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IndexHENDRIX TAKEN AFTER HOT FIGHT
Choctaw Outlaw, Refugee from Texas, Is Again Behind Bars
Pedestrians Held Up
Church-Goers Searched at Revolver’s Point by Drunken Indian
March 7, 1910—Ada Weekly News--Ada, OK—After a running fight between Will Hendrix, the notorious Choctaw outlaw and a posse of officers, during which twenty shots were fired, but no one wounded. Hendrix at 1 o’clock this afternoon was arrested at Roff and now languishes in the Hughes County jail at Holdenville, where he was taken for safe keeping.
Hendrix entered the town of Roff about noon, drunk and armed with a revolver. For nearly an hour he accosted people on the street and searched them for weapons, taking no money or valuables. Men and women returning from church were stopped promiscuously at the point of Hendrix’s gun, and while their hands were in the air, he searched their clothes. In the meantime the officers, who had been searching for Hendrix in the vicinity of his home near Dolberg, returned to Roff and caught the outlaw in the act of searching a man. When Hendrix saw the officers approaching he broke away and ran down the street, firing back as he ran. The officers returned the fire and captured Hendrix without difficulty, after his ammunition had been exhausted.
This afternoon officers went to the home of Hendrix and arrested his father and J. H. Fondren. Two brothers of Hendrix and another man who had avowed that he would fight to the death with the Indian were not at the Hendrix home. Their arrest may follow, for the Hendrix domicile has been considered a rendezvous for an undesirable class of men that has infested that section of the county.
Under Life Sentence
Will Hendrix was tried in the United States court at Paris, Texas, and found guilty before Judge Bryant of killing his father-in-law in the Chickasaw nation, in 1906. The case went to the Texas court on a change of venue. Hendrix was sentenced to life imprisonment. On account of ill health that developed a short time after Hendrix’s confinement, he was allowed liberties in the federal jail, and on the night of June 17, 1909, he made his escape. He had been trusted and given charge of the turnkey that opened the cells doors leading into the corridor. The night of the escape Hendrix opened the cells and turned the prisoners into the corridor. A saw had been procured, and with this an opening was made in the window bars of the out wall. Hendrix twisted bunk blankets together and tied them with electric light wire and lowered himself to the ground. Some other prisoners escaped with him.
Hendrix decamped into Oklahoma and has several times been the object of search by country officers. His trail had always led to his rendezvous in the hills where safety was afforded. Several months ago he appeared at Stratford and officers gave him a chase. They followed him until nightfall and thought they had him surrounded in a dense thicket. During the night an officer was accidentally shot through mistake, and in the disturbance that followed Hendrix extricated himself and was lost in the hills. About a week ago he again appeared in public, this time at a dance near Roff. The fiddler grew tired early and left for home, whereupon Hendrix became angered and brandishing his revolver caused panic that broke up the dance. Then he went to a telephone and called up Constable Oscar Rollins at Roff and said:
“This is Will Hendrix talking. I understand that you have McDonald from Paris over there and want me. If you do I am here at Dolberg, and not one of you is game enough to come after me.”
Rollins and Deputy United States Marshal McDonald of the northern district of Texas immediately started to Dolberg, but when they arrived there Hendrix and his comrades had escaped.
DICK TRUITT FIRST IN BULLDOGGING
July 30, 1935--The Ada Weekly News--Cheyenne, Wyoming--Turk Greenbough, hard riding cowboy from Red Lodge, Montana, was awarded the bronco busting championship of the Cheyenne Frontier Days celebration today for his rides on four bucking, kicking broncos.
It was the third frontier days title for Turk. He won in 1933 an again in 1935.
Among the first place winners was Dick Truitt, Stonewall, Oklahoma in bulldogging, three steer average of 16.6.
TRUITT THIRD IN BULLDOGGING
Stonewall Cowboy Gets In On Money In Great Pendleton Rodeo
July 30, 1935--The Ada Weekly News--Dick Truitt, of Stonewall has been “making” the big time roundups for several years and has won an imposing number of cash and trophy prizes.
He grew up in southeast Pontotoc County, developed in his yearly experience the skill and speed that makes it possible for him to compete successfully with the best cowboys of the country in the big time rodeos.
July 30, 1935--The Ada Weekly News--Cheyenne, Wyoming--July 24--Ike Rude of Mangum, Oklahoma is about as facile a steer roper as they come.
Performing before a throng at the Cheyenne Frontier Days celebration and rodeo
here yesterday.
Rude roped and trussed a steer in 17.6 seconds to win that event.
Two other Oklahoma cow hands got in the money as Oklahoma performers continued to win their share of the honors.
Clyde Burke of Comanche, Oklahoma, was right behind Clay Carr of Visalia, California to finish second in the calf roping event. Carr was first with a time of 15.3 seconds.
Dick Truitt of Stonewall, Oklahoma was third in the bulldogging event, won by Rube Nelson of Ross, Wyoming, who tossed his steer in 11.2 seconds.
DICK TRUITT WINS IN STEER ROPING
September 10, 1936--The Ada Weekly News--Ponca City--Ace Seward, Buffalo, emerged with the best average time in calf roping and Dick Truitt, Stonewall, in steer roping in a two-day rodeo at the 101 Ranch, which closed yesterday.
The best average in bulldogging was made by Dick Anderson, Fort Worth, Texas. Andy Curtis, El Reno, Oklahoma, was first in bronc riding and Jack Bolton, Fort Worth, first in steer riding.
Allen Whiles and D. A. Capspick, both of Ralston, who had a joint entry in the terrapin derby, split first money of $100.
DICK TRUITT WINS PLACES IN RODEO MEET
September 24, 1936--The Ada Weekly News--Woodward-Sept. 14--The steer roping crown of a three-day rodeo which ended here yesterday was held today by Allen Holder Sheffield, Texas, whose time was 70 1/5 seconds. Dick Truitt, Stonewall, Oklahoma was second and King Merritt, Federal, Wyoming, third.
Hugh Bennett, Fort Thomas, Arizona, stood first in steer roping and bulldogging with Truitt second. Yesterday’s competition in steer riding found Whitey Stewart, Anadarko, first; Walter Cravens, Butler and Bud Shutts, Sun City, Kansas, tied for second. In the day’s bronc riding, Ken Roberts, Strong City, Kansas, was first, with Stewart tied with Dick Swartz, Byers, Texas for second.