by special

entertainments on Christmas, New
Years, Hallowe'en and other holl-
days. They agitate constantly for
‘more playgrounds and swimming
pools, arrange for swimming les-
sons, hold swimming and diving
contests, and generally endeavor to

keep the boys so busy that they.

can give no time or- thought to un-
lawful activities. ~ ,

They’re doing a swell job with
little recognition and without hope
of or desire for reward, other than
that which comes from the inner
satisfaction. of performing a duty
well. Their efforts have undoubted-
ly saved hundreds of young boys
and girls from taking the path
which can end only in misery,
degradation, or even death in the
electric chair or on the gallows.

The more intelligent students of:

human behavior contend that nei-
ther the police, civic and private
organizations, nor public-spirited
individuals can hope to. abolish
juvenile delinquency in its entirety
perhaps not even

was absent. he .

“Well, keep checking,” Banks
said. “We've got to find him now.
There’s just no turning back.”

With a pickup order out for the
handy man, Banks and Sam Deal,
along with District Attorney Foard,
went once more to see Mrs. Cul-
bertson’s daughter to learn if she
had been able to contact her fa-
ther. She said she hadn’t.

“The telephone company, how~

ever, is still trying,” she said, “and
I know they'll reach him pretty
soon. I'll call you as soon as they
do.” ‘
Down at the morgue, Banks and
the other officers found that Dr.
Haney had completed his examina-
tion of the woman’s body. He lo-
cated the broken point of the knife
in a cavity, in her left lung. The
knife, he said, had not pierced her
heart. .

“She probably lived for an hour

ro

of it. There are too many
under-lying causes not as °
derstood. Perhaps some o
never will be until scienti
able to tell what is going
the heads of these young
who are so like the gene:
of girls and boys on the :
yet so different in their inhi
frustrations and grievances
tional sores which fester in
minds until they finally «
themselves in some shocking
What organizations and in
als can do, however, say
more intelligent ones, is to
nize the fact that consi:
numbers of such delinque:
past reform. And, recogniz
to face up to the fact tha:
unfortunate ones should b
fined in some suitable ins!

- for. life—or until, with the a

of science, a cure may be
The proponents of this co
action contend that it wou!
“off the market” each year
siderable number of those w
in all probability be crimin
life. This would naturally, <
went .on, reduce the num
juvenile delinquents able t
on the public, and by the
token, the number of crime:
confined ones would have cc
ted had they been left at }.
It would also—and the ad\
of the “off-the-market” pl:
this is even more importan
able those working with ji
delinquents to use their time
ey and energy on the more h
cases, with a corresponding!
ter chance of: success.
This is but one of many
which have been advanced {
handling of the juvenile deli:
cy problem. Some sound logic
sane, some downright sill:
stupid. But all of them undo:
ly do good in one way. TI
they continue to focus attent
this widespread evil, and to
the public informed of the |
of the twisted threads whi
into the making of its fabric-
thread. representing a p

‘cause of ‘delinquency, but

them so interwoven that it
possible to segregate them in
to show which is primarily r:

When the victim’s aunt a
at police headquarters from
ver that night, she was in <
of near collapse, so shocke
she by ‘the tragic news.

The search for Wilson w:
tensified. Officers went to
bar, dance. hall, and pool h
Colorado Springs and Manito
nowhere could they find a tr
the man.

Deal and Banks, impatie:
turned once more to the C:
son. home to give the plac
other thorough going-over
possibility that they might
overlooked something.

For two hours they se:
through every drawer and bx
amined every paper in the h:
with no results. Then they r

. ed to the basement.

The furnace was cold. Th

tes later the
sain.. This time
lifted two good

mouth,” he said.
‘g to our files,.

ex-con named
D and checked
e learned, was
feet ten inches
hed around: 150
a arrested three
lesting a :teen--
atown street in
ds showed that
2d to Tennessee.
for armed rob-
eS against him
Jugh,

ved his stretch.
eaded straight
“son,

ed Jarvis’ pic-:

and showed it. :

er-nodded the
. “That’s the
shots, I’m sure
ly. “T’ll never
yng as I live.”
‘ting his next

views below)
out with cops

lost, fatally. ..

ang. It was
woman on
ys she saw
ve Finch’s
100ting.”

y headed?”

jeputy and
ed the in-
olice, They
oad blocks
of the city
1 off.

ief Davis,
that puz-
‘Ss ever got
dlum like

3’ partner

who knew Lacey Bell ‘and Bertie
Lee,” reasoned Pearson. : “Accord-
ing to the description Henson gave
us of the two men, Jarvis’ com-
panion was much younger and bet-
ter-looking.”

“Jarvis might have met his part-
ner while he was serving time up
in Nashville,” said Davis. “I think
you should have the warden look
into any close associations Jarvis
made while he was serving time.”

Pearson dispatched a wire to
the warden of the state peniten-
tiary at Nashville requesting the
above information. In the mean-
time, accompanied by. his son,
Pearson drove to the ‘bungalow
home of Steve Finch on Twelfth
Street, After a delay: of several
minutes, a sleepy-eyed Finch open-
ed the door. .

“Where’s your car, Steve?” snap-
ped Pearson.

“I lent it: to some friends of
mine,” replied the youth. “Why?”

“What are their names?”

Finch shrugged. “One of them
calls himself Joseph Blair,” he
said. “The other fellow goes by
the name of Whitey. That’s all I
know about them.” 4

Finch explained that Blair hired
him a few days before. to drive
Whitey and himself around town.
During these trips he said they
were frequently accompanied by
a@ sexy looking brunette in her
early 20s whom Blair called Marie.
“She spoke with a French accent,”
went on Finch, “and was a real
knockout.”

“Where do they live?”

“They have an apartment over
on Madison Avenue, on the ground
floor.” . 7

Pearson eyed. the young man
thoughtfully. He knew Finch had
been with the mysterious Blair and
his henchman Whitey shortly after
the murder, but decided not to
mention it until he had a look at
the Blair apartment.

“Okay, Finch, get dressed,” he
ordered. “You’re taking us there.”

§ lpr minutes later they were
Sirening their. way across the
city in a squad car. At the Madison
Avenue building they found that
“Blair and his companion, Whitey,
had flown the coop. Nor could the
superintendent help them. He said
that Blair and his wife had rented
the apartment two weeks before.
He admitted seeing a light-haired
man frequently go into the avart-
ment and apparently stay all night,
but said nothing about it.

The two officers, father and son,

began an inch-by-inch inspection
of the tastily furnished flat. They
could find nothing of importance.
It was apparent to Pearson’s keen
Scrutiny that everything had been
wiped clean to erase any possible’
prints that might be around.

When none of the other tenants

- nervously. “All right, I’ll give it

in the six-family building ‘could
shed any light on the mysterious
tenants, the Pearsons returned to
headquarters with Steve Finch..
When they were seated the sher-
iff turned to Finch. “All right,
Steve,” he said crisply, “start talk-
ing. We know you were with Blair
and his friend early this morning.
Where did you take them?”

Finch paled and shifted uneasily —

in his chair. He licked his lips

to you straight,” he nodded. “I
happened to be driving down
Eighteenth Street about 12:30
when Blair and Whitey hailed me.
They said their car had broken
down again and asked me to take
them to their apartment. When we
got there they said they wanted to
use it for a few days and to beat it.
So I went home.”

“Where are they now?”
_ “I don’t know, so help me,” Finch
said. “I- wish I had never met
them!”

Pearson eyed the youth specu-
latively for a few moments. “Okay,
Steve, you can go. But don’t go
far, I’ll want to talk to you again.”

When the young man had gone,

Chief Davis, who was present at .
the questioning, looked at Pearson

in amazement. “Are you crazy,
sheriff?” he cried. “That guy knows
a lot more than he’s telling us.”
“Maybe,” agreed Pearson, “but
I have a better idea, The way I see
it, if he does know where those
gunmen went, he’ll get in touch
with them to send their car back.
Or vice-versa. In the meantime
he’ll be watched 24 hours a day.”
Davis nodded. “I get it. You fig-
ure he’ll lead us to their hideout.”
“Precisely. Keep your fingers.
crossed.” pos
Police in the neighboring states
of Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana and
Mississippi were warned to be on
the lookout for an Essex coach,
1927 model, painted black and hav-
ing license plates bearing the nu-
merals 212-842. A description of the
two men with their French-speak-
ing brunette went with the flash.
As the hours slipped by, Pearson
wondered about the oddly assem-
bled trio. Who, for instance, was
Joseph Blair? Was he really Mar-
tin Jarvis? And who was the beau-
tiful brunette with the French
accent? And most important of
all, what was the motive for the
double slaying?

T morning the license num-

bers on the abandoned Ply-

mouth were traced to a local used

car dealer. He admitted selling the

car to a man named Blair for
$400.

“His wife paid for the car from
a roll of bills big enough to choke
a horse,” said the dealer, “If she
had a dime in that roll she had
more than $10,000.”

The dealer said the couple left
no address, nor did they wait for
a change of title certificate. Which,
mused Pearson, eliminated the ma-
chine as a means towards. appre-
hending the slayers.

Returning ‘to his office, the dap-
per sheriff found startling news
awaiting him. The Nashville au-
thorities wired that Martin F.

Jarvis, alias Frank Rogers, had’

not been released from their pris-
on, but had escaped! Furthermore,
they could uncover no one in the
institution with whom Jarvis had
been overly familiar.

Meanwhile, every road in west-
ern Florida was sealed tight for
the fugitives, Highways as far

(Continued on page 34)

27


set free

terfield, .

1 for his

ndersort
; before
Hinder-
it bond
degree
iber 30,

ing the-

reading

an in-
follow-
and he
mment

‘, Bar-
Fergu-
nocent
nent,

eclaim

r new
wire,
coun-
rth as
the
yubled
would
their

‘arson

where
at of
talked.

oolice
fartin

ans?”

nt of
Vieux
.” Te-
icked

may

d off.
otsch
part-
well-
ne in

REVEALING FACTS FROM POLICE FILES

the Louisiana state penitentiary for
various offenses ranging from
simple assault to armed robbery. In
fact, he was wanted for questioning
in the daylight robbery of the Dry-

ades Branch of the Canal Bank and |

Trust Company early in March.

Furthermore, the woman with
him was Marie DuBois, a widow,
who used to sing in the Vieux Carre
district. His closest friend in New
Orleans, added Grotsch, was one
Donald White, a hoodlum who fre-
quently hung out in the French
Quarter. ae

White’s picture was promptly
identified by both Finch and Hen-
son as Jarvis’ companion. White
was described as 25 years old, five
feet five inches tall, 140° pounds,
blue eyes and a florid complexion.
His description was immediately
included in the broadcasts on the
Chevrolet car. ;

f pede matters stood’ until the
night of March 19 when Deputy

7 a:
Like father, like son. Sheriff C.
B. Pearson is proud of son's work
on case—as well he might be.

Garner phoned Sheriff Pearson.

“Chief,” he exclaimed, “Finch just -

received a telephone call from.

Slidell, Louisiana!” é

»* “You think it might be Jarvis?”
“I’m positive,” replied the depu-

ty. “The caller was a woman who

spoke with a French accent!”
Pearson hung up and immedi-

-ately put through a call to Harvey

A. Rousseaux, Chief Deputy Sher-
iff of Tammany’s Parish, Louisiana.
When he was briefed on the defails,
Rousseaux promised to trace the
call to Finch in an effort to find
Jarvis’. hideout. PR 5
The telephone ‘compaiiy inform-
ed the deputy that the call had
been made from a small tourist
court on the outskirts of Slidell.
Accompanied by Night.- Marshall
ohn R. Elliott and several mem-
bers of the Louisiana State Police,
Rousseaux sped to the scene and
surrounded the darkened ‘cabin.
.Crouching behind the red Chev-
rolet, Rousseaux: called out: “All
right, Jarvis, we know you're in
there. Come out with your hands
up!” :
The door burst open and a tall,

- in each hand. With both weapons

Bi Sa

strikingly beautiful woman ran for
cover in the high weeds which en-
circled the tourist court. “They're .
crazy,” she shouted. “Watch out!”

‘A moment later a short, stocky
man _ with powerful shoulders
emerged from the cabin with a gun

“Darling:
you. did not
me any more? |
Has anythin

blazing, he headed for the woods.
Rousseaux and his men took care-
ful aim and the gunman dropped
in his tracks.

Jarvis came to the doorway, a
scowling leer on his swarthy fea-
tures and a .38 automatic -in his
hand.

as this jo

to murder? ve note a clue

OT on

Sheriff Doug Pearson is a wiz at
plane-piloting as well as‘ phone-.
call tracing. Criminals, beware!

“You’re covered, Jarvis, so drop
it!” barked Rousseaux.

Jarvis dropped the’ gun. and
shrugged. “Okay, coppers,” he
snarled. “I know when I’m finish-
ed.”

Taken into custody, Jarvis stout-
ly denied that he had anything to
do with the Sarasota slayings. He
agreed to waive extradition to
Florida. Back in Sarasota, he was
informed that test slugs had been
fired from the automatic and com-
pared with those fourid in the bod-

_ jes of the two victims. All the bul-

lets had matched perfectly.
“Okay, I was in on the job, but
White killed those women,” he
whined. “I had no part in their
murders.”
His story was disproved when Al-

bert Henson positively identified. 7

him as the man he saw firing the
shots on the night of the murders.
After several hours of grilling; Jar-
vis broke down and confessed.

“I met Bertie Lee and Lacey Bell
in a night club in downtown Sara-
sota,” he began. “During the eve-
ning I got drunk and blabbed about
White and me pulling the Canal
Bank job. When we got home that
night, White got to thinking. He
said we'd better go back and knock
the dames off before they squawk-
ed to the cops.

“We found their bungalow with-

out any trouble. White rang the:

bell and Lacey Bell answered. We
started arguing and before I knew
it, I was pumping bullets into her.
When her sister ran into the room,

YOUR copy .m
X Y N
R NEWSsTanp~

I let her have it, too.”

Marie DuBois, the woman with
the French accent who had posed
as Jarvs’ wife, was completely ex-

_ onerated of any part in the double .
slaying and set free. Steve Finch |.

was also absolved of any wrong
doing and released.

Jarvis went gn trial in May, 1933,
in the Sarasota County Court and
was convicted of murder in the
first degree after four days of de-
bating. He was electrocuted in the
State prison at Raiford on April
11, 1935.

Note: The names Marie DuBois,
Albert Henson and Steve Finch

used in this story are not real but’

fictitious in order to protect the
identity of innocent persons.

BLOTTER BLURBS

Mrs. Billie Cox complained in.

Birmingham, Ala., that her bill-
fold had been stolen at the po-
licemen's ball. -

While members of the Wom-
an's Club of North Brcokfield,

Mass., were voting to give a

party for youngsters in an effort

to curb juvenile delinquency,
ven on the outside were
etting out the air from the tires
of the ladies’ cars.

35


17)

he came at Florida cops with .38;
got lost en route in “last mile.”

dragnet over the entire western
section of the state. He promised
to have the gunmen’s descriptions
broadcast at 15-minute intervals
by the local stations.

In a matter of minutes, every
available officer was on the job.
Every alley, back street, vacant
lot and suspicious looking person
was closely checked. Squad cars
wove in and out of the city in a
continuous round of inspection
hoping to spot the itchy-fingered
gunmen, State police were alerted
and asked to stop all cars on the
highways leading north, east and
south of the resort city.

Meanwhile, members of the sher-
iff’s staff canvassed the neighbor-
hood in an effort to pick up any
worthwhile information from the
divorcees’ neighbors.

At the scene, Lab Man Wiltz
dusted the doorknob and door
jamb around the entrance for
signs of a latent print which would,
if the gunmen possessed police
records, identify them. When he
failed to unearth a single worth-
while print, he ordered the Ply-
mouth taken to the police garage
for a more thorough processing.

