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IndexGuthrie Daily News 1891--1907
THE PROMISED LAND
A Guthrie Joshua’s Return and What He Saw
A Land Flowing With Milk and Honey—Clear Streams, Sunny Hills and Beautiful Fertile Valleys
February 2, 1891—Guthrie Daily News--A party of six gentlemen left Guthrie last week for the purpose of making a careful inspection of the lands of the Iowa and Sac and Fox territory; they traveled by wagon, returning to Guthrie late last night.
They report that in their opinion the best way to reach the lands of these countries is from Guthrie by three different roads. The north road by way of Iowa City, the central road on the north line of township sixteen and the third road by way of Tohee. By any of these three roads, starting at Guthrie, there will be found plenty of water, wood and grass. These roads extend to the east line of the Sac and Fox country
The southern part of the Iowa country commencing at the south line of township sixteen, is well timbered and more broken, while north of that line it is generally open prairie of good rich soil and quite rolling.
This is also the case with the Sac and Fox lands, but the Sac and Fox lands north of the south line of township sixteen is more level and better watered, with beautiful valleys along each stream.
The numberless small streams with clear running water and rock bottoms makes it almost impossible to find a quarter section of and that is not watered by some one of these beautiful streams. Growths of timber skirt all these streams and occasionally groves of beautiful trees will be found upon the open prairie, making beautiful and picturesque scenery.
They found in nearly all the streams black bass that would weigh from two to three or four pounds. All the streams contain fish of some kinds.
Building stone is very plentiful in the central part of the Sac and Fox country, limestone being found in great quantities. They also report a superabundance of game of all kinds.
The party came though the city of Langston, which is one mile, south of Iowa City and a half mile west of the Iowa line. Langston contains one shanty without even a window in it. They saw but two men holding down the townsite.
ZACK MULHALL’S VIEWS
The Stories of Cattlemen Desiring the Strip All Buncombe
The Stockmen More Anxious Than Any Other Citizen to Open the Outlet—Plenty of Grazing Ground in the Strip on Land Not Tillable—He Says the Government Couldn’t Force Cowmen to Take the Strip
May 6, 1893—Guthrie Daily News--A dispatch from Washington in an evening newspaper holding the cattlemen in the Indian territory responsible for the delays in opening the Cherokee strip for settlement causes some indignation, but more amusement among cattlemen who are posted. From first to last the story is one of stupid blunders. Its object was to create the impression that the cattle interests had bought off the national administration by showing that leases had but recently been procured in the Ponca reservation. Since the Ponca reservation is separate and distinct from the strip land and will not be opened up for white settlement, the cattlemen are inclined to make merry with the correspondent who wrote the story and the paper, which published it.
Mr. Zack Mulhall, of Mulhall, one of the big cattlemen in the Indian Territory, is inclined to be of the opinion that the correspondent did not know where the Cherokee Strip was situated. “The Ponca reservation,” said Mr. Mulhall, “is owned by the Ponca Indians and leased by them to two stockmen, and the lease was ratified by the republican administration. This was all before Mr. Cleveland took his seat, and it was all proper and right, as to land belonging to the Poncas, and no negotiations had been entered into. A great many people who pass through the strip mistake the Ponca reservation for part of the strip, but it has no connection with it. The reservation is only twelve miles square, and there are enough Indians to take it all by allotment excepting one-half township.
“The stockmen are more anxious than any other class of citizens to have the strip opened, as there will be any amount of grazing land on such parts of the strip as are not tillable. The same is true in the Cheyenne and Arapahoe country, where there are two counties that are not settled and the land cannot be given away. There have been 52,000 head of cattle unloaded at Ponca, 15,000 of which are to be grazed on that reservation and the rest to go to the Osage reservation. There will be many more cattle for the Osage reservation unloaded at Ponca, but there has not been a steer unloaded on any reservation now grazing in the strip lands.
“The government, the people and the Cherokee Indians combined could not force the cow men to take the strip. They have not the cattle to put on it and will not have this year nor next.
“President Cleveland has never shown any friendship for cattlemen. Seven years ago he gave us forty days to vacate the Cheyenne and Arapahoe reservation. We sent a delegation to remonstrate with him and they were told that if they had delayed the movements of their cattle during the time they spent in coming to see him they were just that much out.”
