The 1926–27 Tampa Murders: A Grisly Chapter in Florida's History

The Murders Begin

In the heart of Tampa, Florida, a dark chapter unfolded from April 1926 to May 1927. This period marked a chilling series of ten murders, culminating in the conviction and execution of Benjamin Franklin Levins. Born and raised in Florida, Levins was accused of five of these gruesome crimes, although whispers in the shadows suggested that all ten murders were somehow entwined.

Emma Hilliard: The First Victim

The grim saga began on April 28, 1926, when Tampa police were summoned to a distressing scene at 508 Nebraska Avenue. There, they found Emma Hilliard's lifeless body, decapitated, in a pool of blood. The alleged perpetrator, Charles "Blind Charlie" Manuel, a newspaper vendor, was discovered holding a jackknife. Manuel, in a drunken stupor, claimed Hilliard was his girlfriend, despite her being married and having a past filled with numerous romantic entanglements, including an ex-husband named Benjamin Levins. Manuel was swiftly arrested, and by July, he had pleaded guilty, despite having no memory of committing the crime. He insisted that his intoxicated state made him believe the witnesses who saw him attack Hilliard.

The Rowell Family Massacre

As the heat of summer settled over Tampa, a new horror emerged. On June 28, 1926, three members of the Rowell family and their tenant, Charles Alexander, were discovered brutally hacked to death with an axe at 116 South Nebraska Avenue. A vigilant neighbor, sensing something was amiss, made the grim discovery. It was rumored that Bee Rowell, the family patriarch, had confided to others that Manuel was innocent of Hilliard's murder and claimed to know the real culprit. Despite questioning multiple suspects, the police were left without enough evidence to press charges, though they began to doubt the credibility of the witnesses in Manuel's case.

The Merrell Family Tragedy

Nearly a year later, on May 27, 1927, tragedy struck again. The Merrell family, including a five-week-old baby named Lester, were found murdered in their home at the corner of 1st Avenue and 31st Street. The gruesome discovery was made by 15-year-old Kenneth Merrell returning from a night out. Miraculously, his eight-year-old brother Hugh survived, having hidden beneath a bed, unseen by the killer. A railroad spike driver, an unusual hammer, was found at the scene, leading investigators to suspect a railroad worker might be involved.

As dawn broke that fateful day, a woman driving through the area saw a man loitering near the Merrell home. Initially suspected as the murderer, he was later identified as a workman merely seeking directions. Meanwhile, two men, seemingly troubled, approached a local fortune teller, Mrs. Lizzell Banta, asking if they were implicated in the "Merrell mess." Initially dismissing their queries as absurd, Banta's suspicions grew, prompting her to contact the authorities.

The Investigation and Arrest

Benjamin Levins: The Prime Suspect

The morning after the Merrell murders, Lieutenant D. Z. Meeks of the Tampa Police made a critical discovery. Half a mile from the crime scene, in a lumber yard, he found a newspaper detailing the murders, surrounded by scraps of bread and cigarette butts—evidence that someone had been resting there. Among the debris, three broken matches mirrored those found at the Merrell home. Meeks set a trap, and by midnight, a man was caught sleeping at the site. His name was Benjamin Franklin Levins, a 38-year-old laborer with a transient lifestyle, claiming to have resided in Tampa for several years.

Under interrogation, Levins broke a match in a manner eerily similar to the ones found at the crime scenes. His boot print matched one found at the Merrell home, further tying him to the murders. Levins admitted to being at the scene that night but insisted he was not the killer. He accused Leonard Thompson, a friend, of committing the heinous acts. Levins recounted a tale of drinking with Thompson, who allegedly vowed revenge against Herman Merrell for a perceived slight. Levins claimed to have waited outside while Thompson entered the house, and upon hearing noises, struck a match to see the bodies before fleeing in horror.

Leonard Thompson: An Alibi

Leonard Thompson, residing at a boarding house nearby, was soon apprehended. He confirmed drinking with Levins but maintained he returned home early, falling asleep by 9:30 PM. Thompson alleged ignorance of the murders until Mrs. Banta's visit, which he claimed was Levins' idea.

The investigation took an unexpected turn when it emerged that the Merrell home had once housed the Ryles family. An intruder had previously broken into the house, leaving behind a dropped railroad maul. Mr. Ryles, who had provided the police with information on the Rowell murders, feared for his family's safety and moved them to the countryside shortly thereafter. The police theorized that Levins had initially targeted the Ryles family but mistakenly killed the Merrells instead.

Upon viewing the Merrell family's bodies at the morgue, Levins confessed, acknowledging his fatal error. He realized the tragic mistake only after reading the newspaper the following day.

Public Outcry and Violence

News of Levins' confession spread like wildfire, igniting public outrage. A furious mob gathered outside the county jail, demanding Levins' blood. Sheriff Hiers, anticipating violence, summoned the National Guard's 116th Field Artillery, led by Colonel S. L. Lowry, to secure the jail. Despite their presence, a riot erupted on May 29, 1927, resulting in the deaths of four people and injuries to thirty-three others. The National Guard, forced to defend the jail, opened fire, fatally wounding some of the mob, including S.J. Ellis, who later succumbed to his injuries.

In the aftermath, twenty men faced charges for inciting the riot, with seven eventually pleading guilty to unlawful assembly. They opted to pay fines rather than serve jail time.

Legal Proceedings and Execution

The Trial of Benjamin Levins

Levins' trial took place in Orlando in July 1927. His defense argued that police coercion led to his confession, with threats of returning him to Tampa unless he admitted guilt. Levins claimed he acted in self-defense when Herman Merrell caught him breaking into the house and insisted that Thompson had killed the remaining family members after he left.

Despite his defense, Levins was convicted of the Merrell family murders, while Thompson was acquitted in a separate trial three weeks later. The sentence was death.

The Final Chapter

On November 22, 1927, Benjamin Franklin Levins met his fate in the Florida state electric chair at Raiford State Prison. Despite a last-minute plea for a stay of execution, Judge Robles denied the request. Levins maintained his innocence to the end, though he expressed hope for redemption in the afterlife. His execution witnessed by a select group, Levins was buried in the prison cemetery, his body unclaimed.

Aftermath

Charles Manuel, who had pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Emma Hilliard, was released from prison on November 15, 1930.

List of Victims

Murder Victims

• Emma Hilliard
• Caroline Rowell, 94
• Bee Dee Rowell, 45, grocery clerk
• Eva Rowell, 16
• Charles Alexander, 40, mechanic
• Herman "Looney" Merrell, carpenter
• Nettie Merrell, drink stand operator
• Ralph Merrell, 11
• Mildred Merrell, 5
• Buddy Merrell, 3
• Lester Merrell, 5 weeks

Riot Deaths

• Hal Pifer, 33, bus driver
• Hugh Edward McRae, Ontario, Canada
• Earl McGill of the Sinclair Oil Corporation
• W. E. Browning, 43
• S.J. Ellis

Execution

• Benjamin Levins, 38

Sources

For further reading, refer to the original Wikipedia article.