An article in the February 26, 1984 issue of the Pensacola News Journal highlighting
The John White Store
Showing posts with label John White. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John White. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Bill White's Speech to the Pensacola Historical Society
This is a copy of the speech Bill White gave to the Pensacola Historical Society on October 15, 1979.
Grandfather was a sailor in the Austrian Navy and he had literally sailed the seven seas. Coming from what is now Yugoslavia, he recognised the backwardness of the Balkans, opposed to the forward look of the New World. I'm not sure just why he picked Pensacola, but he did...and when he mustered out he arrived here and soon had a job working on the docks. That wasn't hard because the boom in lumber has begun in Pensacola. The records are a little hazy about the numbers in 1879 but some say the total population a year later was about 7,000 and there were approximately fifteen different wharves handling lumber. Some of the operators were among the big names of the future here: D.J. Sullivan, who would soon found The First National Bank ran one. W.B. Wright had another, A.V. Clubb a third, and J.E. Callahan operated the Alcaniz Street Wharf. Many of these wharves had mills at the up end, and timber was milled and loaded right at the same place. There were no fancy wenches or cranes in those days, so every piece of timber (lumber) had to go aboard ship by old fashion pulleys and slings - and that means lots of manual labor. That's where Grandpa got his start.
Now, I don't want to vouch for the following story. It may or may not be true, and I don't want you to think of me as racist for telling, however...
One family account said they used to work mixed crews of black and white in those days. The black co-workers referred to John Biscupovic as "The Whiteman" so some of the bosses who couldn't pronounce his name, soon started calling him White. So he changed his name and became "John White". I have been told that he always regretted dropping the old family name.
He could have chosen the English translation of Biscupovic, which is "Bishopson". Maybe he was afraid they might call him "Son of a Bishop"
Working as a longshoreman was hard, but quickly another feature separated Grandfather from others. As a sailor he was also a linguist, conversing in 5 languages. In that day of ships coming and going, from all over the world, there were often language barriers. People on the waterfront began to look to John White as an interpreter. Soon this knowledge spread up the street where merchants needed help in communicating with foreign customers. It was in this way that the idea got thru to Grandfather that selling boots, raingear, seaman's shirts and other garb would be easy since he had a natural advantage in communication.
And so he left the daily grind of loading lumber and began supplying the men's wear needs of maritime people...and a little later men who lived in Pensacola.
He married an Irish girl, Mary Annie Giblin of Mobile, and they had four sons. His first store was on Palafox near Main. Later he moved to 205 S. Palafox just north of today's C&P Bank.
Along with the difficulty of finding good sources for inventory, there were several other problems. First - there was no money. Until the First National opened in 1880, there was no bank here worthy of the name. Remember, Pensacola was still recovering from the Civil War...and money of any kind was tight. Thus Grandfather and other merchants had to deal in bills of exchange or similar media. Credit and local bank financing was just not available in town.
Inside the store of that time things were very different than what we experience today. First, of course, there was virtually no lighting.
The Edison lamp was just barely a reality...and it would be several years before there was any kind of service here. And there was no telephone (though that was to come soon). Most shopkeepers opened early, and many closed for two hours at noon, especially in the summer. Advertising was exclusively in small newspapers, on signs outside the shop, or in small booklets which were printed periodically. Later, when the opera house came into being, and was fashionable, concert programs there would carry flowery accounts of the enterprises catering to such people. All of this John White used as advertising media.
Inside the store I suspect things were a little wild, especially in the early years. Suits, boots, gloves, hats...everything came in just one or two basic sizes...and were piled on large tables. A man came in, took his choice, and got any color he wanted ...as long as it was black!
I wish I could provide a better description of Grandfather's first venture. I can't. But I can report that as time passed his sons Jim, Marco, Ed, and Tom entered his business with him, and that with the move to 205 S Palafox the store became very large. It also had something of a lock on the carriage trade, as this incident told to me by Mr. Nix who worked for Grandfather.
