Boyle County Obituaries
Railroad Man Shot to Death at Whitesburg From: Lexington Herald, Monday, June 25, 1928 Railroad Man Shot to Death at Whitesburg Ed Stratton, L. & N. Conductor, is Instantly Killed in Hotel by Morgan
Collier, Fellow Employe Slayer Escapes in Auto; Fled to Virginia, Belief Mrs. B.T. Jones, of Lexington, is Sister of Slain Man [Special to The Herald] Whitesburg, KY., June 24.-- Ed Stratton, 45 years old, a passenger train conductor
on the Eastern Kentucky division of the L. & N. railroad and for more than
20 years an employe of the company, was shot to death tonight at 6:48 o'clock
by Morgan Collier, 32, another railway man, while seated in the dining room
of a hotel here. Collier shot four times, killing Stratton almost instantly. Following the
shooting he walked from the building and drove away in his automobile, which
was parked nearby. He had not been located late tonight, and it is believed
that he has crossed the state line into Virginia. According to witnesses, Stratton was seated at a table in the hotel with two
women, said to be Collier's former wife and her sister. Collier entered the
dining room and approaching the table, spoke to Stratton and the women. He
then left the room, but returned a few minutes later. Entering the door he
pulled a pistol and began shooting. Stratton was killed as he sat in his chair. Stratton, who is widely known throughout eastern Kentucky, lives at Neon in
Letcher county. His regular run was between Neon and Hazard. He was off duty
today, no train being run on Sundays. Among those who survive Mr. Stratton is a sister, Mrs. B.T. Jones, of 391
Virginia avenue, Lexington, and his body will be sent to Lexington early Monday
morning, arriving there about 2 o'clock Monday afternoon. Others surviving him are his widow, Mrs. Stella Stratton, who is at present
in Phoenix, Ariz., for her health; a second sister, Mrs. A.J. Rigdon, of Laveland
[sic], Ohio; a son, Bennie Stratton, of Danville; two brothers, John Stratton
and Isaac Stratton, of Danville; and one half-sister, Mrs. John King, of Dekalb,
Illinois. Funeral arrangements will be announced after the widow and other relatives
have been communicated with. Submitted by: Kate
Riley
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