Lomax and Lomax, 1934, "American Ballads and Folk Songs," printed a version from a Miss Ella Scott Fisher, Texas, "sent, February 9, 1910," which gives Billy Lyons as the victim.

In the introductory discussion, it is evident that they (and Miss Lee) were attributing the event to Memphis, and searched for a tune there. The date seems questionable. The different voices give a vaudeville aspect to the version.

Lyr. Add: Stagolee
Version A

'Twas a Christmas morning,
The hour was about ten,
When Stagalee shot Billy Lyons
And landed in the Jefferson pen.
O Lordy, po' Stagalee!
2
Billy Lyons old woman,
She was a terrible sinner,
She was home that Christmas mornin'
A-preparin' Billy's dinner.
O Lordy, po' Stagalee!
3
Messenger boy came to the winder,
Then he knocked on the door,
An' he said, "Yer old man's lyin' there
Dead on the barroom floor."
O Lordy, po' Stagalee!
4
[Billy's old woman]
"Stagalee, O Stagalee,
What have you gone and done?
You've gone and shot my husband
With a forty-four gatlin' gun."
O Lordy, po' Stagalee!
5
[Stagalee's Friend]
Stagalee, O Stagalee,
Why don't you cut and run?
For here comes the policeman,
And I think he's got a gun."
O Lordy, po' Stagalee!
6
[Policeman, a little scared of Stagaleee]
"Stagalee, O Stagalee
I'm 'restin' you just for fun,
The officer jest wants you
To identify your gun."
O Lordy, po' Stagalee!
7
[Stagalee in jail]
"Jailer, O jailer.
I jest can't sleep;
For the ghost of Billy Lyons
Round my bed does mourn and weep."
O Lordy, po' Stagalee!
8
[Counsel for the Defense]
"Gentlemen of this jury,
You must let poor Stagalee go;
His poor and aged mammy
Is lyin' very low."
O Lordy, po' Stagalee!
9
[Counsel for the Prosecution]
"Gentlemen of the jury,
Wipe away your tears,
For Stagalee's aged mammy
Has been dead these 'leven years."
O Lordy, po' Stagalee!
10
Stagalee's old woman,
She hung around the jail,
And in three days she had him out
On a ten-thousand-dollar bail.
O Lordy, po' Stagalee!

(Three days to raise $10,000 bail? A busy lady!)