While researching through the years of newspapers to find out all the information that I could about the history of the Blanche Hotel some articles will catch my eye and I wonder about the rest of the story. I have posted some of the great tidbits of information and firsts happening in and around Columbia County Florida. Being a potential mystery writer crimes naturally, catch my attention in a big way. So far, there have been several different stories that I look forward to pursuing in the future. One thing that I thought might interests my readers would be the murder of the local Chief of Police. It seems that several law officers have been killed in the line of duty here as there have been all over the country. I found a website that chronicles those individuals at: https://www.odmp.org/officer/11190-chief-of-police-hardy-a-revels
There is not a lot of information about this murder but they did post a picture and I have found several newspaper articles posted in the paper about the event and the months that follow. Below are:
Lake City Reporter – 01 December 1922
CHIEF HAD DRIVEN HIS CAR TO POST OFFICE AND WAS GETTING OUT WHEN FUSILLADE OF BULLETS BURSTED FROM AMBUSH ACROSS THE STREET
FEELINGS RUNNING HIGH
Lake City Citizens Wrought Up Over Crime: It Is Feared Mob Law Will Prevail If Guilty Parties Are Apprehended: Officers Are Now Working On Case: No Clues Found Yet
Chief of Police Hardy A. Revels
A few minutes prior to the killing, Policeman Revels had driven his car and stopped in front of the building waiting for Mr. Cristol to fill an order of blankets for the jail. While sitting in his car he was struck by a fusillade of buckshot and .45 caliber automatic pistol shots.The assassins were secreted across the street behind the front porch of the Palmer residence and under cover of shrubbery and tall cane growth in the yard, they could not be seen by anyone.
Policeman Revels gamely returned the fire but not realizing the position of his assailants he was utterly unable to defend himself.
Fourteen pistol holes were shot in the plate glass front of Cristol furniture store and from reports there must have been an exchange of fifteen or twenty shots. Revels was shot thru the neck, in the arm and one bullet passed diagonally through his body above the heart, from which wounds he died at 3 o’clock in the morning at Lake Shore Hospital where very possible effort known to medical care was administered in an effort to revive and relieve the sufferer.
Mr. Revels made a statement just before his death which may lead to the early capture of the guilty parties.
The death care was described by several citizens as a new Ford, parked in front of Mr. T.C. Glover’s residence in which are three men. One man remained in the car waiting for the desperadoes, who as soon as their cowardly dead was accomplished made their escape along the tall cane hedge in the waiting car where they were seen by several citizens. The car was seen to disappear north of town.
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Lake City Reporter – 01 December 1922
MASS MEETING AT COURTHOUSE
Feeling is running high over the lethal assassination of Policeman Revels. A citizen’s mass meeting was held in the courthouse at 3 o’clock yesterday (Thursday) afternoon for the purpose of prompt action in dealing with the Wednesday night murderers.
Lake City Reporter – 08 December 1922
OBIT OF HARDY A REVELS
Mr. Revels was chief of police for this city which position he had held for several years and served the people well and his untimely death will long be felt by the entire community.
Impressive funeral services were held from the Baptist church Friday city was closed at 3 o’clock and the church was packed with sympathetic friends and citizens whose indignation over the horrible assassination is almost unspeakable.
The Masons entered in a body and were in charge of the services.
Col, R.T. Boozer, E.A. McColskey, H.G. Forrester, J.B. Hobbs, C. Cawthon, and A.D. Sanders acted as pallbearers.
The interment was made in Oaklawn cemetery.
Mr. Revels was married about 10 years ago to Miss Nellie Cone of this city. He was 36 years of age and is survived by his widow and two children, Cone, aged 6, and Welda Bess, aged 4. Two brothers and other relatives.
Sympathy of the entire community goes out to the family.
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Lake City Reporter – 08 December 1922
CITIZENS RAISE A $3,000 REWARD FOR MURDERERS
The courthouse was crowded Thursday afternoon of last week in attendance upon the public mass meeting of citizen of Lake City and Columbia County, as the result of one of the most ghastly murders ever committed in this county, when Chief of Police Revels was assassinated the previous night.
Lake City Reporter – 04 May 1923
LEO MCGOWAN IS ON TRIAL UNDER MURDER CHARGE
The attention of the Circuit Court for the past few days has been given over to the trial of Leo McGowan, charged with the murder of Hardy Revels.
The greater portion of the day Thursday was taken up with the selection of a jury, the case will be argued today by attorneys.
The trial of Otto Sealey and Ted Easterly also indicted in the Revels murder case, was set for Tuesday of next week.
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Lake City Reporter – 24 August 1923
TIMBER CRUISER REPORTED GRUESOME FIND TO SHERIFF”S OFFICE LAST FRIDAY: NO EVIDENCE AS TO MANNER OF DEATH FOUND
Portion of Silk Underwear, Kid Pumps, and Hand Bag was Found Beside Remains
Believed to be Person “Knowing too Much”
Nothing Uncovered Which May Lead to Identity of Person: Officers Investigating
The skeleton of a woman was found late Friday afternoon in Waldron Branch, one mile northeast of the city by a farmer named Adams.
The skeleton was partly submerged in mud and water. From all indications, it had been exposed to the elements for a number of months. Judging from the size of the skull and body bones, the woman was of small stature and size, a pair of apparently new black kid pumps, a silk waist, underwear, and other frayed bits of the outer clothing were also recovered.
Deputy Sheriff J.C. Roberts was immediately notified and a coroner’s jury summoned. The coroner’s jury recessed till Wednesday of this week when an attempt to identify the remains was made. Mr. Roberts stated that the sheriff’s office is at work on a number of clues but up to the present time the skeleton and its identity is shrouded in the deepest of mystery. An excellent handbag of good leather, well preserved from the weather, was also recovered from the back near the pool from which the unfortunate victim was taken.
It has developed that several women of small stature have mysteriously disappeared from this section since early fall, presumably, parties who knew too much about Chief Revel’s assassination.
The general impression is that the skeleton of the woman recently found are the remains of a woman who was foully murdered in order to prevent damaging testimony in the murder trials of McGowan and Sealey.
The coroner’s jury, in a body, made further investigations of the location of the spot where the skeleton was found, on Wednesday morning, with the hopes of securing additional information which would probably give some clue as to the party who was murdered. The skull, arm and leg bones only have been found. The coroner’s verdict is that death was caused by persons unknown. The case is still being followed by officers and citizens with the hope of developing some clue which will clear up the murder.
This sounds like a great story to follow up on and find out the rest of the story.
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