Albert Henson was taken to
headquarters and booked ‘as a

26

Same scowl was worn by slayer as _

material witness. Meanwhile, sev-
eral residents along Twenty-fourth
Street admitted hearing the shots
but none had seen the fleeing
gunmen.

With the coming of dawn it be-
came apparent that the killers
had managed to slip through the
hastily drawn dragnet. “I’ve a
hunch that they’re hiding in the
city until the heat wears off,” the-
orized Pearson.

A few minutes later the phone
rang. It was Chief Davis. “My man
just phoned from the hospital,”
he said, “Mrs. Dyel died on the
operating table about five minutes
ago. She never regained conscious-
ness.”

‘Eo ae minutes later the
phone* rang again. This time
it was Wiltz. “I lifted two good
prints from. the Plymouth,” he said.

elatedly. “According to our files,,

they belong to an ex-con named
Martin F, Jarvis.” oy

Pearson hung up and checked
his files,’ Jarvis, he learned, was
34 years old, five feet ten inches
in height and weighed around 150
pounds.-He had been arrested three
years-before for molesting. a :teen-

_ aged girl’on a downtown street in

Sarasota.:The records showed that
he had been returned to Tennessee.
to serve a sentence for armed rob-
bery when the charges against him
in Sarasota fell through.

“He probably served his stretch
in Nashville and headed straight
for here,” said Pearson.

The sheriff removed Jarvis’ pic-

‘ture from the files and showed it. ©

to Henson:- The -latter- nodded the
moment he saw it. “That’s the
man who fired. the shots, I’m sure
of it,” he said firmly. “I’ll never
forget his face as long as I live.”

Pearson was debating his next

‘ Sullen Don White (2 views below)

elected to fight it out with co
—one election he lost, fatally.

move when the phone rang. It was
Deputy: Holbrook. “A woman on

Twenty-fourth Street says she saw

- two strange men in Steve Finch’s

car shortly after the shooting.”

“Which way were they headed?”

“South. on Cocoanut.”

Pearson thanked the deputy and
hung up. He then relayed the in-
formation to the state police. They
promised to establish road blocks
along Highway 41 south of the city
in an effort to head them off.

Conferring with Chief Davis,
Pearson said, “The part that puz-
zles me is how the sisters ever got

' mixed up with a hoodlum like

Marty~ Jarvis.”
“Maybe . it was Jarvis’ partner

ssh:

wer

eR RgRERE enw TI:

oe

= a " een

who knew
Lee,” reaso
ing to the «
us of the
panion was
ter-looking.
“Jarvis m
ner while |
in Nashvill:
you should
into any c
made whil
Pearson
the warde:
tiary at N
above info
time, accc
Pearson d
home of ¢
Street. Afi
minutes, a
ed the doo
“Wnhere’s
ped Pears«
“I lent
mine,” rep
“What a
Finch s)
calls him:
said. “The
the name
know abou
Finch ex
him a fe:
Whitey an
During th
were freq
@ sexy k
early 20s °
“She spok
went on
knockout.’
“Where
“They }
on Madisc
floor.” .
Pearson
thoughtfu
been with
his hench:
the murc
mention i
the Blair ;
“Okay,
ordered. “

EN m
sirenin
city ina s
Avenue b

-’Blair and

had flowr
superinte:
that Blai:
the apari
He admit
man frea
ment and
but said

The tw:
began an
of the ta:
could finc
It was ar
scrutiny t
wiped cle
prints th:

When 1


hopped a bus and I trailed in the
‘car. I knew Irene had to change
for the Rosemont line?

“Irma got off at the corner near
her home and Irene got off at Col-
linsville and Missouri Avenues. A
drunk was on that corner. too, but
I had to take a chance. I pulled
up and she saw me. She became
suspicious and wouldn’t get in: the
car, so I pulled her inside and
drove off.

“J told her I .was going to kill
her and she started begging and
crying. I stopped at the half-
demolished brick building and hit
her hard on the héad with a revolv-
er butt. I guess that finished her.”

‘Trussing the body with baling

‘wire and weighting it with sash-

weights, the slayer had driven

REVEALING

ETE IVE

CASES —

south as Punta Gorda and Fort
Myers were roped off, as were those
as far east as Wauchula and Bar-

‘tow and north at Tampa and

Bradentown. By evening more than
400 heavily armed men were pa-
trolling every square inch of the
area.

Radio stations at Clearwater and
Tampa continued to interrupt their
programs every 15 minutes to
broadcast a complete description
of the two men and a woman 4s
well as the Essex coach in which
they were fleeing.

When no word came through of
their. whereabouts, Pearson felt
certain that they had holed up
somewhere for the time being.
“They'll try to. break through the
moment they think we aren’t on
our toes,” he opined. .

“Jarvis is a smart cookie,” Davis
agreed. “He’s stirwise and knows

every trick in the books. Catching .

him isn’t going to be easy.”

In an effort to locate the gun-
men’s hideout, Doug Pearson, an
expert pilot, went aloft. Flying at
dangerously low altitudes, Pear-
son swung south as far as the
impenetrable Everglades, circled
around until he passed over the
flat, farming country east of Sara-
sota, and then covered the marsh-
land area around Tampa. After
two full days aloft, Pearson ad-
mitted failure.

About a week after the slaying,
a flash came from the little town
of Sebring, about 100 miles east of
Sarasota, that Finch’s car had been
spotted in a local garage. Sheriff
Pearson and his chief deputy, Ed
Garner, hurried to Sebring.

The garageman said that a man
named Blair had left the machine

34

REVEALING DETECTIVE CASES

through darkened and deserted
streets to the MacArthur Bridge
and heaved his victim over a rail
into the murky waters below ... .

Returning the car to Ferguson,
he had hitch-hiked-to Union Sta-
tion and boarded an early morn-
ing train to Burlington. Friends
and relatives in that city were told

he: had arrived four days earlier. ©

“IT didn’t think anything went
wrong with my alibi,” he concluded.
“But I didn’t count on her carry-
ing that newspaper clipping in her
handbag.”

The search for the sandy-haired
youth in the tan Buick sedan was
halted with this testimony and the
assumption was he was someone
passing through en route to a
neighboring state. Barton and Wil-

son were exonerated and set free

the latter making restitution for his
petty theft. P

On September 25, Andersorl
waived preliminary hearings before
Justice of the Peace W. W. Hinder-
berger and was held without bond
in the county. jail on first degree
murder charges. On December 30,

as were Ferguson and Porterfield, .

the Grand Jury, after hearing the-

evidence against him and reading
his own statement, returned an in-
dictment. A trial jury the follow-
ing year found him guilty and he
was sentenced to life imprisonment
in ‘the state penitentiary.

Note: The names Winkler, Bar-

- ton, Wilson, Porterfield and Fergu-

son are fictitious, to spare innocent
persons needless embarrassment.

The Florida Flossie with the French Accent

(Continued from page 217)

two days before. “He told me to
hold it until the gwner would call.

. for it,” he explained: “I didn’t know

it was a hot car until this morn-
ing.”
Questioned at some length, the
garage owner said, that Blair was
accompanied by a short, stocky
looking man in his middle 20s, and
a tall, curvaceous brunette who
spoke with a French accent. Before
leaving they had purchased a red

er

1932 Chevrolet sedan.

A canvass of the town failed to
unearth anyone. who had seen the.
trio after they left the garage. Un-
fortunately for the - investigators,
Sebririg was so geographically situ-
ated that approximately a ‘half
dozen roads led in and out of the
little town.

Pearson decided to forego telling
the newspapers about the Essex for
‘the time being. He reasoned that
once Finch knew where the car
was, there would be no reason for
the killers to tell him where they
had left it.

Before returning to Sarasota,
Pearson-arranged with the Sebring
authorities to keep a close watch
on the car in case either Finch or

the gunmen should try to reclaim

it.

A full description of their new
getaway car was flashed by wire,
telephone and radio to state, coun-
ty and town ‘police as far north as
South Carolina. “Meanwhile the
surveillance on Finch was doubled
in the hope that the youth would
inadvertently lead them to their
quarry. xs
Playing a sudden hunch, Pears

on

we 3) ae

Remote Sarasota a where
bullets riddled the life out of
two sisters “who might've talked.

contacted the New Orleans police
and asked them to check on Martin
Jarvis’ companions. .

“But why. pick New Orleans?”
asked his son.

“Because that French accent of
his girl friend suggests the Vieux
Carre district of New Orleans,” re-
plied Pearson. “If Jarvis picked
her up there, the local cops may
know something about her.” .

Pearson’s hunch quickly paid off.
Chief of Detectives John Grotsch
of the New Orleans police depart-
ment wired that Jarvis was well-
known there, having served time in

{

various
simple ass

the Louisi:

fact, he w:

in the day
ades Bran
Trust Con
Further:
him was
who used
district. }
Orleans,
Donald W
quently |
Quarter.
White’s
identified
son as J
was descr
feet five
blue eyes
His desc:
included
Chevrolet

HUS
night «

Like fath
B. Pearso
on case-

Garner |
“Chief,” }
received
Slidell, Lx
* “You th
“T’'m po
ty. “The «
spoke wit
Pearson

-ately put

A.. Rousse
iff of Tam
When he '
Rousseaw>
call to Fi
Jarvis’. hi

The tel:
ed the d
been mac
court on
Accompar

‘Yohn R. )

bers of tl

- Rousseau:

surrounde
_Crouchi
rolet, Ro:
right, Ja
there. Co
up!”

The do


Slave Joe, headed Celhoun vex, as, * 12- si¢s 1853. #8

, Calf
bn. Col 4 of bathowen \ ‘ . ud

I MM b f ge eo ° | \
thy Cast f ik. Yt ee,
i: Pee

jo C a) he v x

iA ity. MmAtt1t A: Flip by Menge
ae ent of poner a ad Arr ia ew) fas Te Lz
Sal Affe f ee Rite bocce ty — ‘

Ad

1 fy \ yaaa Bip ys f Pana 20 ! Ob’
dd Pay ars, ae 720 Foe%
(i hass roles ot (pr pict 3,7 SF :
hy ne 5 fio tir “6 Ways MO0 fo ap b _ a

a. ab Greer lr Ib heyd 180° for ho PU x2Te

Vas ee f brarceig & New tet Sceen (oles abe eae ts

Cre ct lig G alla / _ / v. oO

nae alae lift cry SOD, a yFaVve 2o~2. 7, 0-0”
pane Sp oud ne a. ; oe

why JOGA ee ac GS ee inti wb f b, / a

le Le

7 POL 9 a7 of 5 SH: A far bm sfeclly NMA ag Va LAO At11“ eee

gg te Wa on,
LAL ES O~€ neat Lu forcig mw ere ee

va \

anes id

ole ana Cif coat alifual Cig fs cg h Cr, es) “4
! ee a 1 Te LOELUA CEL Le a o abt Secale ced relficélebn by 4 gee

: iE fs of 7 a a A: cc! y Mec fhe hh wut of te Mae fag
le fo Ye Sond oS id jefas fy Nigh, 0 lettre ay Acre

V7

of Aithee Z o eae ipa 0 facee

yp Uih ine ne ne Vhs | berceul hl ny iii rived. tL
roe By io? ‘ ‘doy f V ne” LD) (8 ;

fiery arvin F : TY Cat

ed SL

tooth VBuebers /F#6-62
ia a7. Bok I, pido


i
vr
serngT rezcapenge epee cia rsste: ai taal cticgir tal LR 1 eminent eyo bg ae “tardy YD ae manag

98

but her little six-months old child, Mary Ann (or ‘Pollie’’)
was wounded in the head by an Indian tomahawk but recov-
ered, leaving a scar for the remainder of her life.

Zachariah Gray was married in Jefferson County, Fla.,
April 21, 1831, to Miss Bethany Easters, daughter of Giles
and Fairiby Easters, and a grand-daughter of Augustus East-
ers, R.S., of Effingham County, Ga. She was born August 11,
1812, in Effingham County, and died March 20, 1893, at her
home in Berrien County. Shortly after the massacre of his
father Zachariah Gray took his family and moved to what
was then Irwin County, Ga., (territory now in Berrien Coun-
ty), and lived here until his death April 20, 1891. The Easters
also moved to the same county.

On moving to Georgia, Zachariah Gray settled where the
town of Enigma, Berrien County, is now located. After a
short time he moved again, this time to near the present site
of Tifton, but having granted land located about four miles
south of where Enigma now is, he sold his lands and moved
there, where he built his home (home-site owned in recent
years by James J. Sutton).

The children of Zachariah and Bethany Gray were:

1. Martha b. Sept. 9, 1832, m. Samuel Mathis,

2. Mary Ann b. July 13, 1837, never m. Died Mar. 22, 1924.

3. Berrien b. Jan. 7 1840, never m. Died 1864 in Federal
Prison.

4. Henry b. May 22, 1842, m. (1) Mrs. Charlotte Paulk, dau.
of J. J. Nobles; (2) Rachel Jernigan; (3)
Eliza Easters,

5. Zachariah b. Mar. 18, 1844, m. Martha Griffin, dau. of James.

6. Piety b. Jan. 20, 1846, never married, died 1926,

7. Micajah C. b. Nov. 15, 1847, m. Alexander.

8. Fleming Bates b. Dee, 10, 1850, m. Julia Alexander.

9. Jasper b. Jan. 14, 1852, m. Nancy Griffin, dau. of Lewis

M. Griffin.

Zachariah Gray and his wife and others of his family
are buried in Berrien County, three or four miles south of
Brookfield.

CENSUS REFERENCES: 1850, Jrwin; 1860, Berrien.

GRIFFIN, Benjamin 1793-1883

BENJAMIN GRIFFIN was born in Dobbs County, N. C., a
son of Joshua Griffin, R.S., and his wife Drusilla Newell
Griffin; and moved to Georgia with his widowed mother some-
time about 1810. He first appears as a private in a militia
detachment under Lieut. William Cooley for a two-weeks en-
listment in 1813 to erect forts on the frontier of Telfair
County. He served in other detachments during the War of
1812.

