The herald., 1897-10-01
J. J. EBANKs
W. J. ward and F. M. Fleming started

w. ]. Ward and F. M. Fleming started
with the prisoner for his execution.
On the way from San Diego Ebanks,
for the first time sipce his arrest, con-
fessed to the officers in charge that he
is guilty of the crime. He stated that he
wanted to clear the matter up before
he was hanged. "Irealize that have only
eight more days to live" he said, land
I know that it will do nle' no harm to
make confession now. I am guilty OF
this crime and will have to suffer the
penalty"
When asked for his reason for COM
hitting the murder, Ebanks refused to
give any.
"No, I can't tell you my reason for
killing the people," he retorteds II shall
+ never tell that" =
The condemned man was asked
whether he had not also killed ]. How
ard, laborer who was found in a cabin
near Encinitas with bullet hole in his
head shortly after the murder Of Mrs.
Styles Ebanks would not admit posi-
lively that he had killed Howard, but
from what he did say the officers have
no doubt that he will confess this crime
also before they arrive at the peniten-
tiary.
The crime for which Ebanks will a
week from today expiate was one Of the
most cold-blooded murders that have
ever been committed in this part of the
country. The victims were Mrs. Harriet
Styles and her aged father John Bor-
den. Mr.. and Mrs. Styles and Borden
lived at Fullerton. They had all gone
to the place called the Mussel Beds near
Los Flores. on a camping trip. One
morning Borden and his son-in-law
started out on fishing trip leaving
Mrs. Styles alone in the tent. While
they were fishing they noticed two men
pass, one of whom afterward proved to
be Ebanks. The men were walking in the
direction Of the tent, and as they had
the appearance of tough-looking char
acters Styles remarked that Borden
had better go to the tent lest Mrs Styles
tramps came up. The old man left and
Styles continued his fishing.
A few hours later he returned to the
tent An awful sight met his eyes.
Both his wife and her father lay on the
ground just outside the tent, dead.
They were covered with blood and had
been slaughtered like hogs. Borden had
been shot through the head, and the
blood had streamed down over his long,
white beard and clotted there Mrs
Styles had been shot through the body
and the weapon with which she had been
killed had been held so close that her
clothes were set on fire by the powder.
hole the size of mans palm had been
burned in her dress, and the fire had
been quenched by the blood pouring
out over it.
The sheriff at San Diego was notified
and suspicion at once fastened on
Ebanks and his companion. Ebanks
was in San Diego day or two after the
crime was committed and learned
through the papers that he was sus-
pected. He imme mediately left. Deputy
Sheriff Ward traced the man to place
near San Bernardino where he over
took him In the road and arrested him
A package of tobacco belonging to
Styles was found in his pocket. This
was the only thing which he had taken
from the camp.
The trial was held before Judge W. L.
Pierce, and created widespread interest
on account Of the cold -blooded manner
in which the murder had been COM
mitted. Circumstantial evidence only
was introduced, but Ebanks was con-
victed. On the 23d Of August the su-
preme court fled its opinion denying
an appeal which had been taken. Last
Wednesday Ebanks was brought before
Judge Wells and asked II he knew any
reason why the date OF his execution
should not be fixed. He asked for day
ITO consider it, and the request: was
granted. Yesterday, however. October
9Th was set as the day on which he must
hang. The officers immediately started
for the north with him..
A short time after Ebanks was ar
rested the body OF a man was found in
q cabin near Encinitag in, q state. Of
advanced decomposition. The coroner's
examination showed that the man haA |
been shot through the head. "A polrtax