A PRINCELY FIND
John Hughes, Who Lives Near Guthrie, Digs Up a Mystery
He Finds a Skeleton and $2,000 In Gold and Bills—His Wife Makes Him Dig a Well and Digging He Strikes a Bonanza—The Gold Pieces Are of All Denominations
May 31, 1893—Guthrie Daily News--John Hughes, whose claim is located about six miles east, struck it rich on Monday and, at the present writing, can hardly contain himself. For some time past John has been contemplating the digging of a well on his farm and for reasons best known to himself, has put it off from time to time, until last Friday Mrs. Hughes would stand her husband’s dilatoriness no longer, and John assisted by Bob McHenry, went to work and began digging for water about twenty feet south of his house which stands upon an elevation overlooking the Cimarron. The rear of Hughes’ house is covered by a large number of trees; indeed quite a grove and it was in among this bunch of trees, about ten feet from the edge that he began the excavation for his well.
After digging about three feet, for some reason or another he desisted from his work as did his assistant McHenry, and did not resume it again until Monday noon when he again seized his pick and, with his co-laborer McHenry, they proceeded to plough their way into the bowels of the earth. Hughes said that they had not been working ten minutes when his pick struck something hard and became entangled. He gave it a vicious wrench and at last succeeded in dragging it out of the ground and with it, a number of bones, which, he says he recognized at once as ribs, but whether human or animal he could not tell. He then began digging carefully about the spot where the bones came from and, in a few minutes, he uncovered the perfect skeleton of a man, perfect with the exception of the few bones he broke off when his pick became entangled.
His find appeared to be the skeleton of a man nearly six feet high. Remnants of tattered clothing were still clinging to the bones, but fell immediately into the dust upon removing the skeleton.
The ghastly find was lifted from the well when McHenry jumped back into the hole, and after removing some dirt, he says about two buckets, he found a navy revolver and a long Bowie knife, together with a belt of leather, which was almost eaten away with age and damp. Continuing his search his eyes fell upon a large leather or chamois pouch. He picked it up, when it fell to pieces, and a large lot of mouldy coins and rolls of bills, damp and worm-eaten, fell to the ground. He gathered them up, put them in the bucket, and passed them to Hughes, who remained on the surface watching with distended eyes the movements of his companion. Hughes then turned the contents of the bucket onto an old blanket, and picking up one, of what appeared the coins, rubbed the mould away, and found it to be a 10-dollar gold piece of the date 1852. Of these coins there were seventy-four, thirty-five 20 dollar gold pieces and fifteen 5-dollar pieces, in all $1,585, in gold.
The bills were damp and mouldy, and stuck together so that it was impossible to separate them. He judges that there must be over $2,000 in the bunch. He expects, when they are fairly dried, that he can take them apart without injuring them.
Hughes, who is a very intelligent man, is quite elated with his find, and sys that if can’t separate the bills without breaking them he will write on to the treasury department as to what he shall do as to having them redeemed.
The skeleton was taken in charge by Dr. Nolan, who lives in the vicinity, and who sys that the bones must have been in the ground thirty years or more.
Hughes has ceased working on that well, and Mrs. Hughes is not very anxious to have him resume digging, at least in that hole.
U.S. MARSHAL E. D. NIX
The Victorious Candidate Come Home With His Sheepskin in His Grip
He Talks With “The News” and Compliments the Defeated Candidates—He Will Make No Appointments Until After July 1st, When He Assumes the Duties of His Office—The Class of Men He Will Appoint.
June 6, 1893—Guthrie Daily News--United States Marshal, E. D. Nix, who won the crown and wears it, arrived in Guthrie Sunday afternoon and was enthusiastically received by a legion of friends. This young exemplar of the young democracy of Oklahoma bears his well-won honors with a modest dignity that well befits him. When The News corralled him he was as smiling as a father gazing on his first paternal triumph, and assured The News that he was all there, with the sheepskin in his pocket. A considerable conversation ensued, in which the marshal briefly outlined a few of his future purposes. The time has gone by, he says, for swashbucklers, for men who fence themselves round with revolvers and cartridges. A revolver, with the men he will appoint, will be for business, and not for show. Hereafter men who are arrested will not be carried five hundred miles around the country to make fees for speculative deputies. Men will not be arrested and dragged from their homes to Fort Smith for the sole purpose of putting dollars in the pockets of officials who arrest them. Men shall be treated as innocent men, when arrested, until the law and the evidence shall prove them guilty. He will see to it that the territory will not be burdened with taxation by arresting men on trumped up charges and carried, until turned loose by the authorities, as persons who never should have been arrested.