IRWIN


JEWELL, Jack, hanged Florida 1838,

made much GRAY, Joshua 1808-1886 IRWIN '
“eb. 2, 1892, .
' moved to JOSHUA GRAY was born May 8, 1808, in this state, prob-
ril 28, 1905. ably in Bulloch County, a son of Gibson and Vicy Gray. He
ied in the grew up in Emanuel County, and sometime about 1825-26,

his parents moved to Irwin County and it was there that he

met and married Elizabeth Roberts, a daughter of William
denen ty Roberts of Irwin County. She was born Sept. 22, 1822, in

in

Montgomery County, and died at her home in Irwin County,
He served January 17, 1884. Her husband died Dec. 27, 1886. Both
as follows: were buried at Brushy Creek Primitive Baptist Church in

me 1 ig6e wn County. Their children were:
. Miley

to 1892 in- 1 b. 1841, m. Nancy Lord, Noy. 1860, Berrien Co. Hid absd
hi f: . 2. Rachel b. 1843, m. James J. Nobles, Jan. 28, 1866. ie,
“al 1S Taml- | 3. Nancy b. 1844, m. Jordan Wolf. Hier
rch. | 4. George b. 1845, m. Lucy Harper, (!
5. Levicy b. 1847, m. John Nobles, Feb. 2, 1865. Vien
6. Elisha b. 1850, m. Ann Bryant. H
| 7. Lizzie b. 1852, m. William Mobley. We
8. Zilpha b. 1853, m. Aaron Jernigan, Nov. 4, 1869, {lie
' 9. Julia Ann b. 1855, m. William Law. tN
Brooks 10. Thomas b. 1858, m. Fannie Young. We
11. Jane b. 1856, m. John Henderson, Oct. 15, 1873. (aa
(Surnett) 12. Daniel b. 1866, m. Nancy Roberts, Jan, 27, 1887. ihe
he Count. Joshua Gray and wife were baptized into the membership MK i
his parents of Young’s Meeting-house, now known as Brushy Creek ie
’ and soon Church, in Irwin County; he was baptized July 27, 1844, and ls
eaamine 111" she was baptized June 24, 1865: Both died members. They lived Ht
0; illiam : earl ‘ i
th ‘ in the 518th district of Irwin County. Hi
uh were ; : 1840, 1850, Irwin i
9, 1810, in i CENSUS REFERENCES: , , Irwin. |
r home in 6
| ‘ i
5, 1863 GRAY Zachariah 1799-1891 BERRIEN
- 23, 1860, ZACHARIAH GRAY was born in Burke County, Oct. 13, eae
1799, a son of Edwin and Catherine Gray. The latter with (|
his family moved to Jefferson County, Florida, about 1819, and | i
was tax-collector there when he was murdered by Indians in hi
March, 1838, and his home burned down on his dead body, |
others of the family being killed also and two or three es-
| the 664th caping. Zachariah at the time, was absent as he was serving
oful mem- in the militia fighting the Indians. He returned home early ae
bership in the next day to find the charred bodies and burned home. ae
{ of small- Zachariah was married at the time, and his wife and two |
ie first ap- ; little children had gone over to spend the night with the |
\s. Gornto minor children of her father-in-law, as they were there alone, !
or church, the mother being dead and the father not expected home that |
» Brook night. The elder Gray came in about dark, unexpected, and after |
) roo 8. 1s

the evening meal was seated in his home when the murdering
party sneaked up and made their attack. In the party of In-
dians were two white regenades, one of whom, Jack Jewell, |
was later captured and hung. Mrs. Gray managed to escape |



ee an &. yale in bans

SPD). S VAST Ee, TE rrr sitet

naman

Wey ope is SVT TLS pu i Re
Ba eh Kenia bod ay (sway.
a ye

‘ »
ala + A teheled Rede’ Vere

Ny sie pout beh AOR

toh} eis xt eo"

Executed at County Jil

Mer

age

a

Te BRAVELY

Seer *t

af

Going to Heaven

é ‘

y Repeating “Tam sorry for
crime and am realy to stand before
my God,” Sim ‘Jackson shot down:
ward through the scaffold trap at
11:15 this morning in expiation of the
crime of wife murder, and fourteen
minutes later was offictally pronounc
ed dead by Dr. Alexander.

Five minutes before the trap was
sprung, Jackson, accompanied by two
Yeolored ) preachers of the Baptist
Aurch and accompanied by Sheriff
Perry, Deputy Sabate and Jailer Dis-
ney, stepped through the heavy grat-
ed.door of the jail leading Into: the |.
east yard and the little procession
Shen moved forward halting when
the silatform of the senffold was
-reached. The condemned man was
singing a hymn as he passed from the
jail to the yard and he continued to
sing until he mounted the gallows. He
carried a bouquet of red roses and
these he evidently prized very highly
as he clung to them untll his arms

my

Sven

ERE ASE

. and legs were pinioned. He noticed a
ES _photographer {n_front. of the scaffold
—_—_——— with a camera focussed on him and

assumed A poe, Tho sheriff, un-
aware of the presence of the photog:
rapher or the fact that he wes in the
act of taking Jackson's phe: graph,
reached over to relieve the “come:)
man of the boquet. Jackson raluc-
{intly released tno flowers ac asked

° ‘ the sheriff to let him hold th:m until
ds in the World us picture was tsien. The oMce
Immcciately complied with the re
quest an! the boquet was held In a

> manner. conspicuous posliie until the cam.

era had done its work.

ae

rit ‘Inside: “the ene
closure, the; grim. m,\scatfold, while. #
‘dreary, Pest: ‘8

{ intensified the’ Pidoin.’ Fee ys

&

dow! ‘wommanding ‘a view of: the’ gal-
jows was ‘taxed’ to its’ utmost, ° ‘among
the’spectators being many ofthe gen-
tler‘sex.((! Old and‘ young, white; and
colored, ‘were >in’ the’ crowds; and at
least five hundred witnessed | the ‘ex.
ecution,: From the, lower, floor: of ; the
jail .a.numbers., of, white: tramps, who
are. serving . short terms. peered
through. the. bars.: Many) camera. fiends |:
were in, the crowd) in. the. yard. taking
snap shots, at. ‘everything that .inter
ested, them. ....,

‘When. the. body. was gut down tt
was placed in a .basket, coffin and
taken to the undertaking establish
ment:of R. A, Ponce.

MANY LIVES
. LOST IN MINE

NEARLY TWO SCORE MORE EN-
TOMBED BY EXPLOSION.

Only Twelve Managed to Escape and
It Ja Feared the Others
‘Have Pensned.

Charleston, W. Va., Feb. 9.--Twen-
ty-seven men are still entombed in
the Pare] mine near Oakhill, Fayette
county, In the Loup Creek fleld,
where an explosion occurred yester.
day afternoon. It is known that there
were thirty-nine men In the mine and
there may have been more, as the
work {s done by contract and no rolls
ure kept. Twelve escaped. The ma
jority of the men are negroes an.
Hungarians. It Is not bellevel any of
tre entombed men are alive. The
voitilation fans wore wrecked by the
force of the explosion and the circu-
Intion of alr thronusa tle mine stopped
9 that no one wicn eny hope of living
emy venture In wiless the fans are ie-
Lmred and set worling again. This
will be done some time today.

BOYS’ DEPARTMENT

Of Y. M. C. A. Will Be Organized In

Maine.
Bangor, Me., Feb. 9.—Nearly one
hundred boys, representing the va.

rious ¥Y. M. C. A. branches and a num-

4a tha & %® af atreannine Sande

‘and, bleak cold}
v th eS
athe : Jani yard was crowded “and the oi
“0 fences. ‘on ‘all “sides were ‘Jined with |.
| hamanity: “Inside the. ‘Jail every -win-|:

4 i
ft)

ay

St com

The “tact; that, the.
Government’ Saéclined t
of, the Confederate Bta
to be placed) ‘pon’ th«
Joseph Wheeler, there!
satisfaction , and comme
federate: veterans | who
has leaked ‘out. ‘§
‘The ‘casket. ‘ontaint
Gen... “Wheeler,... a (4 Bi
Washington from. ‘New
a United; States flag
eraté flag’ upon “tt,
taken to: St. \Johns: cr
where the body. was
the ’ Confederate flag
from it..

This is what (ca
among vetorans of Ca
ta, and there were 5
words of dissatisfact!
the action of the gov:

On the day of the fi
of Camp A were re
White House by Pres!
It was after this recep
Southerners, both lad
men Interested then
matter, and as a result
eral A. J. West, of
making inquirfes.  ]
White House, but fall
ident Roosevelt, as t}
tive had already gone
retary Loeb sugested
West confer with Se
the War Department.

At the War shila

GEORGIA Wi
THE BAT

Atlanta, Ga., Feb, 9.
Georgia are very an)
State be
of the mimic battles ¢

chosen as t

noeuvers to be held
last army manoeuvers
were held in Virginia
surpassed {In magnitr

manoeuvers ever held
and there: were about
troops engaged in th

It - belleve:

:@

ithe sheriff to lot him. hold thiam until]
‘his ‘pieture was taken. | The offices
‘tmmcciately complied with the re
quest an! the boquet was held In a
-,cunspicuous positiva until the cam.
‘era had done its work.

- As the work of strapping his hands.
arms and legs was in progress Jack.
son addressed the crowd, saying that
he did not need whiskey: to steady
‘him. He accused his sister-in-law of
‘creating trouble in his family and
‘then said it would soon be over. He
“gaid he was going before a tribunal
where money was not required to ob-
{tain favors, As the officers prepared
“to place the black cap on his head he
scalled to the crowd to take warning
“trom his ignomi vous end, ther, sald:
“Farewell my friends, good bye, meet
me in Heaven, I am golfg there.”
‘Then the cap was adjusted and again
‘he-shouted good bye. Several in the
‘crowd answered him, shouting “good
‘bye, Sim.” From under’ the cap’ in
(muffled but plainly audible tones, his
“yolce was heard crying that he was
‘ready to stand belore his God. As
‘his body shot down through the trap
‘plercing screams were emitted by sev-
-@ral women,:and the great crowd
surged forward to obtaia a glimpse of
‘the quivering body. No struggling
‘followed the drop, only the contrne-
tion of - e muscles and drawing of
the chest, &lving evidence of life. Dr.
palezenier, acoording to a prearrang.
hing , Interrogated “the dying man
vat. Short intervals for the purpose of
‘ascertaining how long consciousness
“remained and if the man was suffer
ing. pain. He told Jackson to close

dls hand if he heard him, The fingers

“\{numediately close Then,he told

him to again close his hand if he was
. .guffering much pain, The hands
jwhich had reopened again closed, but
‘after that no response was obtained.
This experiment was not conducted
“to satisfy curiosity, but in the fnterest
“oft science, and reports of the same
jywil be forwarded to eminent nerve
eapeciallsts.

‘ Poctors Irwin au? Estes. took pe
4 | sitions one on each side of the body,
‘and they held the pulse until the last
Atay te yark of life was extinguished._ Death
Pee in msued tn ten minutes, and the, oM-
% pial’ announcement _ of ‘death . was
fe in fourteen’ minutes after the
¥
*

ttap dropped.; ‘The body * was» ‘cut
< de own sixteen minutes after: the trap | day
DWAS, Sprung. | :

.Rather \a gruesone scene was pre
ented . even «before: ‘Jackson’ entered
the” yard. Outside at’ the’ gate stodd

Bombre gerd: Awigon 5 cwaltlt to

BOYS’ DEPARTMENT

Of Y. M. C. A. Will Be Organized In
Maine.

Bangor, Me., . Feb. 9.—Nearly ° one
hundred boys, representing the va-
rious Y. M,C, A. branches and a num-
ber of boys’ clubs in different- parts
of the State, are:assembled here to at-
tend the convention which has been
called for the purpose: o! organizing a
Boys’ Department of the Y. M .C, A.
in this State, similar to such organ-
izations existing in connection with
the Y. M .C. A. in other States.

The.convention will open this even.
ing with a banquet at the Y. M. CG. A.
building. At this banquet the visitors
and ‘their’ hosts.-will have an oppor
tunity of getting acquainted with one
another and the way will be paved for
the: work which is to follow. The
opening meeting of the convention
will be held immediately after the
banquet and it is expected that the or-
ganization of the Boys’ Department of
the Y. M. C. A. of Maine will be ef-
fected without delay. Ae this is the
first time the representatives of the
different boys’ associations have come
together, the officers are to be elected
and a]! the other work has to be done
which {s required in perfecting such
an organization,

Tomorrow there will be several ses.
sions. Committees will be appointed
to attend to the work of the various
sections. The committees will sub-
mit their reports and then thé’ plans
for the work of next year will.be laid.
In. the afternoon meeting several in-
teresting papers will be read by del-
egates. These papers will deal with
interesting features of the work done
by boys’ associations elsewhere and
will contain suggestions for the work
of the new association.

At the meeting tomorrow evening
Edgar M. Robinson, of New York, the
international secretary of the boys’
department of the Y. M.C. A., will de-
liver an fllustrated ‘lecture on the
work of boys’ departments elsewhere.
The Rev. George W. Hickley, of Good
Will Farm, will also address the con-
vention.

Although the House of: Representa-
tives will not take official recognition
of the; wedding’ of Miss ‘Roosevelt and
partecrcin te ‘Longworth on | Satur

bruary: 17th,” adjournment will
ken. :on Friday, February~.16th,
ithe; following « ‘Monday.: without
ing the! “purpose, » In this. mapner
thé « House : will ‘avoid’ establishing: a
precedent, » ¥ Aer Weer St ACE Ce

“fs AAS eRe Sa ae | abies

ber

‘done.’ ‘oan A) Y ‘he

were held. in: Virginia in 190405 ‘Th
surpassed in’ magnitude ‘any art

manoeuvers ever held ‘in this. count
and, there were’ about. thirty thoksa:
troops engaged. in ‘the: various ‘op
ations. It: is believed, that the m
noeuvers this year,if they are held
all, will be on a large scale even th
the manoeuvers in Virginia. For’ th
reason the people of Georgia are wo!
ing with great energy, to have th:
State selected as the battle ground
It is doubtful whether Congre
will make an appropriation for ho
ing such manoeuvers, but to. be.-p
pared for any emergency, the Geor;
Congressmen have been urged a
petitioned to use their utmost, effo
to have the manoeuvers held In t)
State. Should Georgia be selected !
that purpose, it would mean a grt
deal to the State. It would attract
large number of people to the Sta
who are anxious to get a glimpse
the warlike operations. .The War ]
partment always Invites the Gov
nors of the State in Which the mano:
vers are held and of the adjact
States to these manoeuvers and
quests them to send State troops
participate In them, the only ¢
dition being that the States assu
all expense ‘attached tothe movem<
and maintenance of their troops. T
pressure brought to bear upon |
War Department: by. congressmen a
senators , usually: decides the 8t:
where thé manoeuvers will be h:
and as the western States have bh
several in former years, it is bellev
that Georgia stands a good chance
be selected, if the holding of n
noeuvers. These manvoeuvers are
ways held In the fall, after the crc
have been harvested, in order to cat
as little loss as possible to the f
mers. The government: invarial
pays for aby actual damage done

Half the Supplies. .

New Orleans, La, Feb. 9.—As t
result of constant complaints that, t
merchants of New. York had the
vantage in selling goods, the Pana)
-|Canal Commission has been appol
ed the purchasing agent of the P:
ama Railroad Company, and for |
next: year: it will buy ‘just one half
all-the supplies needed fn. New Yo
‘At. the. endof,the year, the. parchast
will determine which city offers: t
better advantages and is. the better
make, ‘purchases in. - The Yocal .m:

chants will! make energetic” ‘efforts,
hold ‘the Panama. trade; if, tt ran

* te eed
aie FO


Fi loe ip.

STATE

OFFENDER: .
NAME:  mmnreee
RACE :

SEX: ™
OFFENSE :

DATE EXECUTED:

coUNTY: WAssay C6.

AGE:

VICTIM:
NAME :
RACE :
SEX:
AGE:

RELATIONSHIP
TO OFFENDER:

BACKGROUND
INFORMATION:

DATE CRIME
COMMITTED:

DATE OF
SENTENCING:

DAY OF WEEK
EXECUTED:

OFFENDER
REST BENCY :

IEDIA ACCOUNT
OF CRIME:

ck Tpbk sow

INVENTORY #
SOURCE OF DOCUMENTATION

(TITLE, DATE & PAGE#)

Ae Shsectt STae
Feg GEL Yp fF


MEDIA ACCOUNT |
OF TRIAL: :

MEDIA ACCOUNT —
OF EXECUTION:

EXECUTION :
METHOD: (fa i (ltt a

STAYS OF
EXECUTION:

EXECUTIONER:
WITNESSES;

RITUALS:

LAST WORDS:

OTHER INFORMATION:

TIME OF
EXECUTION:

Ail
Phi

wD he thn 8% sw wh eek wy

were) ALLEGED KILLER |
BACK FOR TRIAL

Papers Being Prepared for
Governor} Pearson to
Await Action

Extradition| papers for the
return here of Martin F, Jarvis,
wanted for the murder of two wa
sisters, Bertie Lee Clements .
and Lacey Ball Dyel, here on
the night of March 12, and for
a woman wanted as an accom
plice, both hejd In New Orleans
after thole pture yesterday
by Slidell, La., officers follow.
Ing a gun ym In which John
Blalr allas nald White, was
killed, were| belng prépared o~
here today.

