Bellis, Lee - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Waynetown was the scene of a murder on loast Friday night. The murdered man’s name is Lee Bellis and his home is at Jacksonville, Fountain County. Hank McLean and David Pearson who live at Jacksonville are charged with the crime. They were out on a drunken frolic, and the trouble between them arose from the Alamo Outrage committed the Saturday night before.

Source: Greencastle Banner, 28 June 1877 p 2

News reached this city yesterday morning that a murder had been committed at Waynetown the night before. The murdered man’s name is Lee Bellis and his home is at Jacksonville, Fountain County. Hank McLean and David Pearson who also live at Jacksonville, are charged with the crime. They were out on a drunken frolic and the trouble between them arose from the Alamo Outrage committed the Saturday night before. Later – It was show in evidence that Bellis came to his death by a shot from a pistol in his own hand. It seems these three men had been accused of being connected with the Alamo outrage. As soon as they heard it they came up from Jacksonville to Alamo to meet the charges. While there they heard the names of the supposed guilty parties. Supplying themselves with a quantity of whisky they started to Waynetown to file affidavits against them. At this place they had a dissension among themselves when Bellis threatened to shoot McLean. McLean lay hands on Bellis and endeavored to knock the pistol out of his hand but failed. And it was at this point while he was flourishing his pistol that it was discharged, the ball entering on the right side of his head and passing downward.  He lived about two hours. - kbz

Source: Crawfordsville Star 28 June 1877 p 1

Hank McLane, Lee Bellis and David Pearson, Jacksonville, Fountain County hoodlums came over to Waynetown last Thursday night and became involved in a drunken squabble among themselves. Bellis drew a revolver to shoot McLane, and in the struggle fired it off, receiving the bullet in the side of his own head. On an examination before the proper authorities on the following day, McLane and Pearson were released from blame; the verdict of the Coroner being that the deceased came to his death by a shot from  his own hand. - kbz