He will give personal supervision to the office and keep it as clean as he would the business of a private concern. He uttered these sentiments in a utopian sense. He is convinced, as a businessman, that the office can be conducted on business principles and that it is as necessary to have honest men around him, as it is in the great business with which he has been connected.
Marshal Nix will make no appointments until he take possession of the office, which will not be until the 1st day of July. In the mean time he will retain the present deputies until he has carefully looked over the field, and be enabled to make a satisfactory selection for the various places to be filled.
Speaking of his campaign in Washington he said that it was a clean one on part of every man concerned who sought the office. There were twenty-three candidates, nineteen from Oklahoma territory and four from the outside. He speaks in terms of high eulogy of them all. He regards them as a fine set of men, and only wishes that was not a marshalship for every one; for each and every one, he says, is deserving of a place.
In E. D. Nix the people of Oklahoma territory will find they have a very capable marshal and one who is splendidly equipped for the high office that he holds.
FAITHFUL OFFICERS
They Leave the Scene of Action With the Respect of the People
Tried and Never Found Wanting—Loyal to their Political Connections They Lay Down the Responsibilities of Office and Close, for a time, An Honorable Public Career
June 7, 1893—Guthrie Daily News--In view of the fact that two able and well known officials, concerned for quite a long time in the affairs of the department of justice, have, by a concatenation of political misadventure, been compelled to give way to gentlemen more in accord with the well understood doctrines of Grover Cleveland, the president of the United States, and to retire from the office of United States marshal and deputy marshal, we cannot let them leave the stage of public life without at least saying a few words commendatory of their coarse while incumbents of the officers referred to.
Marshal Grimes has proved himself an able and conscientious officer, and he lays down the insignia of office and leaves the same bearing with him, the respect and hearty good will of all his fellow citizens. In his capacity as United States Marshal he has been alert, diligent, just, and an official of answerable integrity, exceptionally just in every presentation he has undertaken. No man can say that he was ever maliciously pursued with the knowledge of William Grimes, ex United States Marshal of the territory of Oklahoma. In saying this we say simply what it is but justice to say to a tried official who, when duty called, was never found wanting.
Deputy Madsen, who retires to private life, for the present at least, with Marshal Grimes, has likewise proven himself a tried and trusty man whom official conduct has won the respect of all with whom his official duties have brought him in contact. We only charge him with one mistake, taking the Negro, Sol. Richardson, who attempted to kill Deputy P. M. Perkins, to Oklahoma City, when this city was better, able and better, provided to keep the would-be assassin in security. With this exception, we bid good-bye to an officer whose public career has been free from mistakes and whose private life is all that could be desired.
Marshal Severns is another excellent officer who commands the respect and good will of every man who has the pleasure of his acquaintance.
It is probably that, in the future, these gentlemen will be heard from and when heard from the public may rest assured that it will be to their honor and credit.
Another Report
June 15, 1893—Guthrie Daily News--Kansas City—A special to the “Star” from Fort Gibson, I. T., says Henry Starr, the notorious train robber and wrecker, is surrounded by deputy marshals and a sheriff’s posse at a point on dog creek, about twenty miles from Nowata, the bandit’s home. Unless the posse weakens, Starr will be taken dead or alive. Some of his pursuers are Cherokee Indians, and if necessary will meet Starr in open field with Winchesters. The reward of $15,000 is the cause of the present active movement against the bandits. Starr has six men, while the posse numbers twenty or more.