Chief Deputy Sheriff E. A. Gar-
ner and James F. Kirk, assistant

a
_-

state attorney, were getting the va- S
rious necessary papers ready for ~
diapatch to Governor Davo Sholtz, >
wha will prepare a requisition on ~
the governor af Loulalana for the K
return of the two orisonera. iN
Kirk talked jwith Sheriff C. BB
Pearson, of Sarasota county, whe,
with Chief of Police 8. Tilden Daw ™
vis and Deputy Sheriff Herbert 77
Kiensiing, In in New Orleans and w~
with the district attorney of Or 4
leans parish, tpday, and it was in. = ="
dicated that the officials In) New —

Orleans would|turn Jarvis over to
Florida officers for prosecuUon on
the double mutder charge to which
he has allegedly confessed. ~f

Tho Loulslaba officers have a
charge of a robbery against .
Jarvis but ara willing to let their ~‘
chargo take d@ference to the mur- %
der count, witich ia more serious 6
than the former, it was said.

Advice from Nov Orleans today
was to the effect that the woman
caught with Jarvia yesterday ail-
mitted recelving a large sum of
money from White but denied that —~
she knew it was part of the loot
taken from thn Dryades Market
branch of a New Orleans bank on
February 24. She also denled any
knowledgo of the Sarasota killings.

Jarvis will not return to Sarasota
without extradition papers—know-
ing that In New Orleans a atiff
prison sentence will be the max!-
mum he can receive with hope. of
a pardon or parole but in Florida
he faces the clectric chair If found
gullty of the rourders.

Dispatches from New Orleans In-
dicate that the woman, known as
“Mrs. Bialr,” '“Miss Todd,” and
“Juanita Clair.” has now taken an-
other cognomén, this tlne “Marie
Juanita Messina.” But local officers
hope to changé all these aliases for
a number at the state prison at

«- Nalford, belleving that they can
convict her asjan accomplice or ac
cessory on the grounds that she
was the “brains” of the eacape plot.

Tt fs Ba that Sheriff Pear :

non, Chief Dayis and Deputy Kies-
| .  eling will stay in New Orleans un-
| Ul the governor of Loulsiana passed
op the requisition of Governor
‘ Sholtz. This will save considerable
expense to thp sheriff who made
the journey at his own expense.
However, if be returns with Jarvis
and the woman he will be allowed
the legal ratd for the arrest and
mileage. ‘ ;

ssi: duntiseite Scenic tent Med MBL cs smi ecg TA MRR eS 3 eae aitia I egg eg ener retical ether AR L eben tig. Eins ey Mia st uae a gn eA th og

~ASOTA HERAL

.)

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1933

Po

‘atton
Voters
register

», by reason of death,
the city or for other
10 longer qualified to
y.

9» destructlon of the
on books, approxi-
ersons were listed as
‘s of the city.
tichards today urged
oters to immediately
i effice and to avold
h will come on later
en the election nears
ro eavy as to can-

. charge for registra-
voters are required
nce to havo pald poll
have been residents
or twelve months and
or six months preced-
on.

CHARGED
BURYING
NAN ALIVE

7, Calif.—(P)—Accused

a young woman alive
ly prescribed by their
ithful wives, eight Fill-
held in jail today.
snald that others would
and charged with par-
the horrible death of
Yeline Novarro, whose
cthr~*2 from a hidden
rse land.
zht flaming torches,
3 reported, the young
other was thrown into
1 tke night of last Nov.
h shoveled over her liv-
‘he had been accused of

‘MISS ARKANSAS TRAVELER’

EXPECT RETURN
OF JARVIS HERE
LATE THIS WEEK

Sheriff in New Orleans to
Take Custody of Man
Wanted for Murder

No word has been received here
from Sheriff C. B.. Pearson and his
chief deputy, E. A. Garner, who
left early Sunday for New Orleans
to bring back Martin F. Jarvis,
alias “Whitey” Rogers, wanted for
the double murder of Bertie Lee

A place on the front page was given Martha Mayer at the all-Journal-
lam banquet at the University of Arkansas when she was elected “Miss
Arkansas Traveler” by the Men’s Press club. This honor goes annually
to the outstanding woman Journalist on the Arkansas campus. Miss '
Mayer’s home Is In Fort Smith, Ark. (Associated Press Photo)

SOUTH ACTS T0

RELIEVE VIICTIMS
OF WIND STORM

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS
With 80 dead, scores injured and
bundreds shelterless, the south to-
day recounted the havoc wrought
by last week’s tornadoes and set in
motion the machinery of rehabill-

tation.

ss to her sick husband.

a - ainne Aland

hacrie~ th. heunt of

Wet tealtnn}

GERMANY MOVES

TO PUT END 10
JEWISH EXODUS

BERLIN (UP) — Without offering
any explanation, the government
announced today that, beginning at
midnight, no one will be allowed
to léave German soil without the
special permission
stamped on his passport. For sev-

eral days reports have told of an

| Clements, 23, and her sister, Lacey

| It was expected that the officers,

of the police |

‘Bell Dyel, 30, on March 12.

‘who are accompanied by Mrs. Pear-
son, Who will act as matron in the
event they are allowed to take cus-
tody of Juanita Marie Messina,
sweetheart of John Blair, killed by
Slidell, La., officers two weeks ago
today when Jarvis and the lg cots
were captured, would arrive in New
Orleans sometime late this after-
noon.

Tomorrow will probably be con-
‘sumed in attending to the details
of returning Jarvis, who is under
‘an 18 to 28 year sentence for bank
‘robbery there, and it may be nec-
‘essary to go to the state capital
lat Raton Rouge, to confer with
Governor O. K. Allen, who granted
the extradition of Jarvis. The party
is not expected to return here be-
fore late Thursday or Friday.

PILE DRIVING TO START
AT POST OFFICE SITE

Work of driving piles for the new
federal postoffice here will be start-
ed probably tomorrow with today
being spent in rigging up a drag-
line and other supplementary equip-
ment as a PDile driver. Several
large piles are already on the scene.

It is thought that the first hard
;rock upon which the piling will
rest will be found at about 25 feet

~~ I ~~ wm wT

can’ °9 of rocks runs in the di-


EXPECT RETURN

OF JARVIS HERE

TO STAND TRIAL

Sarasota county officers last night
expressed thé opintor that’ Loyisi-
ana officerd would turn. over to
them Martin F. Jarvis alias “Whit-
ey” Rogers wanted here for the
murder of two sisters two' weeks
ago tonight and now under sentence
‘lof a New Orleans court to serve 18
to 28 years in the Louisiana penl-
téntiary for his part in a bafik rob-
bery in New Orleans Feb. 24.

This opinion followed the an-
nouncement at Tallahassee that
Governor Dave Sholtz had signed
requisition papers for the return of
Jarvis and was sending them to
Governor O. K. Allen, of Louisiana,
for approval.

It is thought that Governor Allen
will parole or commute Jarvis’ sen-
tence on the provision that he be
brought back here and if not con-
victed his parole or commutation
will be automatically revoked’ and

he will be returned to Louisiana to
; cochatita the long term.

Sheriff C. B. Pearson and his
chief deputy, E. A. Garner, cooper-
ating with State Attorney Henry
L. Williford and his law partner
and assistant, James E. Kirk, sub-
mitted a synopsis of the evidence
against Jarvis to Governor Sholtz
and it was after a study of this that
the request was made on Governor
Allen. :

Marie Juanita Messina, known as
the wife of Jobn Blair alias Donald
White who was killed at Slidell,
La., last Monday when Jarvis and
‘Ithe ‘woman were captured, under
$10,000 bond as a fugitive from jus-
_| tice and charged as being an accom-
-|plice in the murder and wanted as
a material witness, will aldo be re-

‘iturned here. ;

Jarvis will be given a speedy trial
if returned here. with the probabil-
ity that a special grand jury, will be
called to indist him, if the Florida
request is favorably acted on in
the next few weeks. |

7

QS
ys
ue

<9


FUR IAAL |

Gai
ORER
TION

isure At-
Is Gets
eekly

nt by tele-
M. O. Har-
$ spousored
eekly news-
been work-
the county
pported by
irned today
ators of the
direct ques-
obtained his
| th per’s
ffic orce.
‘ular person
ued only ap
res but that
2Ilse was clir-
d not know

had been

the circulat-
was said to-
commission-
red the Her-
able service
throwing the
ie weekly in
t of the re
ich the Her-
acked as un-
were backing

. bills intro-
ly and direct-
ty tax eitua-
erest to tax-
lay that many
ng on the pe
1 as non-tax-
“ances,
idicat-
of tne county
arly’s full ex-

ral
unt:

1 authoritive

FILM ACTOR HELD
FOR KIDNAPING

LOS ANGELE§—LP)—Fred-
erico de la Vega, Argentine
film actor, accused of kidnap-
ing Nancy Torres, Mexican
ecreen actress, was held in jail
today. . ,

The 22-year-old actress said
she was kidnaped when she re-
fused his escort to her home
after visiting a Hollywood
night club, She said she was
taken to a house In Santa Mon-
Ica and beaten, later escaping
and reporting the affair to the
police. ,

NEGRO WOMAN
IS CLEARED OF
MURDER CHARGE

Bessie Randall, negress, Was ac-
quitted of the murder of Archie Ja-
cobs, negro, here several weeks

ago, by a circuit court jury which
returned a verdict about midnight
last night after deliberating about
eight hours.

The jury took the case after spir-
ited argument was presented by
Acting State’s Attorney Dewey A.
Dye, assisted by Frank Redd as
special counsel for the state and
Cc. L. McKalg and Jobn B. Single-
tary, of Bradenton, representing
the woman,

The plea of self-defense was set
up by the woman, who exhibited
bruises and contusions to substan-
tiate her claim that Jacobs beat her
and was reaching for a stick in the
back of a car when she knifed him.
The negress was released immedl-
ately after the verdict was report-
ed to the court.

More than 200 negroes crowded
the court room during the
most of them remaining until the
verdict was rendered, It was appar-
ent that there was about a 50-50
split of sentiment on the part of the
negroes present.

trial,

n many cases
ere presented
erniained. It

IAD RARRING

ALLEGED KILLER - |
OF TWO SISTERS
IN COUNTY JAIL

Self-Defense May Be Claim |
of Defendant; to Be |
Tried Soon

Martin F. Jarvis, 34 years old,
under grand jury iodictment for
the murder of two sisters here, (wo
months ago tomorrow, was In the
Sarasota county jail today awaiting.
arraignment before Circuit Judge
Paul C. Albritton, having been lodg-
ed in the jail late last night fol-

lowing his returo from the state
prison at Angola, La., where he
was serving 18 to 238 years for bank
robbery. !
Sheriff C. B. Pearson saccouipant-
ed by Deputy Sheriff Robert Smith
and City Patrolman Fred Walther,
returned the alleged murderer to .
this county, leaving the Louisiava
state capital, Baton Rouge. with
their prisoner ‘Tuesday morning
and spending that oight at Pensa-
cola where Jarvis was placed 10
the county jail there for safe-keep-

ing. .
The return of Jarvis to Sarasota
county climaxed a_ hectic two

a

months which saw the attention of
the sheriff cirected almost wholly
to the capture of Jarvis and his
pal, Joho Blair, also accused of the
murders, and the efforts to obtain ..
Jarvis extradition after he bad
pleaded guilty to bank robbery in
New Orleans.

Sheriff Pearson and his assocl-
ates made a total of three trips to
Louisiana after the crime was com-
mitted here. The first trip was
made solely on a hunch of Sheriff
Pearson’s that inasmuch as Jarvis
and Blair were known In New Or
leans, they would head tn that di-
rection. While the officers were in
Louisiana, Chief Deputy Sheriff EY
A. Garner received notice of a mys"
terious telephone call from Juan-
{ts Marie Messina, woman com-

panion of Blatr, and notified Sheriff


A killer’s curses at mid-
night . . . [wo screams
. . . a dozen shots punc-
tuated the eerie cries . . .
Thus began one of the
most sensational manhunts
in the history of Florida.

Walker went around to the rear. Finding both doors
unlocked, they proceeded cautiously. Revolvers drawn,
lighted torches in hand. In the parlor they met.

The tiny parlor was empty. On a small side table
stood a kerosene lamp. Walker struck a match and
touched it to the wick. In a corner, a door stood half
open, and the patrolman, carrying the lamp, passed
into the next room together with Wrashe. No sooner
had they crossed the threshold than a gruesome sight
arrested their attention. The eerie glow thrown off
by the yellowish rays of the lamp fell upon the bodies
of two girls stretched out upon the floor.

“Cripes!”” came from Gus’s lips. “They’re both dead!”
Hardly had he uttered these words: when one of the
inert forms stirred ever so slightly. After what seemed
a strenuous effort, she opened her eyes and gasped!
“Never mind me—take care of my sister!”
Into her eyes crept the light of recognition, as she be-

Ed. A. Garner, Chief Deputy Sheriff of Sarasota
County, Florida, who assisted Sheriff Pearson in
the manhunt. Garner is also co-author of. the story.

right episode.
Douglas, and ;
and Douglas, : ee

coupé around and
Iker, Wrashe, and
patrol car, parked
‘rgency, and sped

when the weather
in a most affable
ike ripening fruit
ky with flashes of
a patrol car, em-
irough the night.
que, the car driven
urn, and pulled up
¢ did likewise. An-
through the dark- |
But all was black ©

isfying themselves —
-olmen approached |
o the front .door.

i Cee

The house of death—arrow points to front window and room where the cold-blooded murderer took two lives.

[35

a ==

ee ee ee


eS

ae eR oes

36

held the two patrolmen, Although the city of Sarasota
is peopled by over seven thousand inhabitants, police-
men on regular night duty get to know almost any-
one who ventures out after dark. The officers im-
mediately identified the girls as Lacey Bell Dyel, 30, and
Bertie Lee Clements, 23. It was the older girl who had
spoken.

Lewis and the wounded man, who said he was
James T. Douglas of Manatee, Florida, had followed us
into the room and stared at the prone figures, eyes di-
lated in horror.

“Get chief of police! Get the coroner! Get an ambu-
lance!” Wrashe flung at Walker.

Walker departed, along with Douglas, stopping long

nT eS ee : : : ; the cies (
mn |

Florida officers Wrashe (left) and Fred Walker (right) are shown with patrol car that
carried them to the murder house on the fatal night.

enough to remove the distributor from the strange car
in front of the house.

Wrashe at once began a meticulous search. The di-
minutive cottage could barely have been called fur-
nished. On a table was a whisky bottle, one quarter full.
In a back room was a dresser, underneath which pro-
truded an empty shoulder holster.

A low moan of pain from the older sister brought
Wrashe back to her side before he could complete his
investigation. The fixed expression on the other girl’s
face assured him that she was dead. Around the older
girl a pool of blood was fast forming. Her pale lips
quivered and her eyes opened and shut spasmodically.

