The evening world., 1911-11-21
ss...-.. ia sv.n.sasvii;c. Dui spent MS
evenings at his homo In Basking Ridge

.sri,-ss ia Get srasviiic, out spent u''
evenings at his home In Basking Ridg,
with his family. Upon his return "a
Bssking Ridge from Texas It was
rumored he had been in some serious
disagreement with others in the lumber
trade While In the South. but these
rumors never took definite form.
Among the suggestions set forth 10
account for the shooting was one that a
nesro employed about a month ago by
Ellis as a chauffeur and discharged At
the close of his FIRST days work had
made threats against tho lumbeTmsn.
Mrs. Ellis said she had spoken TO her
husband about the negro aad neither OF
them imagined he had anything TO DO
with the attempt at murder
Up to 10 o'clock this morning the sur
geons who were In attendance on Ellis
thought he had a good chante for his
life. His strong constitution rllght pull
him through, they figured. But compli-
cst!ons set In and Or. Charles III OF
Newark a noted specialist. admitted At
noon that a dangerous operation was
under consideration.
Policeman Thomas Libby OF Bernsrjs-
Vile arrived In Basking Ridge early to-
day with a big. fine bloodhound fur
nlshed by the Roeblings OF Trenton. The
MIN was taken to the post where It
IL believed the would-be slayer stood
when he fired the shotgun. Hundreds
had trampled the ground about and the
dog was unable to pick up any trail.
In fact there was nothing In the hands
OF the police TO be used In giving the
bloodhound the scent except paper wad-
ding from the gun. This proved USE
less.
The, attempt 10 kill Ellis was made
at SO o'clock In the evening. when
the streets OF Bssking Ridge were
%populous with residents on their way
home. The station OF the Passaic
Division of the Lackswanna Railroad
IL . short distance from the Ellis home
and there were several persons on the
platform waiting for a train.
ROBBERY NOT CONSIDERED AS
MOTIVE.
Robbery Is not considered by the
police In searching for a motive. as
robbers do not stand outside windows
and shoe into houses they have
marked for looting.
Tho Ellis residence one OF the hne,,
In Bssking Ridge. Is not In the heart
Of the town, although the neiRhborhood
about II IL built up. There are no woods
IN the vicinity. and detectives are I'M
able 70 understand how q man carrying
. shot gun could have sneaked into the
Ellis premises. fred a shot and escaped
without being seen
The would-be assassin stood on a knol
under an apple tree about fifteen feet
from the dining room window. The
shades OF the window were raised. but
the light from the dining room did not
extend 10 the street. From his position
on the knoll the nan with the gun, be-
ing at a slight elevation. had a clear
view Of the room.
The Ellis family had hnishe9 the
evening meal and Mr.. Ellis was talking
TO his wife. his e~!even-year-old son,
George. and his eight year-old daughter
Catherine. Mr.. Ellis sat at one end Of
the table with his left side toward the
window. The boy was at his left with
his back toward the window. Mrs..
Euis n the little girl were at the
other end of the table.
WEAPON A MUzzlE LOADER
FILLED WITH eucksHoT.
II In believed the gun was braced
against the apple tree when the trigger
was pulled. The weapon was a muzz!s
loader. charged with buckshot. Six OF
the bullets went through the window
and four embedded themselves In the
cash. Two slugs entered Mr, Ellls's
body. another tore OF the top OF q
chair 1t his right hand and three more
were found In the wall on the side OF
the room opposite the window.
4 splinter of glass struck the little
boy on the left ear and drew blood.
Although wounded himself. DIR. Ellis
thought frst Of the boy. Rising to his
feet. he cried:
"why should they risk killing the boy
In trytng 10 shoot me?'