TRAIN ROBBERS CAPTURED
Zip Wyatt, the Escaped Convict Supposed to Be One of Them
An Important Telegram From a Deputy United States Marshal—Three Train Robbers Captured at Hennessey-The Cimarron City Bandit Supposed to Be One of Them—Newcombe, Alias Butcher Kid, Identified
June 16, 1893—Guthrie Daily News--United States Deputy Marshal McKeever last evening forwarded a dispatch from Stillwater to U. S. Deputy Marshal Madsen containing the important information that three men were captured at Hennessey yesterday afternoon, one of whom has been recognized as the famous bandit, George Newcombe alias Butcher Kid, and the other is believed beyond a doubt to be the famous train robber and man killer Zip Wyatt, whose escape from the territorial jail in this city last winter caused such a sensation.
The third man has not been recognized but from his description is supposed to be the daring Cimarron City train robber. His appearance exactly coincides with that given of the bandit who stopped the train and robbed it at that place recently. He is a slim, yet strong looking fellow, and the circumstances attending his arrest makes it almost sure that the marshals have the right man.
The railroad officials regard these captures as of great moment and of course they feel jubilant.
U. S. MARSHAL E. D. NIX
The Elements, Which Constitute the Makeup of a First Class Office. He Proposes to Make His Force Stronger By Judicious Reduction—He Will Have a Staff That He Can Rely Upon—Having No Enemies to Punish He Will Have Thousands of Friends on Whom to Rely
June 17, 1893-Guthrie Daily News--United States Marshal E. D. Nix is gradually getting down to business, and he is doing it in a way that cannot fail to recommend itself to all the people without regard to consideration of party: There are now some sixty deputy marshals in office in this territory; this body will be reduced to about thirty and made a good working and effective body of men of unimpeachable character and men of standing in community.
The strength of Marshal Nix’s backbone will be exemplified in his selection of his forces, and as he is a man of keen judgment and rare discriminating powers, qualities which have been illustrated in his extraordinary business success, he cannot fail to organize a working force of deputies and an office staff that will reflect credit both on himself and has part and the great territory of which he will prove a distinguished representative. He is a rare combination of courage, youth and strength, of high moral tone, and an exemplar of what a man should be who has in his keeping the honor and good name of a great and growing commonwealth.
He has, right now, all the sturdy characteristics of a veteran. A forceful independence, a clear, cool head, a quiet, unostentatious confidence in himself that is the best equipment it is possible for a man to have who would fill successfully the high office to which his merits, and his merits alone, were the signal cause of his call.
In his recent speech at the opera house he said he had no enemies. Such an assertion, made at that time, is the best index of the character of the man. It was a spontaneous outburst. It was the utterance of a man who knew that the record of his life was clean and pure; that his every act was founded in justice; that in his career he had done unto others as he would that other should do unto him—and, having so walked the devious course of life he had no reason to believe that he had an enemy in the work.
Nor do we believe he has, though few men can make that assertion. He is a genial, outspoken man. Frank and manly, and the more the people know of him the better they will like him.
With a good staff, a picked corps of deputies, we make the prophecy that his conduct of the officer of United States Marshal for the next four years will reflect the highest honor on the man and credit, brilliant and lasting, on the noble territory of which he is a creditable representative.
BRAVE GLAZIER
He Captures a Train Robber at Black Bear
Hold Up With a Winchester—Glazier Grabs the Gun and Pounds the Scoundrel
June 30, 1893—Guthrie Daily News-- The train No. 408, which left this city at 3:20 yesterday, was attacked by train robbers just north of Black Bear station.
It appears that one of the robbers boarded the train at the station and secreted himself in the closet of the smoking car. When Conductor Glazier was passing the car the robber jumped out and covered him with a Winchester rifle, and at the same time demanded that the conductor throw up his hands, which, under the circumstances, were complied with. The next order was to pull the bell cord, which was also complied with. When the train had reached a standstill the desperado ordered his man out of the car to the ground, closely following him. A demand was made then that the conductor go to the engine. At this instant Conductor Glazier says in a telegram to United States Marshal Grimes as follows: “I saw my opportunity and jerked the rifle out of his hands and hit him over the had a blow that brought him to the ground. After capturing him I found that he had on his person two revolvers, four sticks of dynamite with fuse already attached. What shall I do with him? I think I better take him to Wichita.
