There have been five books written about the murder of Dr. Leroy Adams in Live Oak, Florida by the wife of "Bolita" Sam; Mrs. Ruby McCollum. One was written by an individual who said he lived in the area; but what he did not say was that he was hardly out of diapers at the time. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 58.174.62.98 (talk • contribs) 00:18, 22 November 2014 (UTC)[reply]

This is C. Arthur Ellis, Jr., Ph.D., the person this commentator states was "barely out of diapers." He is indeed sorely wrong and needs to have his facts straight. In spite of his assaults, I have never exonerated Ruby McCollum, and agree that she was a dope addict. What I disagree with is that she shot Dr. Adams over drugs. She shot him because he would not abort her second child by him. The arrogance of this writer is amazing, and I don't know of any research that he has done, or anything that he has written other than this post. He lists himself as having a B.A., but I am really am puzzled about how this qualifies him for much of anything, other than being a critic about something of which he has little to no knowledge. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.85.122.230 (talk • contribs) 23:18, 12 December 2015 (UTC)[reply]

The others were written by representatives of a northern newspaper who had a total bias against the south as a whole. There are facts not told, that I can reveal, because I was there when it happened; a young boy, but definitely beyond the diaper stage and old enough to remember what I saw and heard.— Preceding unsigned comment added by 58.174.62.98 (talk • contribs) 00:18, 22 November 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Ruby McCollum who murdered Doctor Leroy Adams in Live Oak, Florida was at the time a heavy heroin addict and her husband Sam was a friend of both Dr. Adams, Sherriff Sim P. Howell and his staff. He was NOT , however, a friend of the Live Oak City Police Department, because it was truly a corrupt department, often demanded bribes and its Chief was drunk most of the time. No one in Live Oak at the time had much dealings with the City Police Department; they always went to the Suwannee County Sherriffs office in the courthouse for assistance.

"Bolita" Sam, who was out of town on business at the time, knew of Ruby's addiction and had asked (and paid) Dr. Adams to get Ruby off the drugs. So Dr. Adams, in the guise of giving Ruby heroin shots, instead gave her shots of sterile water. Eventually Ruby discovered what he was doing and was infuriated. On the day in question Ruby went to Dr. Adams office for her shot and afterwards paid him with a $100 bill. When he turned around to the cash register in the office to make change and give her back the balance of her money, Ruby took a small pistol out of her purse and shot him in the back; killing him. She then calmly drove home.

Word was immediately sent out to the Suwannee County Sherriff's office and Sherriff Sim P. Howell and Chief Deputy James F. Gray went to the McCollum home to interview Ruby. The Chief of Police was already there and told Sherriff Howell and Deputy Gray that Ruby didn't do it. Deputy Gray told Sherriff Howell to wait a minute while he talked to Ruby, and went inside to see her. Entering the bathroom with her for more privacy, Deputy Gray asked Ruby, "Ruby, what did you do with the gun?" Ruby asked Deputy Gray, knowing he was a friend and confident of her husband, "Will you take care of this with Sam?" and Deputy Gray agreed to contact Sam at once and protect her until he returned home. Ruby then led him out of the bathroom, into her bedroom and over to the window and pointed down, saying, "I threw it there in the bamboo". Wherein Deputy Gray and Sherriff Howell went to the stand of bamboo and found her gun; and she was arrested by the Sherriff; not by the City Police Department, even though it had occurred in the city. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 58.174.62.98 (talk • contribs) 00:18, 22 November 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Ellis here again. What Deputy Gray's son omits is that Ruby McCollum addresses that his father was on her payroll. He cannot accept his father's corruption. This is documented in the trial testimony. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.85.122.230 (talk • contribs) 23:30, 12 December 2015 (UTC)[reply]

I know this to be true because I was a passenger in Deputy Gray's car that day when he got the call and went directly to the McCollum home. I was told to "Stay in the car"; but of course being a boy, I didn't listen and followed him into the house; after all, he was my father.

Ruby DID NOT shoot Dr. Adams over an argument about her bill; but because she was and had "long" been a dope addict, to her husband’s displeasure, and was as she put it "mad as hell" over what he had done at her husbands request.

All that has been written about Ruby McCollum, making her out to be a saint and a victim is pure crap and outright lies as is the trash spewed out against the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Department. Everyone knew Sam McCollum was the biggest "bolito" man in Florida, and that Ruby, his wife, was a practicing heroin addict and worse and had been for a very long time. Had it not been for Sherriff Sim P. Howell and Deputy James F, Gray protecting Ruby until she could be transferred out of town for her own safety, she would not have live out the day. {{subst:unsiged2|00:18, 22 November 2014‎ |58.174.62.98}}

Ellis here again. The son of Deputy of Gray wants it that his father and the sheriff's department save McCollum's live out of altruism. In fact, they fear for their reputations and being revealed for accepting brnbes.

The Live Oak City Police Department at the time did little to nothing to assist in what transpired. Everyone wanted Ruby McCollum dead. Ruby McCollum was guilty of premeditated murder and had she been a man she would have been executed; instead she was committed to an asylum, and then released. Money bought Ruby McCollum and kept her from being justly executed. It is a shame the authors of the books in question choose to praise a herion addict and murderer and slander the names of honest law officers. The authors and their books are a disgrace to the people of Live Oak. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 58.174.62.98 (talk • contribs) 00:18, 22 November 2014 (UTC)[reply]

C. Arthur Ellis, Jr. here again. This Gray person who wrote this article is, I believe, the son of Deputy Gray, who was bribed by the McCollums. He at first acknowledges the corruption of the police and then states that there were "honest law officers." He can't have it both ways. The fact is that his father and most of Live Oak's law enforcement was on the McCollum payroll. And I, for one, have never declared that McCollum was an innocent victim. I might also point out that Adams' assisted McCollum in being an addict, so this man is blaming the victim and praising his corrupt father, who accepted bribes. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.85.122.230 (talk) 04:25, 13 December 2015 (UTC)[reply]

James Mason Gray BA, Univ. of South Florida College of business 30 year Florida Florida historical researcher and author 75 years of age, retired