Taking advantage of a moment when it was appar-
ent she had regained her faculties, Wrashe asked:

American Detective

“Who shot you?” “T don’t
The girl seemed unable to speak. Then her lips part- E*You mu
ed and in a barely audible voice, she answered. “‘I don’t BT don’t
know—but there’s his pants.” truth.”
Wrashe saw a pair of trousers hanging over the back = Pushing
of a chair which contained other articles of a man’s asked, ‘Did
wearing apparel. The only missing pieces to a complete e. Her tire
outfit, Wrashe found, were one shoe, one sock, and-an No,” she
undershirt. ‘not him.”
By this time, an ambulance from Thacker and Then the
Vangilder, undertakers, had arrived in answer to the her face.
alarm and conveyed the girls to the city hospital. Chief | ' Despite

Tilden Davis next put in an appearance. Almost upon:

ct pu ; Be rsicians t
his heels I came in with Sheriff Clem Pearson and Ex-

regain cons
o'clock in t}

© Back at 1
searched o\
nothing tha
Covered by
blood that h
ed thumb o
00m, out t)
lost there.
ALKE!
instru

a.Plymouth
Starter. The
Then he cut
This time 1
drove back
Byhich i is kn
the ‘car ther

i As the res

Jered over t)

13 S, a witness
held as a m
knew for a ci
who had bee:
d fled into
sock, and a s
reason was «
with the lig]
ever emergec
© Our first ;
whe was read:
Sheriff L. D. Hodges. eased in his t
At the hospital, doctors were summoned. They dis- Bcation.
covered the younger sister, Bertie Lee Clements, had eI was in
met death instantly; four bullets had been lodged in’ two sisters,”
her body. Dr. O. H. Cribbins, Dr. J. E. Harris, and With some o
Dr. A. O. Morton began preparations for an emergency Jater I heard
operation on Lacey Bell Dyel. ‘ was loud tal
“You are in a dying condition,” Dr. Cribbins said to the noise and
the victim stretched out upon the operating table be- them to pipe
fore him. “If you want to make a statement, this nity e*‘We both
be your only chance.” Strange men t
Seizing this opportunity, Fred Walker sopriectll was fully clc
Douglas whose wound had just been dressed, and lead, law will be
him before the suffering girl. ©“TI noticed
**Tell us who shot you,” he implored. bis hand. He


‘n her lips part-
wered. “I don’t

g over the back
cles of a man’s
2s to a complete
ne sock, and an

1 Thacker and
1 answer to the
‘ hospital. Chief
‘e. Almost upon
earson and Ex-

noned. They dis-
xe Clements, had
d been lodged in
J. E. Harris, and
for an emergency

-, Cribbins said to

erating table be-
itement, this may

alker approached
dressed, and lead

od.

“JT don’t know.”
“You must know who did it.”

“JT don’t though. Really, that’s the
truth.”

Pushing Douglas close to the girl, he
asked, ‘‘Did he do it?”

Her tired eyes ran over Douglas.
“No,” she gasped weakly. ‘““No—no—
not him.”

Then the ether cone descended upon
her face.

Despite the frantic efforts of the
physicians to save her life, she failed to
regain consciousness, and died at five
o’clock in the morning.

Back at the house of death, we had
searched over every inch but found
nothing that had not already been un-
covered by Wrashe, except a trail of
blood that had dripped from the wound-
ed thumb of Douglas. It led across the
room, out through the front door to be
lost there.

\ ," 7 ALKER came back out. Chief Davis

instructed him to attempt to start
the strange car standing in front. It was
a Plymouth sedan. Walker pushed on the
starter. The battery failed to respond.
Then he cut off the lights, pushed again.
This time the motor started. Walker
drove back to the main intersection
which is known.as.Five Points, parking
the car there.

As the rest of us drove back, we pon-
dered over the case. In Florida, any ma-
jor crime is placed in the hands of
county officials. This relieved Chief
Davis of the assignment. From all angles,
our job appeared facile. We had Doug-
las, a witness to the shooting, now being
held as a material witness. Besides, we
knew for a certainty that one of the men
who had been at the scene of the tragedy
had fled into the night, clad only in an undershirt, one
sock, and a shoe. As for the deserted car out front, the
reason was obvious. The car having failed to start
with the lights on, was given up as hopeless by who-
ever emerged from the house.

Our first step was to get hold of Douglas who said

he was ready to answer all questions. The pain had’

eased in his thumb. He exhibited faint signs of intoxi-
cation.

“I was in a back room with the younger one of the
two sisters,” he began, “when the other one came in
with some one. I did not see him. Quite some time
later I heard some one else enter the house. Then there
was loud talking. The Clements girl didn’t like all
the noise and said to me, ‘I’m going out there and tell

‘them to pipe down before the law comes.’

“We both went into the other room. There were two

strange men there. One didn’t have much on. The other
_was fully clothed. Bertie Lee said, ‘Pipe down or the
_law will be out and get us all.’

“I noticed the man she was talking to had a gun in
his hand. He was wearing a brown suit. On his head

37

The man of mystery in this sensational case, Martin J. Jarvis.
What part did he have in this tragic. drama?

was a gray hat. He began shooting. The shots came so
rapidly I couldn’t count them all. The Clements girl
dropped to the floor. Then he fired on the other girl.
She did not fall. Next they turned their attention to-
ward me. A shot hit my thumb. Then both men ran out
of the house.

“The girl who was standing was swaying on her feet.
She told me to get an ambulance for her sister. I ran
out of the house. Both men were out there. It was
dark and I couldn’t see them so well but it seemed
to me I heard them snapping a gun at me several times.
One says to the other, ‘Have you got any more bullets?’
The other answers, ‘No.’ ”

“Where did you find Ted Lewis?” asked Sheriff Pear-
son.

“I ran over to Charley Rouse’s. A man was there
having a few drinks. I didn’t know him [Lewis]. I
mentioned the shooting. He volunteered to take me in
his car to bring the police. That’s the whole story.”

The sheriff turned towards me.

“What do you think of this story, Ed?”

“Sounds plausible.”


JARVIS, Martin, wh, elec. FL (Saraseta) on ~

Apral 11, 1935

THE

CLUE

OF THE

NAKED
MAN

Chief Deputy Sheriff, Sarasota
County, Fla.

As told to Seymore Rice, Jr.

uae HEN March 12th, 1933, ap-
: proached the midnight hour,
( Fred Walker, youthful night
patrolman of the city of Sarasota, Flor-
ida, was standing flat against the front
: entrance of the Palmer National Bank
j Building. From afar resounded the roar
of a speeding motor.
The patrolman alertly focused his eyes
upon the street from which the noise had
come. In a moment, dancing headlights

Walker wen
unlocked, th
lighted torcl

The tiny
stood a ker
touched it t
open, and t
into the nex
had they crc
arrested the
by the yello.
of two girls s
“Cripes!”’
Hardly ha
inert forms <
a strenuous ¢€
“Never mr
Into her ey

Ed. A.
County,
the man

hove into view and a small coupé was
dashing madly through the sleeping city.
A screech of hastily applied brakes, a

The tragic trio in Florida’s infamous murder-at-midnight episode.
Reading from left to right: Lacey Bell Dyel, James Douglas, and
Bertie Lee Clements. The two girls were murdered and Douglas,

sound of sliding tires, a slackening of

speed, and the car came to a dead stop opposite the
Palmer National Bank Building, where Patrolman
Walker was stationed. As he ran toward the car, he saw
a man lean out of the window and heard him shout
through his cupped hands, in a voice ringing with
excitement.

**There’s a man here who’s been shot! Some women
also. Maybe they’re dead. Happened at 24th and Cocoa-
nut Avenue!”

Walker called to Gus Wrashe, his partner. They both
recognized the driver, Ted Lewis, a talented local ama-
teur magician. With him was a man who was nursing
a wounded thumb.

There was no time for questioning. Lewis had ac-
a claimed there had been shooting. That was sufficient
| for Patrolman Walker. That’s what policemen are for
—to attend to such matters.

“Drive out to where it happened,” commanded
Walker to Lewis, ‘“‘we’ll meet you there. You,” he con-
tinued, indicating the wounded man, “‘get in with us.”

34]

ih

ri
4
t

Ak
ue
| i

i

i

(
%.

AMERICAN DETECTIVE,
May, 1934

Mii Jes Ds jibe Palo rs
GHicd NAAN wR oe BEG:

the sole witness, was wounded.

Without a word, Lewis swung his coupé around and
scurried over the deserted streets. Walker, Wrashe, and
the wounded man climbed into the patrol car, parked
at the curbing for just such an emergency, and sped
toward the location of the shooting.

The night was typical of Florida when the weather
is behaving. This evening she was in a most affable
mood. A cluster of stars, hanging like ripening fruit
overhead, studded the semitropical sky with flashes of
twinkling splendor. Miles beneath, a patrol car, em-
blematic of law and order, sped through the night.

At 24th Street and Cocoanut Avenue, the car driven
by Lewis slowed down, took a right turn, and pulled up
before a small cottage. The patrol car did likewise. An-
other car, whose lights cut a pathway through the dark-
ness, was parked directly in front. But all was black.
and quiet in the small dwelling.

After peering into the car and satisfying themselves
that it was unoccupied, the two patrolmen approached
the silent cottage. Wrashe went to the front :door.

ae


voice at the
police head-
ge man here
edina black
vrolet. They
men and a
> right away
vidently got

iles east of
of the state.
coast north
ding toward

work south
eriff. “Prob-
steamer to
etter take a
if you can

iami but the
was no sign
ssenger boat
out for the
vasota,
from Miami
erald showed
en mailed to
Orleans. It
spaper from
>se were the
‘the murder
cally the en-

was an ego-
ee his name
diately con-
:s and asked

disappoint-
ne startling
r were also
the robbery
14, in which
14,000.

rd had been |

crapbook on
ughout the

aly finished
‘te Bridges
ffice.

‘led me,” he
: my Essex
could get it

s with the
» demanded.

ie. Seconds
ng distance

iapped. “See
t just came

ste Bridges. .

three men

patience of
erator called

na pay Sta-:

downtown

aid Garner.
ins chief of

vire, Garner
etin on the
omplete de-
urchased in

ff Pearson,
ert Keisling
» Louisiana.

As the Sarasota men traveled north-
ward along the Gulf, the New Orleans
police department swung into action. De-
scriptions of the Chevrolet and its three
occupants were flashed to every precinct
in the city. Local radio stations flooded
the airwaves with word pictures of the
car and the fugitives. Plainclothes men
contacted their underworld connections.

By nightfall they had their first nibble.
A gas station operator near Slidell, La.,
called in excitedly.

“That Chevrolet you're looking for,” he
told police, “just pulled out of here. The
driver had a snake tattooed on his right
wrist. I could see it when he paid me for
the gas. They’re heading toward Slidell.
It's almost dark now and they'll probably
stop at some tourist cabin overnight.”

New Orleans at once contacted the
Slidell sheriff’s office. There, Deputy

Sheriff Harry Rousseaux and Night.

Marshal John Elliot began a thorough
search of every tourist camp in the vi-
cinity.

At 9 p. m. that night, in front of an
overnight cabin in a camp on the out-
skirts of Slidell, they located the fugi-
tives’ car. There was no mistaking it. In
the glare of Elliot’s searchlight the car’s
license plate told the story.

Suddenly the door of the cabin opened.
A woman appeared in the stream of light
which shone through the doorway. Rous-
seaux slipped the safety off his .16 gauge
shotgun and waited tensely.

“What are you poking around that car
for?” demanded the woman. “Who are
your”

In back of her loomed the menacing
figure of a man.

“Step aside, lady,” barked Rousseaux.
“You're liable to get hurt.”

Something in his voice caused the
woman to obey. At that moment Rous-
seaux recognized the murderous Jarvis.
He was going for his gun, getting set like
the coiled snake tattooed on his wrist.

“Put ’em up!” thundered Rousseaux.
“Put ’em up and keep ’em up or I'll blast
your head off.

He held the business end of the shotgun
levelled at the doorway. The other man
raised his hands slowly.

“Now walk this way,” commanded the
deputy.

As the captive advanced Rousseaux
signaled Elliot who swiftly clapped a pair
of handcuffs on the prisoner. The man-
acles had no sooner clicked than a shot
rang out from the doorway narrowly
missing Elliot. Limned in the light which
shone from the cabin was a wild-eyed
desperado. In each, hand he held an auto-
matic.

Swiftly raising the shotgun to his
shoulder Rousseaux pulled the trigger.
The man in the doorway crumpled like
a half-empty sack of meal. He was dead
before Rousseaux got to his side, blasted
to eternity by a load of buckshot.

Handcuffed together, the man and
woman were brought into the Slidell
police station. As officers started to grill
him the man broke.

“Okay,” he growled. “I'm Whitey Jarvis
all right and I know what you want me
for—the bank job in New Orleans. Well,
you got the right guy.’

“Mrs. Blair” admitted she had been
living with Blair but denied knowing he
was a bank robber. She was subsequently
released.

gS ey dead man was positively identified
as Blair. On the instep of each foot
was a tattooed pig. On the arch of his
right there was a tattooed figure of a
colored boy riding a pig. Besides the New
Orleans bank robbery there were scores
of minor convictions against him,

In a smart move, Jarvis pleaded guilty
to the bank job and denied he had been
the triggerman who had murdered the
two sisters in Sarasota. He thus hoped
to beat the murder rap and merely serve
a jail sentence in Louisiana.

This strategy did not work. The Sara-
sota grand jury quickly indicted Jarvis
for the murder of Lacey Bell Dyel and
had him brought back to stand trial.

Star witness for the state was the man
Jarvis had wounded after slaying the
sisters. He identified Jarvis as the man
who had fired the shots into Lacey Bell
and Bertie Lee on that horror-filled night.

The testimony of Eugene Bridges
counted heavily against the double slayer.
Bridges told the jury that the car found at
the murder scene was owned partly by
Jarvis. The fact that Jarvis’ fingerprint

OE Re VOR ©

was on the shoulder holster discovered
in the death cottage was the last thread
the state needed to wind up the case.

On May 17, 1933, the jury brought in
its verdict of guilty of murder in the first
degree. Jarvis was locke«! up in the Sara-
sota county jail to await passing of sen-
tence,

With the electric chair staring him in
the face, the cunning murderer made one
last desperate bid for liberty.

One night a Negro trusty told a strange
story to the jailer of having seen Jarvis
roaming the cell blocks at night, appar-
ently opening and relocking doors at
will,

A thorough search of the killer’s cell
disclosed three keys made out of a metal
pocket comb. The first two fitted his cell
door and the outside cell block. The third,
evidently fashioned for the door leading
to the outside passageway, had been
broken.

Confronted by his jailers, Jarvis snarled
viciously.

“If that stoolie hadn't squealed,” he
muttered, ““I’d have got out—or I’d have
got somebody.”

Further search revealed that the killer
in some inexplicable way had managed to
arm himself with a pocket knife.

Boastfully, the murderer told how he
had made the keys.

“One of the other prisoners had some
kind of an itch,” he said, “and he had
some black salve to rub on it. I got hold
of some of this stuff and rubbed it on a
piece of cardboard. Then I shoved the
cardboard into the locks and got the im-
pressions. All I had to do then was to
take the teeth out of the comb and match
the impressions.’

After that last grasp at life all the fight
seemed to go out of the slayer. He finally
admitted he had killed the two sisters and
for the first time gave the motive behind
his brutal attack.

“Blair and I had talked too much to
those girls,” he muttered. ‘They knew too
much about the bank job and I thought
we might just as well rub ' em out. I never
did trust women anyway.

On the sultry day of Aug. 18, 1933,
Jarvis walked the long, last mile to the
electric chair at the Raiford state prison
farm.

~ Ts

Judge them any way you please —
For close, clean shaves, for speed or ease

And Thin Gillettes will win hands down —
The greatest low-priced blades in town!

Protect your skin
from irritation caused °
by misfit blades


aly from an
oung girls
cal restau-
ian Walker
nto a park-

doing with
zirls,
ugs to, do

o past the
ues. There
id a couple
iving. The
put a new

tly flashed

te Bridges, .

nce picked

imitted, “I
two weeks
Blair, the
r and bor-
attery was

doing the

glance at .

demanded,
the elec-

1 it yet.”
umber and

r car,” re- ©

murderer
ay in that
‘isn’t any

s a black
-scriptions

to police ‘

be on the
le and its
au Tampa,
University
on regular

‘vals with .

lience.
i,” blared
the west
ify police
ition since
ingerous.”
13, 1933,
r in death.
o avenge!
vs grimly.
would not
if the two

uind what
Both girls
n married.
‘had been
s. .
was the
Could it
{ the girls,
weetheart
cen venge-
his rage
hatred of
d him and
4 symbols
eetheart’s
leory that
d girl and

eliminate °

iyings. If
he second

cedly, It

was beyond him at the moment. But one
thing was certain; before he was through
with this case he would see the ruthless
murderer of the Georgia sisters brought
to justice if it took him the rest of life to
do so.