(Signed) Conductor Glazier
The prisoner stated that two companions with the horses were waiting for him near where he intended to hold up the train. The robber was turned over to Deputy Marshal Heck Thomas, who wired last night that he would go on to Wichita last night and return to Guthrie with the robber today on the 1:10 train.
Later
Wichita, Kan.—11:45 p.m.-C. Madsen, Guthrie—The Man’s name is Manvel. He says that he was to stop No. 408 at Black Bear Bridge on June 30.
If this story is true four men will on the ground tomorrow, (today).
G. J. Haltman
THE BANDITS STORY
The Robber Proves Himself Possessed of a Powerful Imagination
The Fable Builder the Pal of Myths-He Arms Himself With a Sword, a Winchester, Two Revolvers and Five Sticks of Dynamite-He Tells a Wonderful Story and Denies That He Attempted to Shoot Mr. Glazier.
“Johnny, Get Your Gun, Your Sword and Your Pistol.” New song
July 1, 1893—Guthrie Daily News--That terrible bandit and holder up of trains, the Kid Manvel, was examined yesterday, shortly after his arrival in the city, before United States Commissioner Boles, who, after listening to a long cock-and-bull story, put him under bonds of $1,000 pending the examination of his case before the grand jury.
The yarn the boy told was about as improbable as the bloody tales of the dime novels upon which his life has been feeding and which appear to have undermined him mentally and physically.
He rings into his romantic tale the names of Bill Dalton, Bill Anderson and a man named Arthur Gage, together with that of another myth, whose name he had forgotten.
He met this mythical gentleman of the road at a place called Ten Mile Flats, and he says they scared him into the scheme of train robbing. He was put by these fabled villains under “bullet order,” and if he didn’t obey them they’d riddle his carcass with balls.
He was told to arm up. In order to perform this feat it was necessary to get to work. So he went on a farm and slaved for ducats like a Trojan. When he had earned sufficient money he sent to Massachusetts for a sword—a sword, mind you. He also got revolvers and dynamite and so was ready for blood or treasure, and a certain kind of glory thrown in. the performance was to come off on the 30th. He was too previous, however, and went of half-cocked on the day of his capture. He denied the statement of Glazier that he attempted to shoot him; the gun, he said went off by accident. The boy could give pointers to hack writers of pyrotechnical fiction and dictate better slush than ever emanated from the brains of the best of the. His story greatly interested the judge, who is familiar with that kind of lurid literature, and he could have listened till morning to the sapient and imaginative young cuss if the latter’s wind had not given out. The boy has missed his vocation surely. “How I Captured A Train Robber,” by A. Glazier, and “How I was Captured by a Conductor,” by A. Manvel, would make two volumes of blazing red reading. The boy’s story, corroborated by his vapid, inane smile, and the cloud of idiocy, which hovered in his eyes, were alone a sufficient warrant for a free pass into an insane asylum or at least, a school for irresponsible idiots.
BANDITS HORSE THIEVES
Societies For Protection Against These Criminals Being Organized
Cleveland County Takes the Lead—Why Shouldn’t Logan Follow?—A Grand Safeguard Whether Needed or Not
July 14, 1893—Guthrie Daily News--Cleveland County has organized an anti-horse thief association, and comes out with a constitution and by-laws as long as a walking stick. It has already fifty-two members, comprising the leading citizens of the county, and promises to be a very formidable and effective society. One of it by laws says:
“Any person may become a member of this association by signing the constitution and by-laws and paying into the treasury the sum of $1.”
The money so paid in will be used to hunt down horse thieves. The society only aids parties who are members of the organization.
Such an organization in Logan county would be a proper thing; in fact, in every county in the territory an organization of this kind would be a great protection, and if they were formed into a territorial union, it would be nearly impossible for a horse thief to escape its clutches.
Horse thieves have been quite plenty all over the country recently, and very little effort has been made to apprehend them or if efforts have been made, little or no result has come from them. It is only recently that Deputy United States Marshal Severns had two horses stolen. He managed to get them back, however, without much trouble. He is a marshal and knows how to take care of his own business. It cost him about $30, however, before he got hold of his animals.
