A Tiger by the Tail

Hometown Murders & Mysteries | April 2022

Original Image: ©shaiith | Adobe Stock • Image Design: jrgrigsby

A Tribute

April 13, 2022, marks 20 years since Pulaski County Sheriff Sam Catron was killed in the line of duty. In memory of his service to Pulaski County (and surrounding counties), this edition of Hometown Murders & Mysteries is dedicated to Sheriff Catron.

---

In Pulaski County’s long and storied past, few names evoke as much awe, respect, and sorrow as that of Sheriff Sam Catron—a dedicated lawman whose life was cut tragically short in the line of duty. This special edition of Hometown Murders & Mysteries marks 20 years since his passing, paying tribute to his service and sacrifice.

But this story goes deeper than a memorial. In A Tiger by the Tail, we crack open the history books to explore the roots of law and order in Pulaski County—and the price some have paid to uphold it. Beginning with the controversial and deadly events of 1911 in Burnside, we unravel the tale of Deputy James Ellis, a man accused of running an illegal "blind tiger" operation and whose actions would result in the deaths of two public officials. The resulting trial would go down as one of the most sensational ever held in the county—and lead to the first Pulaski Countian sent to the electric chair.

Through courtroom drama, newspaper clippings, and eerie details from inside the penitentiary’s “Death House,” this story weaves together themes of justice, corruption, and community reckoning. It reminds us that violence—like courage—leaves a mark on more than just the pages of history.

🎧 A Tiger by the Tail is both a tribute and a reckoning, honoring a fallen sheriff while exploring one of the darkest chapters in our region’s past.

🔗 Available from Amazon or Audible.

Image: ©alswart | Adobe Stock

---