Throughout the. day Sarasota police
and sheriff’s deputies worked with un-
flagging energy. Scores of persons were
questioned. Their efforts finally brought
results,

A man who lived near the death cottage
reported he had seen two men run from
the house and hail a passing automobile.
One of the men, the informant said, was
almost nude. The man told police he
could not give a satisfactory description
of the car or its driver.

Who had this mysterious motorist
been? Why had he not reported this
strange occurrence to the authorities, es-
pecially after the news of the double mur-
der? Then, perhaps it had been merely
a passing tourist who had driven on, un-
aware of the double tragedy.

Somewhere along the line there was a
piece missing from this weird jigsaw

Patrolman Fred Walker made the initial
investigation in the double crime which
shocked Sarasota.

puzzle of crime. Sheriff Pearson and
Deputy Garner decided to question young
Bridges, the electrician, again. They had
him brought in.

“What time did Blair take your car?”
Garner asked the electrician.

“About one o'clock in the morning,”
Bridges answered. “Whitey and he

Bridges stopped for a moment, then
continued: :

“Sheriff,” he said, “I’m going to come
clean. I helped in the getaway. I picked
up Whitey and Blair on Cocoanut avenue
and Twenty-third street that night.
Whitey was dressed in the brown suit
and gray hat. Blair was practically un-
dressed. Both of them had guns. They
said there’d been some shooting and they
were in trouble.”

The young electrician talked rapidly as
though trying to get the matter off his
chest as soon as possible.

“T took them down to an apartment
house on Madison avenue,” he continued.
“They had been living there with this

Mrs. Blair. While they waited in the car
I went in and told her that Blair had gone
swimming and lost his clothes. She gave
me another suit and I took them out to
the car.

“Then they asked me to let them take
my car. They said they’d give me one
hundred and fifty dollars for it. I think
they went back to the cottage with the
idea of getting the Plymouth started but
when they saw all the people around I
suppose they changed their minds and
went back to the apartment.”

“Why didn’t you tell us this before?”
snapped Sheriff Pearson.

’ “Well,” Bridges hesitated, I didn’t
want to get mixed up in it. I wanted no
part of any murder.”

“All right,” said the sheriff. “The harm’s
been done now, anyway. We'll call you
if we want you again.”

The moment the electrician had left
Pearson turned to Garner.

“Ed,” he said slowly, “I think we’ve got
a hot tip at last. Bridges came across a
little late but he did tell us something
which I think is important. I’ve known
him a long time and he’s a good boy.
Ne just that circumstances overwhelmed

im.

“What is your lead?” Garner asked.

“Did you notice he referred to one of
the men as Whitey? Well, ever since that
dying girl mentioned the tattooed coiled
snake I’ve been trying to remember just
where it was I’d seen a man with a
serpent tattooed on his wrist. And now
I think I’ve got it. Remember that pa-
roled prisoner we picked up here about
three years ago? The one from Nash-
ville? You and I took him back. Remem-
ber? My wife made the trip with us?”

“That's right,” said Garner. “I remem-
ber your wife said that was one man

“she'd be afraid of. He had a mean look

in his eye that she didn’t like.”

“And he called himself, Whitey,” broke
in the sheriff triumphantly. “He had a
string of aliases. I don’t know which one
he was using at the time but he was
known as Whitey. Remember the wife
asked him what his teal name was and
he said it didn’t make any difference be-
cause in prison he was just a number?
She asked him what his number was. He
told her and she wrote it down, as a sort
of a joke.”

Even as he talked Sheriff Pearson was
reaching for the phone.

“Get my home,” he told the switch-
board operator.

Mrs. Pearson still had the number. She
had written it down in a notebook as a
souvenir of the trip and gave it to her
husband over the phone.

Sheriff Pearson instantly sent a wire
to the prison at Nashville, Tenn., asking
for the name of the prisoner assigned that
number in 1930. Within the hour he re-
ceived a reply. The name of the prisoner
was Martin F, Jarvis.

On the heels of the first wire came an-

other giving a complete dossier and.

fingerprint description on Jarvis. .

Sarasota county’s fingerprint expert,
F. E. Wiltz, hurriedly checked the prints
with those dusted off the holster. They
matched in every detail.

“Jarvis is the man we want all right,”
said the sheriff jubilantly.

Minutes later a complete description
of Jarvis was on the police teletype:

“Wanted for murder in Sarasota,
Martin F,. Jarvis, weight 150 pounds,
about 68% inches tall, with a scar over
his right eye, another on his right cheek;
nine upper gold teeth; coiled snake tat-

We are not in business for our health. We
don’t give away 20 free shaves to anybody
for the fun of it. We make this offer simply
—and selfishly—because we know that man
after man who sends in the coupon below
will go on using Listerine Shaving Cream.

How can we be so sure? [ccause> we’ve
watched it happen. And becuuse we know
how Listerine Shaving Cream compares
with others, regardless of price.

You could spend a lot more, but in our
opinion you wouldn’t get anything better for
a tough beard and a tender skin than Listerine
Shaving Cream—at 35¢1! So rich in quality
it lathers even in ice water. It soothes the
skin. It softens the beard. Your razor slides
through it like nothing at all and leaves a
clean, smooth path behind.

Get the big tube of Listerine Shaving
Cream... containing at least 130 shaves...
at any drug counter. Or, if you want to be
shown, mail the coupon or post card for 20
shaves, absolutely free.

Mn

20 SHAVES

Lambert Pharmacal Co., Dept. 181, St. Louis, Mo.

Please send me free and postpaid your large sam-
ge tube of O Listerine Shaving Cream; ( Listerine
rushless Cream, (Check whichever is desired.) ;

City. State

61

“The lady was dark and rather pretty.
Seemed to me as though’ she might be
see although she talked perfect Eng-
lish.”

“Did you notice whether or not one of
the men had a tattooed snake on his
right wrist?”

The salesman shook his head. “No,”
he answered. “Frankly, I didn’t see much
of the men. They stayed in the back-
ground while the woman made the deal.”

A Sarasota detective quickly made the
rounds of local shoe and haberdashery
stores, Store after store was visited
without result.. Finally, in one of the
city’s most exclusive shops a clerk peered
intently at the shoe. re

“T sold that shoe myself about two
weeks ago,” he said. “It was a cash deal
and I didn’t make out a sales slip with the

[Continued from page 25]

man’s name on it. But there was one
rather queer thing about the man who
bought the shoes. He had on a pair of
thin, white silk socks and through the
sheer silk I could see he had a tattooed
figure high on the outside of his right
foot, directly over the arch.”

“Remember what kind of a tattoo it
was?” asked the detective.

The clerk nodded. “It was the figure
of a colored boy riding on a pig. I re-
member I thought it was kind of funny
at the time and said something about it to
the customer. He didn’t say anything
though, just bought the shoes and walked
out.”

The purchaser, he said, seemed to be
about 37 years old and was of medium
height and build. There was nothing
else distinctive about him.

HOPED TO BEAT JUSTICE

‘Cwctte Baa

Richard Gallogly, thrill-slayer of an Atlanta drug store clerk in 1

Capt. Frank Simmons, on

60

aise

his return to Atlanta.

928, escaped from a’

Georgia prison and fled to Texas. He said he sought “Texas justice” and fought six
months against extradition. Texas turned him down. He is shown handcuffed with

Crimson Mystery of the Slain Coquettes

A valuable lead came suddenly from an
unexpected source. Two young girls
working as waitresses in a local restau-
rant happened to see Patrolman Walker
driving the mysterious sedan into a park-
ing lot.

“What in the world are you doing with
that car?” asked dne of the girls.

“Don't know who it belongs to, do
you?” asked Walker.

“No. But we've seen it go past the
restaurant any number of times. There
were usually two men in it and a couple
of times Pete Bridges was driving. The
other night he told us he had put a new
radio in the car.”

Patrolman . Walker instantly flashed
Sheriff Pearson. Eugene Pete Bridges,
a Sarasota electrician, was at once picked
up for questioning.

“That’s right,” Bridges admitted, “iy
put a radio if that car about two weeks
ago. In fact, late last night, Blair, the
man who owns it, came over and bor-
rowed my jalopy. Said the battery was
dead in his Plymouth.”

Deputy Garner, who was doing the

questioning, shot a swift glance at

Bridges. a ;
“Where’s your cat now?” he demanded,
“I don’t know,” answered the elec-
trician. “Blair hasn’t returned it yet.”
“Well, let’s have the license number and

a complete description of your car,” re- —

quested Garner. “Thére’s a murderer
loose somewhere on the highway in that
automobile of yours and there isn’t any
time to waste.’

Bridges described his car as a black
Essex coach and gave good descriptions
of the two men and the woman.

Word was instantly flashed to police
of other cities asking them to be on the
lookout for the fleeing vehicle and its
occupants. Radio stations in Tampa,
Clearwater and the Florida University
station at Gainesville cut in on regular

broadcasts at 15-minute intervals with .

warnings to their far-flung audience.

“Any persons seeing this car,” blared
loud speakers up and down the west
coast of Florida, “should notify police
at once. Exercise extreme caution since
these men ‘are armed and dangerous.”

Early that morning, March 13, 1933,
Lacey Bell Dyel joined her sister in death.
The law now had two murders to avenge!

Deputy Garner heard the news grimly.
He vowed to himself that he would not
rest until the merciless slayer of the two
women paid for his crimes.

Rapidly he reviewed in his mind what
he knew about the sisters. Both girls
came from Georgia and had been married.
At the time of their death they had been
separated from their husbands.

What puzzled Garner most was the
motive for the double killing. Could it
be that a jealous suitor of one of the girls,
believing he had surprised his sweetheart
in an illicit rendezvous, had taken venge-
ance upon her? Perhaps in his rage
the murderer had déveloped a hatred of
life, feeling that it had wronged him and
had attempted to kill all living symbols
of what he imagined was his sweetheart’s
infidelity. Too, there was the theory that
he might have killed the second girl and
shot at the man he wounded to eliminate
all possible witnesses to the slayings. If
this were true, what part did the second
man play in this?

Garner shook his head doggedly. It

was beyond |
thing was cer
with this cas:
murderer of |
to justice if it
do so.

Throughou'
and sheriff's
flagging ener
questioned.
results.

A man who
reported he |
the house an
One of the n
almost nude
could not gi
of the car or

Who had
been? Wh:
strange occu
pecially afte:
der? Then,
a passing to:
aware of the

Somewher
piece missit

Patrolman
investigati:

puzzle of
Deputy G:
Bridges, t!
him broug

“What |
Garner as’

“About

continued
“Sherif
clean. I!
up White
and Tw
Whitey
and gray
dressed.
said ther
were int:
The yo
though t
chest as
“IT too!
house on
“They h


tooed on his wrist and a marine emblem
on the right forearm. He is 34 years old.”

Thinking the fugitive trio might pos-
sibly be hiding out in the lonely keys
along Sarasota bay, Sheriff Pearson dis-
patched deputies in fast cars to search
every road in the district. The waterfront
was thoroughly scoured by men in speed-
boats.

The third day after the murder the
manhunt took to the air. Bert Pearson,
son of the sheriff and a licensed pilot,
flew his plane low over Midnight Pass,
Long Boat Key and Siesta Key. There
was no trace of a black Essex coach to
reward his efforts.

Sheriff Pearson conferred with Deputy
Garner.

“Ed,” he said, “I’ve a hunch that car is
hiding out somewhere and they are just
about getting set to make a break for
the state line. I’m going to ask the gov-
ernor for a little help.”

That afternoon he sent a wire to Gov-
ernor David Sholz. The telegram read:

“Bertie Lee Clements and her sister,
Lacey Bell Dyel, were brutally mur-
dered here Sunday night, allegedly by
two men, Martin F. Jarvis, alias Whitey
Rogers, and John Blair. We have used
every available means to apprehend these
two men and have expended all our avail-
able funds. We have sufficient evidence to
convict them when apprehended. Is it
possible for you as governor of Florida
to offer a reward for information which

will lead to their capture? We have rea-

son to believe they are in hiding and will

take to the highway to make a getaway.

A reward offered at this time will help us.
Your prompt reply will be appreciated.
“Clem Pearson.”
Ten minutes after that message was
burning the wires to Tallahassee, Flor-
ida’s state capital, the telephone rang in
headquarters.

VICTIM OF SPURNED SUITOR

Pretty Mildred Beil, 22-year-old nurse, was shot and killed while she was sipping an ice
cream soda in a store in Milwaukee. Police said her slayer was a spurned sweetheart,
Harry Christiansen, member of a prominent family, who then shot himself in the head.

62

ih

“Sheriff Pearson,” said the voice at the
other end of the line, “this is police head-
quarters at Sebring. A garage man here
tells us that a party just traded in a black
Essex coach on a 1932 Chevrolet. They
paid spot cash for it. Two men and a
woman. The dealer called us right away
but the party pulled out, evidently got
suspicious.”

Sebring was about 63 miles east of
Sarasota, in the central part of the state.
Instead of following the west coast north
the killers were obviously heading toward
the east coast.

“They might be trying to work south
to Miami,” hazarded the sheriff. “Prob-
ably figure on catching a steamer to
Havana. Ed, I think you'd better take a
run down to Miami and see if you can
find any trace of them.”

Garner made the trip to Miami but the
journey bore no fruit. There was no sign
of the killers. He warned passenger boat
officials to be on the lookout for the
fugitives and returned to Sarasota.

The night Garner returned from Miami
a reporter from the Sarasota Herald showed
him a post card which had been mailed to
the Herald office from New Orleans. It
asked for copies of the newspaper from
March 13 to 15 inclusive. These were the
dates on which the stories of the murder
had been spread over practically the en-
tire front page.

Could it be that the killer was an ego-
maniac, that he wanted to see his name
in headlines? Pearson immediately con-
tacted New Orleans authorities and asked
them to check thd post card.

The telegraphed reply was disappoint-
ing but it also contained some startling
information. Jarvis and Blair were also
wanted in New Orleans for the robbery
of a branch bank on February 14, in which
they obtained loot totaling $14,000.

I WAS learned the post card had been |

sent by aman who kept a scrapbook on
all important crimes throughout the
country. }

Sheriff Pearson had barely finished
reading the wire when Pete Bridges
came breathlessly into the office.

“The Blair woman just called me,” he
gasped. “Wanted to tell me my Essex
was okay in Sebring and I could get it
“ time I wanted.” 4

eputy Garner, who was with the
sheriff, leaped to his feet.

“Where'd she call from?” he demanded.

“New Orleans.”

Garner grabbed the phone. Seconds
later he had the Sarasota long distance
operator.

“Police headquarters,” he snapped. “See
if you can trace the call that just came
in from New Orleans for Pete Bridges.
Rush, It’s urgent.”

Ten minutes later, as the three men

waited with the feverish impatience of
inaction, the long distance operator called
back.

The call had been made from a pay sta- -
‘tion booth in the heart of downtown

New Orleans,

“Good work, operator,” said Garner.
“Now get me the New Orleans chief of
police.” /

With New Orleans on the wire, Garner
rapidly gave the latest bulletin on the
manhunt and’ sketched in a complete de-
scription of the Chevrolet purchased in
Sebring. ‘

Even as he talked, Sheriff Pearson,
Chief Davis and Deputy Herbert Keisling
readied for a forced jaunt into Louisiana.