A number of poor men have had both horses and mules stolen in different sections of the county and many of them have not been heard of at all. It was only a couple of weeks ago that a poor widow woman lost her two mules. She had hardly money enough to get out dodgers to advertise them. They were gotten out, however and distributed throughout the county, but her mules were never heard from.
If she had the protection of such a society as we are considering there is hardly a doubt but that her mules would have been in her pasture long ago. This is only an isolated case. There are scores fresh in the minds of our readers and a number of which the press has tended no note. We believe that this territory is as free of horse thieves as any similar community in the southwest. But that is no reason why a protective organization against these kinds of criminals should not be formed. We believe there is a necessity for it and advise its formation immediately,
THE FEMALE HORSE THIEF
Piquant and Blithesome She Goes With Roebacker to Oklahoma City
She Leaves Guthrie Surrounded By Dudes and Mashers—She Refuses to Don Women’s Clothes and Rolls Away in Her Cowboy Clothes Leaving Blighted Hearts Behind Her.
July 18, 1893— Guthrie Daily News --Mrs. Mundis, the imitation cowboy and horse thief was taken to Oklahoma City yesterday, the place where she was confined before for horse stealing, and from whence she escaped, aided by a couple of ruffians who were confined wither and who, it appears, got safely away.
The gentle damsel was dressed in the poor disguise of cowboy clothes and sombrero and looked to be a very inoffensive darling.
A great crowd was present at the depot and among them, we noticed several of our elderly lawyers who were evidently trying to make a “mash,” and several of our young dudes, who stood, long sighing, and winking furiously at her. That with the trio of lawyers and a score of counter judges, Madam Mundis seemed to enjoy herself hugely. Deputy Sheriff Roebacker offered to take her to his house Sunday and dress her in garments better suited to her sex, but she was obstinate in her refusal.
When she arrived in Oklahoma City she’ll strip mighty quick, for the fellows up that way won’t stand any of her masquerading. If they’ve got a hankering for anything in the world, up that way, it’s a woman and she must be in woman’s clothes; anyhow, they must have her in man’s clothes no matter how they fix it.
When the alleged cowboy was there before in boy’s clothing more than 200 men volunteered to furnish female garments for her and help her dress. She took the clothes but refused the assistance. We understand a big delegation of those sober minded citizens will be at the depot to receive her.
This woman has been the victim of several alleged interviews; but the deputy who had her in charge informed The News that the interviews were fakes and very poor fakes. Mrs. Mundis sent to The News and offered to be interviewed but the invitation was politely declined, as she would tell nothing that The News didn’t already know. And all that she had to tell wouldn’t be worth chronicling. We understand that a number of ladies would like to take her in hand and reform her; probably an attempt will be made to achieve this stupendous result and if it is, an anxious public will await to see how it turns out. As matters stand at present with her she appears to be quite friendless. She will probably find a number, however, among the male philanthropists of Oklahoma City. She probably would here if she hadn’t been hurried off so quick.
When she was captured she offered Deputy Roebacker her racehorse to let her go. (I think she was also known as Tom King)
THE “SCOOP” BUILDERS
Blazing With Wrath Zack Mulhall Goes After the Man on the “Morning Glory.”
July 30, 1893— Guthrie Daily News --Zack Mulhall has taken a tumble to the peculiar “scoops” that the “Morning Glory,” printed in the south section of the city, has been foisting on the public lately “from the strip” and he says, in a letter to the outfit, that if they tell “any more damn lies about him,” and the strip, he’ll come up and smash ’em on the snoot.
Zack says he’s stood this thing just about long enough, and that if the “Morning Glory” wants to continue in the “scoop” building business they must get some other material to” build their damn lies with” than Zack and his little drove of cows. Zack is awfully indignant and has corralled for himself the sympathy of the whole community. As material for a “scoop” Zack don’t pan worth a cent. A few more such “scoops” and the “Morning Glory” will be a wreck and a train.
