Alfred Ellyson

ELLYSON, HAMPTON

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 1/22/2018 at 14:22:54

16 January 1930 - West Branch Times

FORMER LOCAL MAN MURDERED IN THE SOUTH

Alfred Ellyson, son of the late Benjamin Ellyson and his wife, was brutally murdered in his filling station at Laurenburg, N.C., sometime during the night of January 3rd.

Mr. Ellyson was living alone at his place of business, sleeping and doing business under the same roof. Neighbors became suspicious when his place was closed all day Saturday, and upon investigation the gruesome discovery of the tragedy was made.

Indications are that his assailant called during the night, got him out of bed on the pretense of making a purchase and as the old man bent over to get a soft drink out of the ice box, struck him in the back of the head with an axe which was kept in the store. Robbery appears to have been the motive of the crime as an open drawer showed search had been made for the money. The dead man was fully clothed and had on his hat, the brim of which was cut when he was dealt the blow with the axe.

Having murdered the man and secured such loot as could be found, the murderer barred the front door to the place, took the dead man's keys and locked the back door behind him. The sheriff and his men had to force an entrance to the place by climbing to an upper window.

The county commissioners offered a reward of $50 for the capture of the slayer and evidence submitted pointed to Dave McRae, colored, as the guilty man.

Alfred Ellyson was a half-brother of Mrs. Clyde Hampton and L. N. Ellyson of West Branch.