As the
ward alon
police dep:
scriptions
occupants
in the cit)
the airwa:
car and t!
contacted

By nigh
A gas sta
called in «

“That C
told polic:
driver ha:
wrist. I cx
the gas. ”
It’s almos
stop at sc

New O
Slidell s]
Sheriff |]
Marshal .
search of
cinity.

At 9 p.
overnight
skirts of
tives’ car.
the glare
license ple

Sudden!
A woman
which sho
seaux slip:
shotgun a

“What :
for?” den
you?”

In back
figure of 2

“Step a
“Yourre li:

Somethi
woman to
seaux rec
He was g&
the coiled
“Put ‘er
“Put ’em :
your head

He held
levelled a:
raised his

“Now wv
deputy.


signin. merpeoneeristttihect ogee ou pines 3 rescoags sit:
on g gues aor eo) ea ee a ea

Ms oem coon ona can mnie ae came mon
oe RS Eee aa i

Joe

210

Appendix 1: Legal and Extralegal Executions

: 20
James O’Connor
Ferdinand
“721
McCaskill

5%
John Ammons

Apalachicola
Pensacola

June 29, 1860
Oct. 12, 1861

Holmes County June 12, 1861

Murdered his wife
Convicted of murder-
ing George Young

(a black?)
Murdered Samuel

McQuagg

B. Blacks

Name

Place Date

Comments

23
Monday

24
Ben

Joe and
‘ 25
Crittenden

26
Jane
™
Tom and John*’
28
Henry

Wilkes””
Adam”

Caeser (alias Sam
3
Jones or Hunter)”!

Will’?

Anthony”
Cella*!

. 35
Simon”

Arnold*®®

37
Abraham
38

Hall"”

Bill Jones,

40
a slave

. l
Simon’

42
Three slaves

Alachua County [Dec.?] 1830
Tallahassee May 23, 1828

Tallahassee Dec. 15, 1834

Tallahassee [1835?]
Newnansville Aug. 14, 1837
Pensacola Dec. 28, 1838

Pensacola
Pensacola

May 25, 1839
June 14, 1839
Apalachicola [1840-41?]
Euchee Anna May 21, 1841

Tallahassee
Jacksonville

Nov. 24, 1843
Sept. 22, 1848
Monticello Dec. 15, 1848
Calhoun
County
Columbia
County

Calhoun County [1853?]
Madison [1856?]

[Fall?] 1850

June 11, 1852

Milton Dec. 12, 1856
Gainesville [1857]

Madison [May?] 1860

Liberty County Apr. 6, 1860

Raped Sarah Cason
Murdered his overseer, }
Mr. Kent

Both convicted of mur- 4

dering James
Roundtree
Infanticide
Murdered L. Gilliland
Murdered his master,
Dr. Parker
Murdered [?] Vaughn
Murdered his master,
John Sunday
Murdered Robert
Herrin
Murdered Mrs. Nancy
Senterfeit
“Felony”

Murdered her master,
Jacob Bryant

Murdered his master,
Richard Cole

Murdered Elizabeth
Burgess

No details

Murder

Murdexed his master,
William Pearce

Rape

Assault with intent to
kill white man

Murdered their over-
seer, Mathew Griffin

Murdered Duncan A.
McPhail

Jerome
J. Alfon

» Unnamed

4 Simon””’
© Jack or Su

dam?’
Lewis, Isr:
— Allen®
Unspecific
| blacks”
» Ephraim,

a Hemp [H: |

. October 23,
8, 68, 73, 76;

L; George E.
arolina Press,

ilators broke
wn, Strain of
see Shofner,
Pp. 195-214,
storical Quar-
if Wilderness:
iprine Press,

ity, 5'7 to 10
son County,
46-54).

ounty, 83 to

@ Ga-

September

cribed as a
wida Herald
1 21, 1829.

was trying
‘kley noted
id not even
r 16, 1830,

March 5,

on in their
tators, and
Augustine

Notes to Pages 209-210

News, June 13, 1842; St. Augustine Florida Herald and Southern Democrat, June 17,
1842.

12. Ibid.

13. Everhart was described as a “cold-blooded and inhumane monster” and “the
most hardened villain that has ever stretched a rope.” Apalachicola Commercial Adver-
tuser, May 24, 1843; Tallahassee Florida Sentinel, June 20, 1843.

14. Jallahassee Floridian, October 3, 10, 1846; Jacksonville Florida News, October
3, 10, 1846.

15. .lbid.

16, Jacobs killed Cherry in a drunken brawl at the Bemis distillery in Newport.
He met his “fate with firmness and resignation.” Tallahassee Florida Sentinel, June 22,
1852.

17. Burns assassinated Alston as the latter was on a “Sunday walk” with his wife.
The murder occurred in Jackson County, and the venue was changed to Washing-
ton County. Burns, described as having a “particularly ugly and distasteful” appear-
ance, claimed that the deceased had continually threatened him. Tallahassee Flo-
ridian and Journal, June 12, 1852.

18. Fernandina East Floridian, January 5, 1860.

19. Sailors were part of the “crew of the Enterprise [and] have been convicted
at Key West of the murder of Capt. Morantes, and have been sentenced to execu-
tion.” Ibid., December 22, 1859.

20. O'Connor was convicted and sentenced to hang on June 29. He escaped
while he waited to hear about an appeal to the Florida Supreme Court. He was
captured on September 20, 1860. See ibid., September 6, October 11, 1860.

21. Pensacola West Florida Times, March 17, 1857; Fernandina East Floridian, Oc-
tober 24, 1860.

22. Ammons killed McQuagg in a drunken brawl. His main defense was that
McQuagg called his recently deceased mother a “rogue.” It is not known whether
his sentence was actually carried out, although his appeal failed. “Nothing appear-
ing why sentence of death should not again be passed upon him said Judge, in open
court, do sentence the said Ammons to be executed at such time and place as the
court may deem fit and proper, and that said court so cause sentence to be carried
into execution.” John Ammons v State, 1861, in Reports of the Cases Argued and Adjudged
im the Supreme Court of Florida, g vols. (Tallahassee, 1845-61): 9:559.

23. The crime was committed under “circumstances of brutal barbarity.” Mon-
day was chased by a posse, wounded, and almost lynched. Alachua, Columbia, and
Hillsborough Counties, Minutes of the Superior Court, 1828-35, Pp. 22, 24-25,
PKYL; Territory v Monday, a Slave, 1829, Territorial Auditor, Vouchers, RG 352, ser.
584, box 1, folder 3, FSAr.

24. Leon County, Minutes of the Superior Court, Book 1, p. 76.

25. Certificate of Value for Joe and Crittenden, December 15, 1834, Territorial
Auditor, Vouchers, RG 3532, ser. 584, box 1, folder 7, FSAr.

26. An Act for the Relief of Paul McCormick of Leon County, 1836, Legislative
Council, Unicameral, RG 910, ser. 876, box 5, folder 3, FSAr.

27. St. Augustine Florida Herald, July 15, 1837.

28. Pensacola Gazette, January 5, 1839.

29. Ibid., May 25, 1830.


“A Rogue’s Paradise”

i Crime and Punishment in
: Antebellum Florida, 1821-1861

James M. Denham

The University of Alabama Press

Tuscaloosa and London


in the getawpy.

8. The announcement that Bridges
tructed to not leave
_ to hold himself in .
g immediate call. |

9. Search of the countryside from —
an airplane by Sheriff C. B.. Peare
son piloted by his son, Doug Pear-
son.

10. The digcovery of certain per-
sonal wearing apparel of both Blair
and Jarvis which is being sent to
the manufacturers to trace down

pose of securing better identifica-
tion of Blair |if possible. —

Sheriff Pearson wired Governor
Dave Sholtz|today, explaining the
circumstances and asking for the
posting of a reward. The telegram?

“Bertie Le¢ Clements and her sis-
ter, Lacey Bell Dyel were brutally,
murdered here Sunday night, alleg-
edly by two
alias “Whitey” Rogers and John
'Blair.” We Have used every avail-
able means tp apprehend these two
m:n and have expended all, our
available funds. We have suffi-+
cient evidence to convict ‘them
when apprehended. Is it possible
for you as governor of Florida to
offer a reward for . information
which will Jead to their capture?.
We have reagon to believe they are
in hiding and will take to the high-
way to mak& getaway in day or so
and reward offered at this time will
help us. Your prompt reply will be
appreciated. |

Bridges, inia long session of ques-
tioning last night completely chang-
ed his first.-story, according to
Sheriff C. Bj Pearson and Chief .
Deputy Sheriff E. A. Garner, tell-
ing the officers that he found Blair
and Jarvis qn Cocoanut avenue at

Bridges, the jofficers said, that they
had been in|a “shooting mess” and
‘\ntimated that someone had been
killed. : ; :
After arriving at the apartment
Bridges went in and told the. wo
man known jas Mrs. ‘Blair that her
bee) swimming and
his |clothes, officers
the took others out to

had lost al
related and
him. . i

The Plymguth car Bought sevéral
days ago by; the woman who (bes

gave her name as Mrs, Todd” and:
for which she - pad 48395" 19. |
from’ a roll fesctibe Us:

man ar “big.esough:

mule”. was: left ps

Pe

to the last purchaser for the pur.

en, Martin F. Jarvis «

97773H ViosyAS

f.(K22/ iy selsy/>

>It tinued from page ane.)
to | the murder house because jt would

te| not start due to a run-down battery.
ad| The ‘men took Bridges. car,
ii-] ficers were told, promising |to pay.
he} him $160 for it, with the jn
of using it to get theirs 8 rted. It
asiig assumed that they w t back
an! to the vicinity of the murder scene
nel and finding officers ithere went

at | back, picked up the iw an and

murder
the of-
told
seithem ao story
elltrom what he now declares to be
the truth. The officers,
se| and county, were badly
\8-| ped by the lack of info
he| to who actually did the killing. One
le-log the women was dead nd the
se| other dying when the officers arm
rived on the scene. lone
la-| Douglas was ques
be |iate yesterday by Assistant States
@ | attorney Kirk and released from
ial jail, Officers were convinge
W-] said, that his presence!in the house
be| vas entirely casual and th
of also the intended target
"Blithe death dealing bulle
ue snuffed out the lives of th
| Bridges further delayed he work
of the officers, it is charg , by tak-
ing Sheriff Pearson to T pa, early
Monday morning, stopping|at a gas
station in Bradenton ‘and identify-
yt ing @ car described by th attend-
ant as his car being us
killers. eatths :
fficers are
onal if Bridges had told hem the


36 True Detective Mysteries

(Above) Chief of (Right) Chief Dep-
Police S. Tilden uty E. A. Garner.
Davis, of Sarasota, Garner played, a
who aided in round- major réle in track-
ing up the slayers ing down the killers

and his story might be a trumped-up
affair to put him in the clear.

As he was seated in the police car out-
side, nursing his slightly wounded hand,
we decided to have Officer Walker take
him to Sarasota Hospital to be questioned
in the presence of Lacey Bell, if the doctors
would permit it and she were conscious.

Meanwhile, we went on with our ex-
amination of the murder chamber. We
found a pair of blood-stained trousers, &
vest, a shirt, a pair of slippers, one shoe,
and a gun holster. A strange assortment
for a lady’s boudoir.

A SOBERING Douglas’ story as true, it
looked to us that the quarrel had begun
while one of the strangers, probably the.
first one to visit Lacey Bell, was partly
undressed; and that the two men who were
in the room at the time had fled pre-
cipitately after the shooting, the disrobed
one not even taking time to dress or carry
off his garments

From the position of the body of Bertie
Lee and that of the bullet holes, the slayer
must have stood in one corner of the room :
and shot the sisters down, vanishing immediately after his
bloody work was done.

But why had he killed; and so viciously?

That was a question that baffled all of us; it.seemed so in-
explicable. Yet back in my mind as we completed our ex-
amination, Bertie Lee’s words, “Pipe down or I'll call the
Law,” continued to echo with a persistence that seemed to
demand much further thought.

But I had no time for that now. Fast work was before us,
if we were to pick up the trail of the two mysterious strangers,
who would get out of town with all possible dispatch.

Meanwhile, at the Sarasota Hospital physicians were pre-
paring for. an emergency operation on Lacey Bell when Officer
Walker arrived. The woman was still conscious but seemed
to be weakening fast. With the doctors’ permission Walker
hustled Douglas into the presence of the wounded girl. She
seemed to realize that death was not far off and made an
effort to arouse herself.

“Did this man shoot you?” asked Walker, pushing Douglas
forward.

“No,” she answered feebly after a moment of silence-
“Then who shot you?”
“J—J don’t know. 1—l didn’t know the man,” came the
faint reply; and Lacey Bell lapsed into unconsciousness.
With this information in our hands, a jury was hastily
summoned, with County Judge Francis C. Dart presiding in
the absence of Coroner J. T. Silvertooth. A verdict of “killed
by parties unknown,” was promptly returned. :
Lacey Bell Dyel and Bertie Lee Clements had lived in
Sarasota four or five years, most of the time in the same
house. They were daughters of George Morey, of Georgia.
Mrs. Clements had been separated from her husband for about

| four years. The personal history of her sister was unknown.

An ironic twist was given to the fatal events of that Sunday
by the information we obtained that the sisters had quarreled
and had only made up their differences the night before the
tragedy. Had it not been for this, the Dyel woman would
not have moved back into the Clements bungalow; in which
event there would probably never have been any shooting, for
Mrs. Clements and Douglas would have been alone together.
An examination of the wounds of the
_ victims and of the bullet holes in the wall
proved that all shots had been fired from
the same gun, a .38 caliber special; and
we began our somewhat hopeless task of
finding that gun and its owner.

mea was one thing in our favor:
Before I reached the murder scene the
officers had noted and taken possession
of a Plymouth sedan which stood in front
of the bungalow. Somehow, we all had a
hunch that this car had a connection

should have the best clue to our quarry.
I immediately set out to trace the owner-
ship of this car; while through my brain
continued to echo the words of Bertie
Lee, “Pipe down or I'll call the Law.”

I learned from Harry Spence, night-
man at the Chevrolet agency, that the
mystery car had been purchased a few
days before by & woman giving the name
of Mrs. Juanita Todd. She had paid
cash, and in Harry’s words had a roll of
bills “big enough to choke a inule.” He
also told me that Eugene Bridges, 8 young
man whom we all knew as “Pete,” had

(Below) Patrolman Fred Walker
on the Sarasota Force who dis-
covered the crime

with the crime, and that through it we .

been hi
in the
been a:
before.
This
Pete |
wasn't
faney |
He t
rowed
hesitat:
Todd, \
and fift
He ha
midnig!
Doul
story, |
and thx
cross-ex
to his c
up in d
had dis:
- used it
the mur


THE MYSTERY

KILLIN

By C, Ba

34

ea tadk

7 RTI: ‘ Ee Aria pets

rod

GS ON

UT on Twenty-fourth Street just east of Cocoanut

Avenue in the charming city of Sarasota, Florida, stands

a five-room bungalow, which at the time of this tragedy

held much of mystery to the uninitiate, and much of

interest to boys and men whose amorous inclinations would
sometimes outrun their judgment.

In this modest home lived Lacey Bell Dyel, thirty years of
age, and her attractive sister, Bertie Lee Clements, a divorcée
of twenty-three. ‘

Lacey Bell was discreet in many things, but her discretion
could hardly have been said to cover her relations with the
opposite sex. She had a winning way which she was not
averse to using, even with strangers; and her hospitality was
all-welecoming and generous; generous, that is, if there was a
reciprocating generosity on the part of her guests, when they
were satisfied with what her gay and free spirit had to offer.:

For Lacey Bell knew the ways of men, and could in all prob- °

ability have testified that politics is not the only profession
that makes strange bed-fellows.

On Sunday night, March 12th, 1933, Lacey Bell’s sister,
Bertie Lee, winsome and willowy, was entertaining her favorite,
eos Douglas, in the rear room of her Twenty-fourth Street

ouse. .