A BAND OF HORSE THIEVES
Organized In the Chickasaw Nation and Oklahoma With Quarters at Noble
July 30, 1893— Guthrie Daily News -- Comanche Chief --It is becoming more apparent every day that a thoroughly organized band of horse and cattle thieves are operating in the Chickasaw nation, making their rendezvous in the breaks along the Washita and Canadian river and in the Arbuckle Mountains. But the gang undoubtedly has confederates both in the nation and Oklahoma, as the difficulty of recovering stolen stock will attest. It is believed by many that certain nesters along the rivers are in league with the thieves and aid them in concealing or disposing of stolen animals. At Noble, Oklahoma, several members of the gang of rustlers were captured last week after having disposed of a bunch of cattle. One of the fellows made a confession, stating that the band consisted of twenty-three embers well organized for the business of freebooting in the southeast part of Oklahoma, northwest portion of the Choctaw nation and that part of the Chickasaw nation in proximity of Oklahoma.
STARR GANG EXTERMINATED
The Last of the Bandits Captured Near Cherokee City
Bud Smith Offers to Turn Over Several Thousands Dollars In Currency, Gold and Silver If Given His Liberty
July 30, 1893— Guthrie Daily News --Word was brought in yesterday from Tahlequah that there is now no doubt that the men who were captured recently near Cherokee City constituted the remainder of the Starr gang.
Sheriff Burleigh has identified Bud Smith, Charley Plotner and Shorty Miles and he says he knows the men well. The capture was made in a shack near Cherokee City. Smith was the first who was taken and, fortunately, he was too drunk to fight, through when Burleigh went for him he made a feeble attempt to draw his gun, which became entangled in his shirt, as he carried it in his shirt.
He was easily disarmed. It was while he was drunk and angry that Bud gave up the whereabouts of his pals. The deputy marshal and his posse soon had the others corralled and the bandits are now in jail. Nearly $3,050 was found on the persons of the robbers when they were captured.
The sheriff says that the arrest of these men will finally lead to the capture of the remainder of the gang, if there are any more of them. Smith says that Burleigh has got the whole crowd. He also hinted that there were several thousand dollars worth of currency, gold and silver, hidden at the hiding place of the Starr gang in the strip, and that if given his liberty he would take the officers to where it was and turn it over.
They would not bite at his tempting bait, however, though they place considerable confidence in his story. But they say that it might prove a trap, and that if there is any more of he gang left they would be quite likely to be in force where the money was.
They will take measures, however, to investigate the truth to Smith’s story and go to the place with a posse strong enough to produce good results.
GUNS AND MUSCLE
Chandler Turned Into a Pandemonium By Her Officials and Citizens
The Marshal Whips an Antagonist, Billy Slagle Goes Gunning for the Mayor and the County Attorney Get Whipped By Sheriff Parker
August 1, 1893— Guthrie Daily News --On Saturday last Chandler was the scene of more rows, emotes and small sized riots than generally comes to a town of its caliber in such rapid succession and with such fruitless results. Now, if all the rows and encounters that are enumerated below occurred in Oklahoma City, it is pretty safe to say that there would have been something to show for it. A dead man or two—or, a maimed and dismantled man—or a poor devil, heart broken, head smashed and sorely bruised.
It would have been a big thing in Oklahoma City but in Chandler did not amount to Shucks; gun play and all it didn’t pan out worth a cent save and except the disgrace of the thing and that, in Chandler, isn’t regarded as anything worth notice.
The fun began between Baker and Marshal Eads. Baker took it into his head that he had an old grudge to settle with the marshal and he pulled his gun on him, shooting at him several times but getting in no kind of work. The two made matters lively for a time, but they still live. This little business transpired in the Board of Trade saloon. Shortly afterwards, Billy Slagle went gunning for Mayor Belford but didn’t succeed in doing any damage to his man. While this was going on it suddenly occurred to County Attorney Crawford that he had a little grudge to settle with Sheriff Parker, so he started on the warpath after him, and when he caught him the sheriff turned about and shipped the attorney “like hell,” as the boys say. The fighting fever was now at it height. It boiled in the veins of Doc Harriman, who sailed into a Chandler Negro and trounced him within an inch of his life.
There were several minor fights but the about constituted the cream of the rows, and are given as a sample of what Chandler can do when she gets her back up.
