LIVING HISTORY
39
Bill, on Dec. 2, 1932, in a small rowboat on the South Fork of
the St. Lucie River when the boat overturned. Bill Ashley survived
while Mario drowned. The death was ruled accidental.
LIFE WITHOUT JOHN
With the death of Ashley, the courts dismissed the murder
charges against Laura. State Attorney George W. Coleman based
his motion on the grounds that Laura was just an accessory.
Laura was totally distraught, discontented and restless
without Ashley. The remaining members of the Ashley family
treated her as an outcast. Since she had attained notoriety,
especially as a known bootlegger and gambler, she was not
welcomed in some communities. She moved to Okeechobee
but was arrested several times for public drunkenness and
eventually was asked to leave.
Having a man in her life was still essential to Laura. She
met Leon E. Lawrence, who immigrated to the United States
in 1923. The couple married on Feb. 11, 1926, in Martin
County. But the marriage did not last and in early 1927 the
couple divorced in Palm Beach County.
Restless, Laura wandered to different locations, being arrested
several times for displaying a gun or causing a reckless
commotion. She was sentenced to 30 days in Jacksonville for
drunkenness in March 1927. While there, she sparked the Pea
Farm Cabbage Riot only five days after arriving. She and four
other female prisoners demanded that candy be served rather
than cabbage on the daily menu. Ultimately, the situation
ended when the women were tear-gassed and gave up; Laura
was then put in solitary confinement. Upon being released,
she returned to work at the gas station at Canal Point owned
by her mother.
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DiBartolomeo, McBee, Hartley & Barnes, P.A.
Certified Public Accountants Serving the Treasure Coast Since 1981
DiBartolomeo, McBee, Hartley & Barnes has served the Treasure Coast of Florida since 1981. We
have offices in Ft. Pierce and Port St. Lucie, Florida. Our motto is “Personal Service.” We are very
proactive with our clients and assist them in their accounting, tax, and business needs. One or more
of our four principals handles every client, no matter how large or small. This is the business
philosophy on which our firm was founded.
Fort Pierce
2222 Colonial Road, Suite 200
772.461.8833
◆ Accounting & Auditing
◆ Tax Return Preparation
◆ Business Advisors
◆ Outsourcing - Bookkeeping & Accounting
◆ IRS matters and negotiation
Port St. Lucie
591 SE Port St. Lucie Blvd.
772.878.1952
P l e a s e v i s i t o u r W e b s i t e : w w w. dm hb c p a . n e t
NOTORIOUS ASHLEY GANG
Laura and Ashley reportedly began their life of crime after meeting in the
mangrove region called Peck’s Lake near Manatee Bay in Salerno.
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