The night was glorious. Outside, the tropic moon swung
meltingly in the heavens, lavishing her mellow light on trees,
grass and roadway; and so outrivaling the sickly efforts of the
kerosene lamps within, that they seemed to do little but
fill the bungalow with threatening shadows.

But the love seance of Bertie Lee and Jimmie Douglas was
not embarrassed by lack of light, nor troubled at all by shadows.
The pleasurable passing of the hours had but one interruption,
the admittance of a stranger about midnight, to see Lacey
Bell; an intrusion that reminded them of something they had
almost forgotten; that Lacey Bell was already entertaining
another stranger in the front parlor and bedroom.

It wasn’t long after the entry of the newcomer that the
couple in the rear room was made aware of the truth of the
old saying that “two’s company, and three’s a crowd”; for
angry voices in dispute came from the front of the house in
increasing volume. The: quarrel soon reached a degree of
towdyism that became too much for Bertie Lee’s sense of
propriety. Incensed, she walked through the living-room to
her sister’s boudoir, closely followed by Douglas. Thrusting
opening the bedroom door she stepped inside and said:

“Pipe down, or I’ll call the Law.”

There was no answer from the dim figures within, but a .

pistol] spat fire, and Bertie Lee crumpled to the floor at the
feet of Douglas who was standing behind her. More shots
rang out, and Douglas, shot through the hand, fled from the
house to give an alarm. Dashing around the corner of
Twenty-fourth: Street to Rouse’s Roadhouse on Cocoanut
Avenue, he saw Ted Lewis in his car. He jumped in.
“Drive like hell for the police,”

The two victims, Lacey he shouted. ‘There’s been a bad

Bell Dyel (left) and her, shooting at Bertie Lee’s place.”
The car made the mile down
Cocoanut Avenue to Five Points,
in Sarasota, in record time. Here
the two caught sight of Officers

younger sister, Bertie

Lee Clements, taken

shortly before they were
murdered

PEA

evens tpn

aroul,
The
quiet.
flashli
work
with f
A deat
’ place ;
they .
their {
tacle.
her he:
the fox
of crim:
Scarred
recogni.
Clemer
Eneir
they we
Spraw |
for bre
Raping
“Tt's
Walker
stepped

oe ee ee


be erie aE Se wm

of Cocoanut
lorida, stands
; this tragedy
and much of
vations would

hirty years of
its, a divoreée

her discretion
tions with the
, she was not
iospitality was
if there was &
sts, when they
it had to offer.-
Jd in all prob-
only profession

ry Bell’s sister,
‘ing her favorite,
ty-fourth Street

ic moon swung
w light on trees,
«ly efforts of the
o do little but

mie Douglas was
it all by shadows.
one interruption,
ut, to see Lacey
aething they had
ady entertaining
droom.
weomer that the
the truth of the
’s a crowd’; for
+ of the house in
hed a degree of
ie Lee’s sense 0
1e living-room to
iglas. Thrusting
de and said:

res within, but 4
the floor at the
her. More shots
ind, fled from the
nd the corner of
use on Cocoanut
He jumped in. |,
ll for the police,”
‘here’s been & bad
tie Lee’s place.

ie the mile down
ye to Five Points,
-ecord time. Here

, sight of Officers
and Gus Wrashe

—_

TWENTY-FOURTH

STREET

+ oe, 4

The murder cottage.

Arrow points to the

room in which the shoot-
ing occurred

standing in front of the Palmer National
Bank, A few words sufficed to acquaint the
policemen with the shooting and spur them
into action; Ordering Douglas into their

car the officers leaped in and sped out to
the Clements’ house.

As the car swung around the corner into
Twenty-fourth Street, Walker sprang out,
and shouting to Wrashe, “Gus, you go in
the front, and I’ll take the back,” he dashed
around to the rear of the bungalow.

The house was in darkness and strangely
quiet. Moving cautiously with the aid of
flashlights, the two police officers began to
work their way slowly through the rooms,
with ears alert for any invisible presence.
A deathlike stillness, however, pervaded the
place and everything seemed in order until
they entered the front bedroom. Here
their flashlights disclosed a ghastly spec-
tacle. A young woman lay dead on a rug,
her head against. a chair and her feet -near
the foot of the bed. About her were pools
of crimson; and the wall above her head was
scarred with bullet holes. Both officers
recognized her immediately as Bertie Lee
Clements.

Encircling the room with their flashlights,
they were horrified to see another woman
sprawled on the floor, writhing and gasping
for breath. Blood was issuing from two
gaping wounds in her abdomen.

“It’s Lacey Bell Dyel, all right,’’ said
Walker, as, pulling himself together, he
stepped over to where the twisting figure

lay. ‘She may have a chance, so we’d
better. get her out of here in a hurry.”

Leaving Wrashe on guard, Walker sum-
moned an ambulance, and the wounded
woman was rushed to the Sarasota Hospital.
Ile also notified Chief of Police ‘S. Tilden
Davis and Deputy Sheriff Hodges, the
latter being on duty in my office at the
time.

Hodges passed the news to Deputy-
Sheriff Kiessling, and with Chief Deputy E.
A. Garner, hurried to the scene of the
tragedy, arriving there about the same time
as Chief Davis. Meanwhile, Kiessling had
picked me up, and we arrived: at the bunga-
low at 1:20 in the morning.

I joined the other officers in the bedroom,
and we proceeded to make a diligent search
of the place for finger-prints, weapons or any
other clues that would enlighten us as to the
identity of the two: visiting strangers.

T= facts I have related up to this point
were obtained by questioning young
Douglas and Officers Walker and Wrashe.
How true Douglas’ story was, none of us
knew. We were acquainted with the young
man and believed that in the main he
might be giving us a true account of what
had actually happened; but we were not
prepared to take all his statements at’ their
face value until some supporting evidence
could be uncovered. For all we knew, he
himself might have quarreled with the
two sisters and participated in the shooting;

35

Sheriff’ C. B. Pearson, co-
author of this story, shown
with the death weapon

nent of silence-

man,” came the
mnsciousness. —

iury was hastily
Dart presiding in
verdict of “killed

ed. . .
nts had lived in
time in the same
forey, of Georgia.
husband for about
ster was even ier
its of that Sunday
ters had quarreled
.e night before the
Oyel woman would
sungalow; in which
n any shooting, for
een alone together.
the wounds of the
et holes in the wall
iad been fired from
caliber special; and
1at hopeless task of
its owner.

hing in our favor:
ie sander scene the
id taken possession
which stood in front
achow, we all had @

had a connection

that through it we .

clue to our quarry.
: to trace the owner-
ie through my brain
the words of Bertie
(ll call the Law.
{arry Spence, night-
iet agency, that the
en purchased & few
man giving the name
‘odd. She had paid
= words had a roll of
, choke a ‘mule.” He
gene Bridges, & young
knew as “Pete,” had

man Fred Walker
a Force who dis-
{ the crime

The Mystery Killings On Twenty-Fourth Street 37

The Plymouth sedan
left at the scene of the
slaying, which proved a
clue to the trail of the
murderers

PRL EL eT Cy he
Cig

So Se Sea SET
SSSR sty yrigaygatee comer nee : agi

been hired by the woman as a chauffeur, and to install a radio

in the Plymouth. When Mrs. Todd bought the car she had

— accompanied by two men whom Harry had never seen
ore.

This all sounded interesting, and I immediately got hold of
Pete Bridges. He was communicative enough, though I
wasn’t quite sure while he was talking what was fact and what
fancy in his bursts of information.

He told me that two men whom he did not know had bor-
rowed his Essex coach to get their car started; that he had
hesitated about lending his car for this purpose until Mrs.
Todd, who was with them, had promised to pay him a hundred
and fifty dollars if anything damaging happened to the Essex.
He had reluctantly given his permission.. This was about
midnight—the night of the shooting.

Doubtless, there might be some truth in this rather strange
story, but I felt sure that there was much more to be told
and that Pete could tell it. But he wouldn’t, in spite of all my
cross-examination of his statements and activities. He stuck
to his contention that this was all he knew, and T had to give
up in disgust. One thing was certain, Bridges’ green Essex
had disappeared, and there was no doubt that the trio had
used it to make their getaway when the Plymouth, left at
the murder scene, was found to be useless for their purpose.

dle ta aioe DS Seo 4 ARTA EOE

The lethal weapon with fm
four of the death-dealing fy
bullets that spat from it, &
directed by the hand of fg
the killer

SE OS a EP cen ES OIG

Why should a woman be willing to risk the paying of one
hundred and fifty dollars to get an automobile started at
midnight, the midnight of a ghastly crime? There seemed only
one answer, And as I pondered over this the words of Bertie
Lee again sounded through my brain: “Pipe down or I’ll
call the Law.” That was it. There had been no quarrel
between the two men over a woman; it was those words,
“T’ll call the Law,” that had been the spark that started the
fireworks. Therefore, one of those men in that room had a
record. He was afraid of “The Law.’”’ And now here was a
woman, with two mysterious companions, who was so anxious
to get out of town on the night of a trdgedy, that she was
willing to pay a substantial sum to get moving immediately,
rather than wait until morning. That trio must be “afraid
of the Law,”’ too.

WHETHER this reasoning was sound or not I didn’t
know, but at that time I felt I was on the right track.
Those two men and the woman had some connection with
that fatal shooting at the Clements’ cottage. It might be a

remote connection, but the link was there. Of that I felt
sure.

I tried Pete Bridges again. He was hopeless as far as
getting any additional information was concerned. But
we held on to him in the belief that if we did run across Mrs.
Todd and the two phantom strangers, he would be able to
identify them. Douglas we released as we were convinced
that he was’ entirely innocent of any responsibility in the
shooting.

Our immediate concern now became the tracking down of
the suspicious trio which had made off in Bridges’ FMssex.
Sheriffs and police departments in all surrounding cities were
promptly notified by telephone to be on the lookout for the
wanted trio, traveling in a green Essex coach with over-sized
tires on the rear wheels. It was rather an unsatisfactory
description, but it was all we had, for Pete Bridges main-
tained that he could give no details about the appearance of
the woman and the two strangers.

We pressed every available man in the sheriff’s and police
departments into the hunt, scouring the city for information
about the trio, and watching every highway. But in spite
of our prompt efforts, the two hours following the slaying
passed without our uncovering a single clue.

Chief of Police Davis and I held a hasty consultation. We
decided to go to Bradenton, twelve miles north of Sarasota
on the Tamiami Trail, and see if we couldn’t pick up some
information, as this route seemed the most logical for the
fugitives to take. We took Pete (Continued on page 90)


*) @
pet 7

NAME A |; PLACE — cIiTY OR COUNTY DOE & means

O08 OR AGE UV mace j @ocuearion RESIDENCE GEN ¢

KiLack |

RECORO

phe asigl. | OaTe OTHER
}
|

Dittrdr | t- 20 -/903.

vicTim AGE RACE

Ottery 77, esi: SZ UA

MOTIVE

Lerbbtz
LEB Lewd ot 6A5U Monrre ST: ALA Zmlah, Ar af Beto XX

Aha Poe iki frcrse (irrith,  (brrk a hae crcl Leeginttn L
Lloyd. hy Jaatiarestle (ertsinal Ougiany: Lerrctl Atcha ful secouli
Ofte heeng hil Vaudous wl doruned t Finult chet uth Lope.
aes Z List din Lith ibn: Og hs ao Acero Le aeery pf ‘ pobimate he

Lewsoved i hrte tine Ludi 7 Litt Ou flere 4- cirhere fped Vio Ail Atom, a

din de. ois fos thot Fetcccocelited J. 4 puerg harifoeld :
ice in eek A fed Lut Jacl Zz O1er Tre .

kdee arratt Card

TRIAL

APPEALS

LAST woROS

EXECUTION

ee,

SQurace

——— ~

mo terte = Zirezsr, Yor (2-AI92%

|

:


7
JOHNSON, Frank, electrocuted Florida (Duval) 10-2%-1924,

"Raiford, Fla., Oct. 7. - (AP) - Frank Johnson, negro was electrocuted
at the state prison farm here at 2:44 o'clock this afternoon for the
murder of Atley B. Terrell, locomotive engineer at Jacksonville last
December, Johnson was the first man to be 4@xecuted by electrocution in
Florida in accordance with the act of the last legislature which substi-
tuted the gtectric chair for the gallows for the execution of those con-
victed of capital crimes and sentenced to death, The current was applieé
at 2:44 o'clock and 4 minutes and 10 seconds later the negro was pro-
nounced dead, This morning the negro called for Captain L. S. Moseley
of the state prison farm and made a confession to him of the murder of
Terrell. Several state officials and the 12 witnessés requireé by law
saw the execution," DAILY DEMOCRAT, Tallahassee, Fla., 10-7-1924,

4
2

Following the selection of a Sury

‘yesterday morning in the fourth ju-
dictal circuit eourt, eleven wilnesses
for the state were heard in the trtal
of Frank Johnson, alias Lather Deor-
rill, and Eugene Milla, negrees,
charged with the murder of Atley
b Terrell, a ratiroad eagineer, be
fore court adjourned a: §& eo cloek
last night until 8:8@ e'clock this
morning.

Delia Walker and Clinton Owens,
negroes. both testified that they as-
sisted Johnsen to leave Jacksoavitie
on the morning of December 30,
Owens said that Johnson had ceme
to his room, told him he was sheg
in the hip, and asked that Owene
grt the Walker woman to help him.
Both witncsses testified that they
saw & Watch, identified by ether
witnesses as belonging to Terrell
and a pistol tn a handbag that Joha-
son took with him Owens also tege
uted that Johnson had come. ia:
without hia shoes and said that
Jonson told him that a policeman
had shut him when he failed to beeg
« command to halt

trank Davis. a pulleeman, teeth
fled that he found a pair of ahows ;
“vn the porwh of the house at heart
West \tonroe atreet, where Terreli
roamed at the time he w killed.
The ahoes were sald » wens te
belong toa Johneva, R. fa Plummea,
anothor policeman, testified thet ay
‘tred a shot at # flecing negro, be
that the black eacaped.

Although the two defendaate
pleaded not guilty to the charges

against them, the Jacksonville pe-
‘lice claim that both confessed to the
crime. In the testimony yesterday he
mention was made as to Mille’ a
hection with the case, although
‘a said to have confesseed §p nave
been waitin outeide for Johaeen
_ When the latter firet entered Ter-
fella room and later shot him on
_ @urprised by the engineer in the act
‘of leaving the room with his water
and about $1600 In money,
‘ Johnson's al ed cénfession ia satg
| to conflict’ with. that of- Mille, the:
eg -slayer of rrelt, pzenera-
| ting Milles by stating that Mille wes
; In no way connected with the affait.
| Neither weng or the Waiker wor
an yesterday ave any tesetimohy
| inking Alllis with the oase.
| Several more witnesses are te be
‘heard thie morning, and it te doubt:
{ful if the case will go to the ury
before late thig afternoon, The jury
In the case tg componed of the to!-
lowing men: Charles B. Jones, J. In
Jones, KR. W. Boars, T. W. Beagte,
John FE. Markee, W. H. Williama,
1. r. Chambers, W. Bo Messenger,
W. H. Wainwright, J. F. Cameron,
Fred HW Conekin and & A. Marshal!
The defendants are being repre-
, sented by ¢(. . Howell, lueal atror-
ney. who was appuinted iy Jadge
Daniel A. *immona tao handle tha
cuse. Perse {. (ankins, etate'a at-
nturney, ussiated vy W. M. Madison,
| 1@ conducting the state's cane,
—e-

"eT abed ‘pz6t uorzeW 6T ‘Aepseupem /(ST[TTAuosyoer) NOINN-SHWIL VWdINOld FHL


y) Ga
Jl vesetrak

j¢) lad