He was known as The Islander (El Isleno). He fought in WWI and then settled in Key West. But his relationship with a mulatto woman caused the KKK to tar and feather him. In retaliation, he shot and killed one of them on Duval Street on Christmas Eve. The next day, a posse removed him from jail and lynched and shot him.
Manuel Head, [ this was actually Manuel Cabeza] owner of a coffee shop in Key West, shot and killed William Decker, prominent Key West resident, Christmas morning, while out driving near the Cuban clubhouse, The police were notified and an angry mob was soon on the scene of the tragedy in hot pursuit of Head. Head ran to the rear of a residence and climbed to the cupola which was above the second story. He commenced firing, one bullet grazing the ear of the captain in charge of the night police. Head's fire was returned by the angry crowd and the cupola was riddled with bullets but none struck the fugitive. Later, he was induced to surrender to a deputy sheriff and he was escorted to jail by a detachment of marines.
The shooting was the result of the whipping of Head by a masked band last Friday night. Head tore the masks off three of his assailants at that time and vowed vengeance. Marines from the Key West navy yard guarded the county jail after Head's capture until the mob which formed after Decker's murder broke up. They gave way shortly after 2 a. m. to deputies who patrolled outside the jail.
Word that the marines had been relieved was passed about and the crowd gathered again. Approaching the jail, one of the leaders called for Sheriff Curry and when he opened the door a dozen men forced their way in, overpowered him and the jailer, obtained the keys to Head's cell and made for their victim. Head was shot twice before being taken away. He was then placed in an automobile and taken far out on a county road near old Fort Martello, and there strung to a telephone pole. Twenty-two bullet wounds were found in the body when it was cut down this morning.
The Bradford County Telegraph
Starke, Florida
Friday December 30, 1921 Page 3
Manuel Head, [ this was actually Manuel Cabeza] owner of a coffee shop in Key West, shot and killed William Decker, prominent Key West resident, Christmas morning, while out driving near the Cuban clubhouse, The police were notified and an angry mob was soon on the scene of the tragedy in hot pursuit of Head. Head ran to the rear of a residence and climbed to the cupola which was above the second story. He commenced firing, one bullet grazing the ear of the captain in charge of the night police. Head's fire was returned by the angry crowd and the cupola was riddled with bullets but none struck the fugitive. Later, he was induced to surrender to a deputy sheriff and he was escorted to jail by a detachment of marines.
The shooting was the result of the whipping of Head by a masked band last Friday night. Head tore the masks off three of his assailants at that time and vowed vengeance. Marines from the Key West navy yard guarded the county jail after Head's capture until the mob which formed after Decker's murder broke up. They gave way shortly after 2 a. m. to deputies who patrolled outside the jail.
Word that the marines had been relieved was passed about and the crowd gathered again. Approaching the jail, one of the leaders called for Sheriff Curry and when he opened the door a dozen men forced their way in, overpowered him and the jailer, obtained the keys to Head's cell and made for their victim. Head was shot twice before being taken away. He was then placed in an automobile and taken far out on a county road near old Fort Martello, and there strung to a telephone pole. Twenty-two bullet wounds were found in the body when it was cut down this morning.
The Bradford County Telegraph
Starke, Florida
Friday December 30, 1921 Page 3
He was known as The Islander (El Isleno). He fought in WWI and then settled in Key West. But his relationship with a mulatto woman caused the KKK to tar and feather him. In retaliation, he shot and killed one of them on Duval Street on Christmas Eve. The next day, a posse removed him from jail and lynched and shot him.
Manuel Head, [ this was actually Manuel Cabeza] owner of a coffee shop in Key West, shot and killed William Decker, prominent Key West resident, Christmas morning, while out driving near the Cuban clubhouse, The police were notified and an angry mob was soon on the scene of the tragedy in hot pursuit of Head. Head ran to the rear of a residence and climbed to the cupola which was above the second story. He commenced firing, one bullet grazing the ear of the captain in charge of the night police. Head's fire was returned by the angry crowd and the cupola was riddled with bullets but none struck the fugitive. Later, he was induced to surrender to a deputy sheriff and he was escorted to jail by a detachment of marines.
The shooting was the result of the whipping of Head by a masked band last Friday night. Head tore the masks off three of his assailants at that time and vowed vengeance. Marines from the Key West navy yard guarded the county jail after Head's capture until the mob which formed after Decker's murder broke up. They gave way shortly after 2 a. m. to deputies who patrolled outside the jail.
Word that the marines had been relieved was passed about and the crowd gathered again. Approaching the jail, one of the leaders called for Sheriff Curry and when he opened the door a dozen men forced their way in, overpowered him and the jailer, obtained the keys to Head's cell and made for their victim. Head was shot twice before being taken away. He was then placed in an automobile and taken far out on a county road near old Fort Martello, and there strung to a telephone pole. Twenty-two bullet wounds were found in the body when it was cut down this morning.
The Bradford County Telegraph
Starke, Florida
Friday December 30, 1921 Page 3
Manuel Head, [ this was actually Manuel Cabeza] owner of a coffee shop in Key West, shot and killed William Decker, prominent Key West resident, Christmas morning, while out driving near the Cuban clubhouse, The police were notified and an angry mob was soon on the scene of the tragedy in hot pursuit of Head. Head ran to the rear of a residence and climbed to the cupola which was above the second story. He commenced firing, one bullet grazing the ear of the captain in charge of the night police. Head's fire was returned by the angry crowd and the cupola was riddled with bullets but none struck the fugitive. Later, he was induced to surrender to a deputy sheriff and he was escorted to jail by a detachment of marines.
The shooting was the result of the whipping of Head by a masked band last Friday night. Head tore the masks off three of his assailants at that time and vowed vengeance. Marines from the Key West navy yard guarded the county jail after Head's capture until the mob which formed after Decker's murder broke up. They gave way shortly after 2 a. m. to deputies who patrolled outside the jail.
Word that the marines had been relieved was passed about and the crowd gathered again. Approaching the jail, one of the leaders called for Sheriff Curry and when he opened the door a dozen men forced their way in, overpowered him and the jailer, obtained the keys to Head's cell and made for their victim. Head was shot twice before being taken away. He was then placed in an automobile and taken far out on a county road near old Fort Martello, and there strung to a telephone pole. Twenty-two bullet wounds were found in the body when it was cut down this morning.
The Bradford County Telegraph
Starke, Florida
Friday December 30, 1921 Page 3
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