The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-03-08
EVIL DEEDS OF ELLIS
Manatee County Negro Started Trouble
that has Resulted in Two Murders
and CynchIn9

Bradcntown March S.-This section
has been the scene OF much excite
mtnt sine. Sunday afternoon. when
negro named Ellis shot and killed Sam
Stribling. white. a foreman employed
bv J Mack Towne t. oversee his road
building operations.
Ellis later killed F.idridSe Mathews.
a deputy sheriff. stood off Sheriff Hans
Wyatt nl;td. his escape and Yesterday
morning shot and mortally wounded
j. B Morgan. section master OF me
S.-tboa rd Air Line at Willow. He also
slightly wounded Deputy Sheriff Max
Burnett farmer who lives near Will
low. Ellis brother who Joined him af-
t,.r he killed Stribling was with him
in the latter affray and was shot To
pieces at Willow by mob. after be-
ing captured by Deputy Sheriff Bur
nett.
Sheriff Wyatt. with dogs. il on tn"
trail nf thu. other Ellis. th.. negro who
started the row. H. IL s"mHwh'-r"
down in the Fllcnton section. As eT-
cry avenue of escape has been posted
IL is regarded as certain that h- Viii
bc caught.
The First Shooting
Ellis worked for Towns .s a la
bor.r. and VAS in Stribling's gang ~
workln-n There was som" difference
NJ opinion between the foreman ana
the negro AZ 70 how much WAS du"
Ellis Sunday afternoon th"y met and
Ellis is said to have cursed StlibIlnS
Srrihling drew his revolver as If to
shoot Ellis. Ellis wr"sted II from him
shot him three times in the breast and
Stribling fell dead. Th"n ia" n'ero
fled with the gun.
AZ - n.
notified II. t.l-phoned To E!dridee
Matthews TO bring his bIoodh0unds 10
Palmetto and take UP the trail. and n"
went Immediately 70 Palmetto 10 join
Matthew'S on his way 70 Palmetto
Matthews met a negro whom ne TOOK
20 b. the man H. wanted. H" called to
him - halt. but the negro replied with
a shot and dashed into tn" thick
woods Matthews came on 10 Pal
rn-tto whers. h. Was joined by the
sheriff and others and they won't out
u hunt down Ellis with th- dogs They
vent several miles into the country.
land tho dogs trai!ed th- negro 70
small hut. The sheriff called upon
. Ellis - surrender. and a volley from
,he. hous. Was tn reply H. received.
Matthews exclaimed I'm shot and
| ran about fifty feet and fell dead. Il
was nearly dusk and The sheriff with
| lr-w and s-nt back I" Palmetto for
| more mn % az u surround the house.
! Th- negroes :Or u Developed that Ell
lis brother had Joined him. slipped out
/ the y.ar door Of the h0uS- and again
| took u the woods.
! Then i vas that The sheriff. "a
draw MT about his men. t"i"rh0ned
/ % his deputies III different sections ~
/ ~. county. - post III" bridges and
: crossroads in tn. hope OF cutting Of
! tn. fugitives. Tne mon w-re 81 guard
all night.
! About o'clock yesterday morning
~ b. Morgan and Deputy Sheriff Max
( Burnett who We're on guard At the
! Willow bridg- IN th- Litti. Manst"e.
san TWO negroes approaching the
bridge Th-y called to them 20 halt he
negroes began shooting ~ once with
/ pistols. Morgan :.N At the first dis
charge and one o. the negroes. who
proved 70 be th- murder of Strihiing
ran up and s-!Zed Morgan'= rifle. When
! n started on. Burnett fT"d at him.
woundinC him slightly Burnett turn
. ID quickly and found III. other negro
getting ready 20 fire ~ him. He level-
, cd his gun and shot this negro in the
head He fel! in his tracks. As he did
SO the first negro fired again and a
bullet cut away part of Burnett :