The Ocala evening star., 1914-09-18
MURDER AND ARSON
Rev. j. f. HolIingshead struck Down
and His store Set on Fire

4
night at O'Clock The department
made its usual quick response and as
the fire was in almost the extreme
northeast corner of the city, it had
| long run. Arriving at the scene the
fire boys found the fire in a small,
metal covered building on North
iFNourth street, just east of the An
thony road, occupied as a dwelling
and store by Rev. j. F. Hollingshead.
Although the hose was laid from the
nearest hydrant as the wagon came
by, it was not used and the fire was
extinguished witch the chemical APP
paratus, although the entire interior
of the building was filled with smoke
and flames
| Before the fire was out one of the
fremen stumbled over a body, lying
ON the floor Behind the counter in
| the lfttle room used as a general
merchandise store. He called for help
and the body was taken outside On
the outside it was seen that the man,
or body, for life was almost extinct,
was that of Mr.. Hollingshead, the
proprietor of the store, and that ne
was gagged with a heavy cloth tied
around and around his head, cover
ing his eyes, nose and mouth Also
that his head was covered with blood.
| The gag was quickly removed and
Chief Chambers had the body laid ON
a sofa that had been taken out of the
house and hurried efforts were made
TO revive him, a physician being sent
for in the meantime. There was no
sign of breathing and but little pulse,
time, he began to breathe. The
physician arrived and advised remov-
ing him to the hospital The am
bulance was sent for and by $50 he
was at the hospital and hurried
operation was decided on, the mans
skull having been crushed in by
heavy blow on the head. The poor
old man died little after 8 O'Clock
while the operation was in progress,
never regaining consciousness. The
skull was crushed into the brain and
there was never any chance for his
reviying to give information of his
assaflant.
more thorough examination of
the little store, after the fire was out.
showed plainly that the assassin had
opened the cover of the big kerosene
|. oil itank. dipped out oil and threw it
by the bucket full over the walls and
/ floor of the room, and the odor of
/ kerosene was very strong in and
! about the place.
In the corner, behind the counter,
where the body was found, was a
pool of blood ON the floor, rapidly
congeaIing. On a smaM box, close
by, the murder had thrown the vic
Tins bunch of keys and there was
blood on the box A large baudgeon,
a piece of 2x4 scantling, was lying
near, evidently the weapon that had
been used. A little bag that the old
gentleman had always carried his
money in was missing and has not
been found. Some change fell out
of his pockets when he was moved
which the robbef had evidently over
looked or did not have time to Sc
cure
John Fisher Hollingshead was 72
years of age and a Baptist minister
He was a small man and frail. His
weight was not over 100 pounds and
he had been in bad health for years
though of late his health was better
He was born i'm Worcester, England
March 1, 1912, came to this country
probably 40 years ago and stopped ia
| New York Later he wenteto Pitts
burg and entered the mercantile bus
iness, conducting two large and pros
| lperous stores. G4e came to FLORIDA
over 25 years ago and settled al
Spring Park and built fine resi-
dence there, which was well furnish
ed and where he lived with his wife
|who has been dead a number oi
years. He had large store at the
Ilpark, but closed it and went north
/ about the time the park boom began
to die and remained for some time
coming back to find his house pillag-
ed, many of his things gone and the
house partially demolished or carried
awag
Soon afterwards he moved to Ocala
and bought a small lot across the
street and few yards further out
than where he last resided. He built
a little shack and put in a small stock
of goods and eked out a meager liv-
ing About four years ago his neigh
5crs, Mr.. and Mrs. ]. A. Chandler
found him i'll with fever and in an
unconscious condition. They took
Ihim to their home and for five