Mr. Nix said: One day a prominent business man of English background entered the store and was waited on by a clerk who Grandfather thought much of. The man was seeking a supply of the detachable celluloid collars then in vogue. The man replied "Yes sir...and if you'd just tell me what size..." For some reason this infuriated the usually urbane visitor, who shouted, "If you don't know my size by now, you don't deserve my trade," and he left the store in a huff.
The poor clerk was crestfallen. What had he done wrong? He'd been prompt, courteous. And this man was a good customer. My Grandfather had been out at the time, and when he returned the clerk rushed up and blurted out details of the event. John White reassured him, then checked his watch. He knew the customer's habits, knew he be coming up the street from the post office soon...and so set up a vigil outside. When the English man arrived Grandfather stepped forward. I'm not sure exactly what the conversation was, but apparently it ended something like this, "Sir, you have insulted one of my employees and unless you come back and apologize don't ever come back into my store again". The man stared, considered and then came into the store and did exactly as John White had ordered. They remained friends...and continued their relationship for many years.
Unfortunately, John White's personal affairs did not have a happy ending. In July, 1905, he caught an employee stealing from the store. This was not the first time it had occurred...and so with regret Grandfather dismissed the man.
A few days later, egged on by some ner-do-well cronies, the man became liquored up...and determined to seek revenge. He obtained a pistol, entered the store and approached John White as he sat reading his paper. Apparently, from detailed press accounts, there were no words spoken, the man fired through the paper and John White fell dead. A second man, the store clerk, Ed Dansby was also killed.
You should see the newspaper accounts of that tragedy. No gory detail was omitted. And on the day of the funeral just about every business in town was closed...and those with flags flew them at half staff. If anyone is interested in the story it can be found in our public library on micro film - the date was July 18, 1905.
--- The newspaper accounts can also be seen here. -----
John White had come to Pensacola as a simple immigrant from a distant part of the world. Twenty six years later he departed as one of the city's most respected merchants.
That early business, located on South Palafox Street next to the People's Bank, changed with Grandfather's death in 1905. His four sons became partners...and worked together until 1912. Then, Uncle Marco and my Father elected to join in a new venture, opening a store they called White and White at 20 South Palafox (later the store moved to Palafox and Garden, in the Masonic Temple building). Their slogan was "White and White - Better Clothes" (we added from head to toes).
This was a difficult time for Pensacola. The lumber boom ended when several banks failed; and the old Navy yard closed. But in 1914 Naval Air arrived, and my father quickly sensed a new opportunity for service.
He developed a quality line of officer uniforms and accessories...and soon men who would make aviation history became his customers and friends...men like Raby, Mustin, Corry, Chevlaier...and later Austin Doyle, John Hayward, Jimmy Thach and others.
Sadly, the old John White store operated by my Uncles Jim and Tom failed during the brief depression of 1923.
White and White survived the depression of the 1930's. Dad jacked up the old Rickenbacker and stored it in the garage, and rode the bus to work. He and Uncle Marco cut their salaries back to $200.00 per month and their occasional trips to New York were mainly to obtain extended credit rather than to buy.
When World War 11 began, and huge numbers of additional military people came to Florida, my Father took a new tack. He formed a co-partnership called Ed White & Sons. Brother Marlow and I were the sons, however I was not active having been called to duty by the Army in early February 1941. Our first store was located in Jacksonville. Others followed in Corpus Christi and Norfolk. At war's end the business was consolidated here with a new store in the San Carlos Hotel. In January of 1946 I obtained my release from the Army Air Corps and joined Dad in the operation. However, Marlow left the partnership and opened his own company with stores in Jacksonville and later Fort Leavenworth, KA, where he operates today.
In the San Carlos Hotel we were located between the bar and St. Michael's Church. On Saturday's most of our customer traffic consisted of individuals going to the bar for a drink or going to confession.
The business prospered in those post war years and we quickly outgrew our small quarters. Locations on the "gold coast" of South Palafox were unobtainable. How different from the situation today.
