The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-26
BAD MEMS FOE GETS
JUSTICE AT GRAVE
"Single Lapse' in Amiable
Career Of Eli Lucas Is Ex-
planned by Friends.
GUN READY FOR CHEATS
Won Fame in Black Belt for
Driving Out Tin Horn Sports
and Gamblers.

III yubtlCC " Ell kdtds' uS-
ceased. It must be conceded that Eli at
the very last was done wrong" A bad
man was Eli. beyond doubt. but be-
loved bad mana protector of the op-
enemy implacable Of the wicked.
With Eli gone all Harlem was looking
for One-Eye Lennon to swasger up
Lenox avenue yesterday. fresh from the
exile that had been the decree Of the &c
parted. but that did not prevent f.li
Lucas from having a funeral that will
be long remembered In Afro-American
circles.
Outside the Elks Home, 137th street.
was fairly black with mourners from
Seventh avenue to Eighth. while Coun-
selor Frank Wheaton and Editor Toby
Tobias were preaching eulogies oddly at
variance with the tone of the obituaries
and when Ell started for the cemetery
out Long Island way no less than sew
enteen sombre hacks formed his cortege.
This outward show of respect went
clear down. Before Ell was In his grave
his friends had organized a press COM
mittee and were at work to rectify any
Impression which may linger with the
public that Ell Lucas in the flesh was a
person given to wanton destruction OF
life. limb and property.
1t was not denied that Eli had shot a
couple of policemen. but II was pointed
out that this was a single lapse In an
otherwise amiable career.
just a Little Too Much Gin.
AT the time" explained Pete Jackson,
leading members Of the Elks Home
and chairman Of the Ell Lucas justifica-
ton committee. ELI was fuller Of gin
than he should have been. won't say
he didn't know what he was doing. but
anyhow they were trying to arrest him,
and what would he naturally do when
he had gun himself? 1t was a fair
hght-Eli always fought fair"
Aside from this single quarrel with
the law. 1t was pointed out. Eli had al
ways been Its upholder. perhaps not
working entirely in conjunction with the
authorities, but at least following the
same lines. ~ ..
You can mark my words." said
Chairman jackson. ''There,ll be more
bad black men in New York from now
on than there ever was when Eli Lucas
was alive. Eli was bad mems pizen.
When he was around he was the only
bad man in town. The others Just nat
urally drifted away.
You see. Eli had a gift He could
draw a gun faster than any man that
ever lived-unless may be this Zed
Hazleton that finished Ell up at Sara
toga.
The ordinary man that could draw
a gun as quick as Eli would Just set
down and take 1t easy. but Eli Lucas
wasn't that kind. Instead of being plain
bad he kept right on about his business.
following the races and In of seasons
doing what he could for himself with
the bones and the cards.
There was a lot OF talk about ELI
sticking up the winners. but there is
lot more TO that than was told The
truth IL that Eli used to be sent for
whenever a crooked black man from
out OF town would ring in educated
bones or readers and commence to act
UP. As soon as Ell got word he'd drop
around and draw down on the che alter
and frisk him for his takings. What
Eli did with the money depended on
how his own luck was. II he was low
he would keep 1t. II he was hush he
would parcel II out to the losers. No
body ever cared much, because Ell was
Ell.
Helped Himself occasionaily.
Playing square like he did Eli would
get cleaned out as often as not but
! never heard OF him taking money
without asking for II, or course IL
the house wouldn't run him tab he
out with his gun and help himself once
In a while. But pretty generally his
credit was good.
I've seen bad men from Pittsburg
and Philadelphia and the South take
one look at Eli after he'd been called
to attend to 'em and Just disappear.
Eli was man that never pulled a
blur. and he looked it. When he told
anybody to get ready there sho was
something to get ready for"
Eli Lucas. said Chairman Jackson,
wasn't the husky he has been described.
He was OF medium height. slender and
of such general insignifcance physically
as to be dependent in all alterations
on his gift
1t is further categorically denied by
the press committee that the release Of
Eli from Sing Sing after the stretch
resultant from his differences with the
police in Johnny Jones's place in West
Thirty-second street twelve years ago
had any connection with Johnny's demise.
Instead OF committing suicide when he
heard Of Els coming out party. Chair
man Jackson says. Johnny Jones Just
plain died"