Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 January 1898 — The Murder of Ira Arms. [ARTICLE]

The Murder of Ira Arms.

Los Angeles Cal., Jan 201898. Editor Republican:— On my return from the interior of the state I found the copy of the Republican containing mention of the brutal murder of Ira Arms Jr. it* Florida. It was a piece of news not unexpected yet, was a terrible shock as Mr, Arms was an old time friend and his wife a school-mate of mine. Mr. Arms was an exceptionally good man in the truest sense of the word, quiet and peaceable in his daily life, honorable and upright in his business transactions and if there ever was a man who lived a blameless life free of offense it was he. The same article says the cause of murder was political trouble—which in the south simply means complete vindication and justification of the murder. I can say from personal knowledge that was not the reason, as six years ago when I was in Florida his life was attempted and they had sworn to either drive him away or kill him; the principal cause of trouble was that Mr. Arms had bought and fenced the best grazing land in that part of the state —the Crackers wanted the land open for their own stock and were constantly breaking down his fences and driving away his stock. His hired people were afraid to work there unless Mr. Arms was with them, as they were in fear of their lives- - This is only another page in the blood stained history of the treacherous south. Respt.

W. E. DEMING.