In 1951 during the Korean conflict 3 key members of our small staff who were Air Force reserves were called to active duty. Dad, who was semi retired had to take over the operation with help who knew they were temporary so not of the quality one desires. Business naturally suffered and the pressure brought on Dad's heart attack.
We were finally released by the Air Force and returned to begin again to build the business. It was tough going in that little hole in the wall in the Hotel, but we finally got a break and moved to our present location at 16 N. Palafox back in 1957.
Grandfather was a sailor in the Austrian Navy and he had literally sailed the seven seas. Coming from what is now Yugoslavia, he recognised the backwardness of the Balkans, opposed to the forward look of the New World. I'm not sure just why he picked Pensacola, but he did...and when he mustered out he arrived here and soon had a job working on the docks. That wasn't hard because the boom in lumber has begun in Pensacola. The records are a little hazy about the numbers in 1879 but some say the total population a year later was about 7,000 and there were approximately fifteen different wharves handling lumber. Some of the operators were among the big names of the future here: D.J. Sullivan, who would soon found The First National Bank ran one. W.B. Wright had another, A.V. Clubb a third, and J.E. Callahan operated the Alcaniz Street Wharf. Many of these wharves had mills at the up end, and timber was milled and loaded right at the same place. There were no fancy wenches or cranes in those days, so every piece of timber (lumber) had to go aboard ship by old fashion pulleys and slings - and that means lots of manual labor. That's where Grandpa got his start.
Now, I don't want to vouch for the following story. It may or may not be true, and I don't want you to think of me as racist for telling, however...
One family account said they used to work mixed crews of black and white in those days. The black co-workers referred to John Biscupovic as "The Whiteman" so some of the bosses who couldn't pronounce his name, soon started calling him White. So he changed his name and became "John White". I have been told that he always regretted dropping the old family name.
He could have chosen the English translation of Biscupovic, which is "Bishopson". Maybe he was afraid they might call him "Son of a Bishop"
Working as a longshoreman was hard, but quickly another feature separated Grandfather from others. As a sailor he was also a linguist, conversing in 5 languages. In that day of ships coming and going, from all over the world, there were often language barriers. People on the waterfront began to look to John White as an interpreter. Soon this knowledge spread up the street where merchants needed help in communicating with foreign customers. It was in this way that the idea got thru to Grandfather that selling boots, raingear, seaman's shirts and other garb would be easy since he had a natural advantage in communication.
And so he left the daily grind of loading lumber and began supplying the men's wear needs of maritime people...and a little later men who lived in Pensacola.
He married an Irish girl, Mary Annie Giblin of Mobile, and they had four sons. His first store was on Palafox near Main. Later he moved to 205 S. Palafox just north of today's C&P Bank.
Along with the difficulty of finding good sources for inventory, there were several other problems. First - there was no money. Until the First National opened in 1880, there was no bank here worthy of the name. Remember, Pensacola was still recovering from the Civil War...and money of any kind was tight. Thus Grandfather and other merchants had to deal in bills of exchange or similar media. Credit and local bank financing was just not available in town.
Inside the store of that time things were very different than what we experience today. First, of course, there was virtually no lighting.
The Edison lamp was just barely a reality...and it would be several years before there was any kind of service here. And there was no telephone (though that was to come soon). Most shopkeepers opened early, and many closed for two hours at noon, especially in the summer. Advertising was exclusively in small newspapers, on signs outside the shop, or in small booklets which were printed periodically. Later, when the opera house came into being, and was fashionable, concert programs there would carry flowery accounts of the enterprises catering to such people. All of this John White used as advertising media.
Inside the store I suspect things were a little wild, especially in the early years. Suits, boots, gloves, hats...everything came in just one or two basic sizes...and were piled on large tables. A man came in, took his choice, and got any color he wanted ...as long as it was black!
