Bio & Incident Details
Age: 30
Tour: Not available
Badge # Not available
Cause: Gunfire
Location: Texas
Incident Date: 8/9/1930
Weapon: Handgun; .32 caliber
Suspect: Two men were executed
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Margarito Rodriguez was upset over the deportation of his wife to Mexico. Margarito, his brother, Victor Rodriguez, Nicandro Munoz and Jose Maria Lopez decided to hide in the brush about 200 yards from a Mexican dance (baile) in Hidalgo County and kill the first officer they could capture. They knew federal officers would be in the area.
Mounted Inspector Bert Ellison and other officers were in the vicinity of the baile for the purpose of ascertaining if any violations of the law were being committed. Ellison and Inspector Clark separated, following different trails into the brush. Within a short time after they had separated some eight or more shots were heard. Clark called Ellison’s name but received no response. Inspector Coy joined Clark and they found Ellison's body. His pistol holster was in his pocket, but the belt and pistol were gone, as was also a flashlight which he had been using. Some empty 32 caliber shells were found near the body. Ellison had been shot a number of times.
A posse of lawmen caught Margarito and Victor Rodriquez the next day, and in the ensuing gun battle, Margarito was killed and Victor was captured. Nicandro Munoz and Jose Maria Lopez were also arrested. The men confessed to the murder. The disposition of the case against Lopez is unknown. Munoz and Rodriguez were sentenced to death and executed on October 30, 931.
Inspector Ellison's wife Ollie Boyd Ellison had a child named Robert Boyd Ellison on February 5, 1930. Ollie Ellison died on May 17, 1930 and he was killed less than three months later. Ellison is buried in Mission, Hidalgo County, Texas.
