The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-08-31
TERRIBLE
TRAGEDY AT
CAPITAL
Assistant Marshall Ellis Kills
Young 0kIahoman.
PROBABLY BY ACCIDENT
Were in Saloon Together
When Murder Occurred.
IS CINE OF SERIES
Horrible Ending of Other
MarShaIIS Is Recalled. s@ q

Guthrie. 0. T. Aug. 3o-Frank Ellis, a
member of the Guthrie police force for a
year past. shot and killed a young man
"A years old named Farris Clayton Of
Burmah. Dewey county, at an early hour
this morning in the Santa Fe saloon on
West Oklahoma avenue.
There was no known motive for the
crime and the murderer, who was intox-
icated at the time. as soon as he realized
what he had done. quietly left the room.
went to his home and awakening his Il
year old boy said: Il have killed a man;
goodbye" Although his citizens cloth
ing was in the the room he did not take
any Of it but went to the stable of w. H.
Kaylor, a groceryman, and taking his
horse and a saddle belonging TO butcher
named Hixon, rode to the home OF his
foster father !. II. Caslai, a farmer liv-
ing seven miles east of town. where he
left the horse with Instructions to return
it to its owner and disappeared.
Clayton was on his way home from
POnca City. where he had been at work
on farm and was accompanied by his
brother Lynn, who is 20 years Of age. His
story as given TO the coroner's jury is as
follows:
My brother came to visit me last
week. said Lynn. i was working on
farm and he was looking for a place.
Today we received word that our father
was seriously sick and left Ponca City
Tor home on tonights train. We had
some money, not enough to take us home
though as my brother had been out of
work, and so we thought we would bum
our way. We came in here on top Of the
train and were spied by this policeman.
We had, of course, never seen him before.
He was going to put US in Jail, but we
told him our story and he finally agreed
to let US go if we would give him sl.50.
I'VE give him the money and he told
us TO come to the saloon and he would
set EN- up. We took three or four drinks
which he insisted on rs taking. He said
he didn't want to hold us up-only wanted
the money to spend for drinks"
Was there any quarrenng between FL
lis and your brother2"
.So. Not a word. He was teliing of
his strength and about how well he could
shoot. We withdrew from the crowd at
the bar, and sat on stools at the lunch
counter opposite. newt 70 the door and
7.ere waiting TO get something to cat. Ny
brother sat on that stool few feet from
the door Ellis started from the other
tud of the room as if he was going out
Re didn't say a word. walked angling in
our direction, and just as he got in front
of my brother he shot. I don't know
why he did it, know Of no reason in
the world"
Did you see him have the guns IN his
hand?"
Nc; wasn't noticing him particularly.
] looked around just as he shot"
al the testimony developed at the in
st was corroborative of young Clay
tons story. A witness who was watch
ing Ellis at the time. testified as follows:
Ellis came down the room with his
hand on his gun as he reached the rooms
center he pulled it out and toyed it in his
hands. and as he neared Clayton ne slip
ped his hand over the butt of the gun:
not looking at Clayton he raised the gun
in the air with his right hand and with an
apparently careless houris-as II he were
doing exhibition shooting-he discharged
1t as he drew it down"
The proprietor of the Santa Fe saloon
stated that Ellis had been drinking con-
siderably although not apparently intox-
icated and that for some time he had
tnsisted on talking about lighting. shoot
ine and what ne could dc.
ELLIS stuck the point OF his knife in the
WALL he said. "and wanted 10 show the
boys that he could drive it with pistol
shot"
bnrefb jtehofwypmfwymfwypmfwypmfw
Sheriff Charles Carpenter and Chief of
Police Henry Reynolds were summoned
and at once begun a search for Ellis.
hut he could net be traced farther than
his home until i'm the forenoon when a
young man came in with Kaylors horse.
The fact that he did not take the trouble
10 done his citizens clothes. bat left wear
Ing his uniform and helmet, is used to
give color 80 the theory that he viii re-
turn and Eive himself up as soon as he
finds that there is no disposition to resort
90 mob violence.
Ellis. before his appointment on the
force. Rad been q hard drinller and was
given the star of Assistant Marsha Jas
per salisbury a year ago. wacn Sauls-
bury was killed by Policeman Joo Run
nelIs on s. promise of strict sobriety. This
promise he had Kept until last night ane
had been an Efficient and faithful Officer.
lie was formerly from Michigan where
he has excellent family connections. but
has been for MANY wears on the frontier.
Probate Judge Goodrich ompaneled
cononer's 5gry and after hearing evidence
as Eiven above they brought I'm a verdict
at p m. that Ellis be held 10 the grand
jury for wIfHl murder.
The tragedy az last night Is the last IN
e ter1ble series than have offended The
star of assistant marshal of This citv. 10
story IF fction can rival the true history
Of this hanefal bsdse. Nine men. iu
httle over four ye2rs. have worn il. ana
death or disgrace has been The portion az
each. IL has PLAYED no favorites. ana
coed men and trre and cold-blooIe3 mur-
derer alike have been brought u earth hv
its wearirg- Here Is the ist with the
fate of cacs and vhc wiil ha 81 brave as
T. name himself e candidate for limitation
intc The ranks -f tloso Who have fallen
beneath Us evu influence
J. 2. 1iptoa. a stalvart aan and m
officer above rCpr1ach. wore s. faw
morshs and was suddenly stricken w5ul
6eath
" r. Raxref. was assistant marshal. /
was promoted ard died ia the fal