I wish I could provide a better description of Grandfather's first venture. I can't. But I can report that as time passed his sons Jim, Marco, Ed, and Tom entered his business with him, and that with the move to 205 S Palafox the store became very large. It also had something of a lock on the carriage trade, as this incident told to me by Mr. Nix who worked for Grandfather.
Mr. Nix said: One day a prominent business man of English background entered the store and was waited on by a clerk who Grandfather thought much of. The man was seeking a supply of the detachable celluloid collars then in vogue. The man replied "Yes sir...and if you'd just tell me what size..." For some reason this infuriated the usually urbane visitor, who shouted, "If you don't know my size by now, you don't deserve my trade," and he left the store in a huff.
The poor clerk was crestfallen. What had he done wrong? He'd been prompt, courteous. And this man was a good customer. My Grandfather had been out at the time, and when he returned the clerk rushed up and blurted out details of the event. John White reassured him, then checked his watch. He knew the customer's habits, knew he be coming up the street from the post office soon...and so set up a vigil outside. When the English man arrived Grandfather stepped forward. I'm not sure exactly what the conversation was, but apparently it ended something like this, "Sir, you have insulted one of my employees and unless you come back and apologize don't ever come back into my store again". The man stared, considered and then came into the store and did exactly as John White had ordered. They remained friends...and continued their relationship for many years.
Unfortunately, John White's personal affairs did not have a happy ending. In July, 1905, he caught an employee stealing from the store. This was not the first time it had occurred...and so with regret Grandfather dismissed the man.
A few days later, egged on by some ner-do-well cronies, the man became liquored up...and determined to seek revenge. He obtained a pistol, entered the store and approached John White as he sat reading his paper. Apparently, from detailed press accounts, there were no words spoken, the man fired through the paper and John White fell dead. A second man, the store clerk, Ed Dansby was also killed.
You should see the newspaper accounts of that tragedy. No gory detail was omitted. And on the day of the funeral just about every business in town was closed...and those with flags flew them at half staff. If anyone is interested in the story it can be found in our public library on micro film - the date was July 18, 1905.
--- The newspaper accounts can also be seen here. -----
John White had come to Pensacola as a simple immigrant from a distant part of the world. Twenty six years later he departed as one of the city's most respected merchants.
That early business, located on South Palafox Street next to the People's Bank, changed with Grandfather's death in 1905. His four sons became partners...and worked together until 1912. Then, Uncle Marco and my Father elected to join in a new venture, opening a store they called White and White at 20 South Palafox (later the store moved to Palafox and Garden, in the Masonic Temple building). Their slogan was "White and White - Better Clothes" (we added from head to toes).
This was a difficult time for Pensacola. The lumber boom ended when several banks failed; and the old Navy yard closed. But in 1914 Naval Air arrived, and my father quickly sensed a new opportunity for service.
He developed a quality line of officer uniforms and accessories...and soon men who would make aviation history became his customers and friends...men like Raby, Mustin, Corry, Chevlaier...and later Austin Doyle, John Hayward, Jimmy Thach and others.
Sadly, the old John White store operated by my Uncles Jim and Tom failed during the brief depression of 1923.
White and White survived the depression of the 1930's. Dad jacked up the old Rickenbacker and stored it in the garage, and rode the bus to work. He and Uncle Marco cut their salaries back to $200.00 per month and their occasional trips to New York were mainly to obtain extended credit rather than to buy.
When World War 11 began, and huge numbers of additional military people came to Florida, my Father took a new tack. He formed a co-partnership called Ed White & Sons. Brother Marlow and I were the sons, however I was not active having been called to duty by the Army in early February 1941. Our first store was located in Jacksonville. Others followed in Corpus Christi and Norfolk. At war's end the business was consolidated here with a new store in the San Carlos Hotel. In January of 1946 I obtained my release from the Army Air Corps and joined Dad in the operation. However, Marlow left the partnership and opened his own company with stores in Jacksonville and later Fort Leavenworth, KA, where he operates today.
In the San Carlos Hotel we were located between the bar and St. Michael's Church. On Saturday's most of our customer traffic consisted of individuals going to the bar for a drink or going to confession.
The business prospered in those post war years and we quickly outgrew our small quarters. Locations on the "gold coast" of South Palafox were unobtainable. How different from the situation today.
In 1951 during the Korean conflict 3 key members of our small staff who were Air Force reserves were called to active duty. Dad, who was semi retired had to take over the operation with help who knew they were temporary so not of the quality one desires. Business naturally suffered and the pressure brought on Dad's heart attack.
We were finally released by the Air Force and returned to begin again to build the business. It was tough going in that little hole in the wall in the Hotel, but we finally got a break and moved to our present location at 16 N. Palafox back in 1957.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Letter From Florida Jadrievic to William White, Jr.
February 24, 1971
Bill,
I put a few things down on paper after talking with you yesterday, the best I can remember about the family. As you can see, your Father’s Uncle, Thomas Biskupovic had many children and grandchildren.
Thomas Biskupovic’s oldest daughter, Maria, (my Mother) came to America to visit your Grandfather, John White, who was her Uncle. Your Grandfather and Grandmother went to Europe with your Uncle Jim and Uncle Marko (I am not sure if your Father was born then – if so, he went also). They all went on a visit and to bring our Great Grandfather to America to live. Great Grandfather did not want to come to America without his oldest Grandchild, Maria (My Mother). Maria was too young and her parents would not let her go at that time, so it was a promise that when Maria reached 18, she could go. My Mother and our Great Grandfather were very devoted. Maria lived with John and Ann White for several years until she married. She was like a sister to your Father and Uncles, especially those nearer her age, Jim and Marko.
Maria Biskupovic (White) married James Jadrievic, who died in 1933. Maria died in 1946. Their oldest daughter, Dalmatia (named from the place they came from) married G.H. Jeudevine (now deceased). Frank, oldest son (deceased) married Annette Day (she is a R.N. and teaches at the Junior College). John (deceased) never married. James (single) lives with Dalmatia at 1616 East Bobe, Pensacola. Florida (named after the place now living) married Joseph Alton (A1) Ledkins. They own and operate Maria Motel, 4551 Mobile Hwy.
Most all the other daughters of Thomas Biskupovic went to Santiago, Chile. My Aunt Margaret Yutronic encouraged her sisters to settle there, and they went one by one, and later married. Only one sister remained in Europe, Ivanka Lulic. The parents were getting up in age and they wanted her to stay and take care of them. After she married Lulic, she remained on the family property and raised her children. It is on this property in Sutivan Brac that Ivanka’s oldest daughter, Anka Katic, has built a small cottage for the summer. Anka is the Mother of Nevenka and Florida.
Thomas Biskupovic had only one son, James. He came to America at a very early age and lived with Maria and James Jadrievic (my Mother and Father). He had small jobs at my Father’s place of business, and also at the John White store. He later settled and married in Biloxi, Miss. Much later in life he went to New Orleans where he died. He left two children, Frances and Tom. Tom died about three years ago at an early age, but left two children – one son, Thomas Biskupovic, and a daughter, Cherie. Frances is married to Luis Soto and lives in New Orleans.
Bill, one thing I want you to know is that John White always regretted changing his name. He begged my Father to never change Jadrievic, no matter what. He changed his name for business reasons. It was hard for people to call Biskupovic. In his early days in Pensacola, he worked among blacks and whites – they referred to him as the white man. So, he would just say, “call me White”, as he was having trouble getting his money on pay day. He was so well liked and educated that when he got ready to go into business, he would not have been known other than John White.
Florida
John White's Murder
I've always been a genealogy bug and lately I've started digging out old pictures and poking through my family tree.
Obviously, I started with the big event in the tree - which I've always been interested in.
My great, great grandfather was a sailor in the Austrian Navy during the 1800s.
No one knows why he picked Pensacola but he mustered out of the Navy and went to work on the docks of Pensacola Bay.
His last name was Biscupovic but that was hard for those he worked with to pronounce and it often caused problems with his paychecks.
The crews working the wharves at that time were a mixed group, made up mostly of Black, Indian and Mulatto men and they began calling him "White Man."
The name stuck and he officially changed his name and became John White.
It's well known among family members that he always regretted changing his name.
In April of 1879 he opened a store down on the docks. At first he sold boots, raingear, seamen's shirts and other garb worn by the dock workers.
His store grew and by 1905 was a thriving men's wear store.
And then tragedy struck.
On Wednesday, July 19, 1905 this was the headline in the Pensacola News Journal.
Just before 5:00, on the afternoon of July 18th, people on the street heard 5 gunshots coming from John White's store.
The local constable happened to be close by and along with two other men, rushed in and found James White, son of John, covered in blood and wrestling with the gunman.
The newspaper says that James yelled "Take him Mr. Guyler, I don't whether he has killed me or not!"
The constable and others grabbed the shooter and wrestled the revolver from his hand.
The gunman, William F. Williams, was hurried away to the County jail as the others took in the scene before them.
According to the newspaper, John White was sitting in his chair, reading the newspaper, foot propped on the foot rest customers used when trying on shoes.
His son, James was standing just back and to the left of his father.
Edward Dansby, a clerk in the store, was showing a customer some men's clothing while a second clerk, James Nix, was in another part of the store with a different customer.
White's two younger sons, Edward and Thomas were in the office of the store.
Williams walked into the store, passed the customer, walked up to John White and without a word, pulled out a Smith and Wesson 38 revolver and shot him twice. Once in the chest and once in the neck.
He then shot James White and Edward Dansby. He shot at James Nix who dodged the bullet and hid behind a counter.
"It was all done in the twinkling of an eye"
Though badly wounded, James grabbed Williams and was wrestling with him when the Constable ran in.
James and Edward Dansby were immediately taken to the hospital.
The cause of the shooting is said to be because John White suspected Williams of stealing and asked the Constable to look into the matter. The Constable discovered that the merchandise was being sold in a store in the north part of the County and he too suspected Williams.
John White confronted Williams, who denied the accusations. White decided there wasn't enough evidence against Williams and dropped the matter.
Williams left the store and went to a local bar. Reports state that several people saw him drink quite a bit and ramble on about White falsely accusing him.
He returned to the store and the rest is history.
A Pensacola News Journal reporter interviewed Williams just a few hours after the shooting and his first question to the reporter was "Is John White dead?"
The reporter told him yes and he asked the same question several more times.
Then he said "John White was the best friend I ever had. He helped me out of trouble. If he had kept other people out of his business and had not listened to them I would never have done it. It is not him I was after, it was other parties. They drove me to it."
This happened about 5:00 in the afternoon and at 8:00 that night a "Coroner's Jury" had been selected and they all went to the scene of the crime.
Several witnesses were called and gave their testimony of the events that had happened that afternoon.
Late that evening, Edward Dansby died from his wound.
James White recovered.
Exactly one month later Williams was put on trial for the murder of John White. During that trial it was to be decided if he was to be tried for the murder of Edward Dansby after the White trial.
The headlines from the Pensacola News Journal tell the story of William Williams's fate.
He was found guilty of murder in the first degree and sentenced to life in prison.
It took the jury just over an hour to make their decision.
It was decided that since he would already be spending the rest of his life in jail that there was no need to try him for Ed Dansbury's murder.
I was fascinated with this story as a teenager so I spent several days poking through old courthouse records.
Which is where I found this.
This is a copy of the actual piece of paper that the jury handed to the judge, declaring their guilty verdict.
I couldn't believe that piece of paper was still in a file folder in the basement of the Court House.
After his death, John White's four sons took over the store and it stayed in business for many years.
Our family continued to grow and today the story of John White is a sad but interesting part of the White family history.
Obviously, I started with the big event in the tree - which I've always been interested in.
My great, great grandfather was a sailor in the Austrian Navy during the 1800s.
No one knows why he picked Pensacola but he mustered out of the Navy and went to work on the docks of Pensacola Bay.
His last name was Biscupovic but that was hard for those he worked with to pronounce and it often caused problems with his paychecks.
The crews working the wharves at that time were a mixed group, made up mostly of Black, Indian and Mulatto men and they began calling him "White Man."
The name stuck and he officially changed his name and became John White.
It's well known among family members that he always regretted changing his name.
In April of 1879 he opened a store down on the docks. At first he sold boots, raingear, seamen's shirts and other garb worn by the dock workers.
His store grew and by 1905 was a thriving men's wear store.
And then tragedy struck.
On Wednesday, July 19, 1905 this was the headline in the Pensacola News Journal.
Just before 5:00, on the afternoon of July 18th, people on the street heard 5 gunshots coming from John White's store.
The local constable happened to be close by and along with two other men, rushed in and found James White, son of John, covered in blood and wrestling with the gunman.
The newspaper says that James yelled "Take him Mr. Guyler, I don't whether he has killed me or not!"
The constable and others grabbed the shooter and wrestled the revolver from his hand.
The gunman, William F. Williams, was hurried away to the County jail as the others took in the scene before them.
According to the newspaper, John White was sitting in his chair, reading the newspaper, foot propped on the foot rest customers used when trying on shoes.
His son, James was standing just back and to the left of his father.
Edward Dansby, a clerk in the store, was showing a customer some men's clothing while a second clerk, James Nix, was in another part of the store with a different customer.
White's two younger sons, Edward and Thomas were in the office of the store.
Williams walked into the store, passed the customer, walked up to John White and without a word, pulled out a Smith and Wesson 38 revolver and shot him twice. Once in the chest and once in the neck.
He then shot James White and Edward Dansby. He shot at James Nix who dodged the bullet and hid behind a counter.
"It was all done in the twinkling of an eye"
Though badly wounded, James grabbed Williams and was wrestling with him when the Constable ran in.
James and Edward Dansby were immediately taken to the hospital.
The cause of the shooting is said to be because John White suspected Williams of stealing and asked the Constable to look into the matter. The Constable discovered that the merchandise was being sold in a store in the north part of the County and he too suspected Williams.
John White confronted Williams, who denied the accusations. White decided there wasn't enough evidence against Williams and dropped the matter.
Williams left the store and went to a local bar. Reports state that several people saw him drink quite a bit and ramble on about White falsely accusing him.
He returned to the store and the rest is history.
A Pensacola News Journal reporter interviewed Williams just a few hours after the shooting and his first question to the reporter was "Is John White dead?"
The reporter told him yes and he asked the same question several more times.
Then he said "John White was the best friend I ever had. He helped me out of trouble. If he had kept other people out of his business and had not listened to them I would never have done it. It is not him I was after, it was other parties. They drove me to it."
This happened about 5:00 in the afternoon and at 8:00 that night a "Coroner's Jury" had been selected and they all went to the scene of the crime.
Several witnesses were called and gave their testimony of the events that had happened that afternoon.
Late that evening, Edward Dansby died from his wound.
James White recovered.
Exactly one month later Williams was put on trial for the murder of John White. During that trial it was to be decided if he was to be tried for the murder of Edward Dansby after the White trial.
The headlines from the Pensacola News Journal tell the story of William Williams's fate.
He was found guilty of murder in the first degree and sentenced to life in prison.
It took the jury just over an hour to make their decision.
It was decided that since he would already be spending the rest of his life in jail that there was no need to try him for Ed Dansbury's murder.
I was fascinated with this story as a teenager so I spent several days poking through old courthouse records.
Which is where I found this.
This is a copy of the actual piece of paper that the jury handed to the judge, declaring their guilty verdict.
I couldn't believe that piece of paper was still in a file folder in the basement of the Court House.
After his death, John White's four sons took over the store and it stayed in business for many years.
Our family continued to grow and today the story of John White is a sad but interesting part of the White family history.
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