WONDERS OF THE STRIP
A Vast Mine For Some One to Work
September 2, 1893— Guthrie Daily News --In the northwestern part of the strip are extensive salt marshes, and to the east of them is the great salt plain, on the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River, comprising thousands of acres. In some tracts the salt is formed on the surface of the ground and along the edges of the streams. There are also vast fields of salt beautifully crystallized, which greet the eye of the traveler a long distance before he reaches them. It would appear that there is salt enough to supply the whole country, and it can be had merely for the cost of handling. Hitherto it has been extensively used on the neighboring cattle ranches and has been hauled to towns in southern Kansas and sold. All the Indians of the territory have had free access to it for their supplies. In wet weather and high water there is little or no salt to be seen, but after three or four dry days it appears again on the surface, as before described, from six to twelve inches thick. On September 27, 1719, Lieutenant du Tisne, from the French garrison at Kaskaskia, raised the French flag on these salt plains and took possession in the name of his king. He was the first white settler to enter the strip from the east, as Dennison had been from the west.
A FIERCE FIGHT
The Dalton Gang Do Big Slaughter at Ingalls
The Marshals Surround the Town, Wound One of the Bandits and Capture Another.
September 3, 1893— Guthrie Daily News --In the fight yesterday between a posse of United States deputies and the Dalton gang of train robbers, Marshals Shadley and Speed were killed and Deputy Marshal Tom Huston mortally wounded. Fuller particulars received late yesterday state that N.S. Murray, G. W. Ransom, N. A. Walker and a young man named Briggs were wounded, and that a man named Simmons, not belonging to either party, was instantly killed. Bill Dalton had his horse shot under him twice. He is the man who killed Shadley. After killing him he rode off on his horse. One of the gang named Dynamite Bill is supposed to be wounded. Four of the gang, after the fight was over, rode off on their horses.
The names of the outlaws as learned are: Bill Dalton, Bill Doolin, Bitter Creek or George Newcomb, Arkansas Tom and Nibs or Tulsa Jack. The names of the marshal’s posse as learned are: John Hixon, Shadley, Huston, Dick Speed, George Cox, Jim Materson, Janson, Henry Keller, Hi Thompson and Doe Roberts.
Arkansas Tom kept the marshals at bay until 4 o’clock in the afternoon, when he made a proposition that if he was protected from mob violence and not to be put in chains, he would give up. He said that he knew that he could be taken finally, but in the meantime he would kill at least seven men, whom he had range on then. He had over eighty balls yet left. His proposition was accepted and he came down and gave himself up.
There were six men altogether in the bandit’s gang. Ransom, at whose hotel they were stopping in Ingalls, has been arrested for harboring them. A number of other citizens of that place will also be arrested for complicity with the robbers.
VALUABLE FOR BOOMERS
Where the Roads Run That Enter the Strip
On the Northern Border There Will Be a Reservation of 8,640 Acres Made Permanent by the Proclamation
September 3, 1893— Guthrie Daily News --The strip is already traversed by four lines of railroad, with several other lines just a little outside. Two of the strip lines are branches of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, one running obliquely through the western end in a southwesterly direction and the other running southward from Kansas through the Chilocco Indian Industrial School reservation into Oklahoma at the eastern side. A third, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska, runs southward through the center of the strip, and the fourth, the Kansas and Arkansas Valley road, cuts through the northwestern corner.
In the western portion, along the line of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad, are the settlements of Warren, Alva, Noel, Eagle Chief, Waynoka, Nimrod, Sutton, Griffin, Warwick, Woodward, Orland, Norris, Gage, Stockton and Goodwin. In the eastern side on the other branch of the same road, are the stations of Ponca and Magnolia, besides a number of settlements on what were formerly the reservations of the Tonkawa, Kansans, Pawnee and Osage Indians. On the northern border, upon a reservation of 8,640 acres, is the Chilocco School. By the terms of the law opening the strip it will be continued in operation and the reservation made permanent. In the western part of the strip is the establishment known as Camp Supply Military reservation.
THE BLOODY BANDITS
Are Said to Be Coming to Loot the Town
Let the Citizens Be Well Heeled and When They come, If they Do, Give the Duffers Hell
September 12, 1893— Guthrie Daily News --There seems to be a well-authenticated rumor in the city that the Ingalls bandits, and other ruffians joined with them, will make an attempt to loot the town on the day of the opening of the strip. At the same time an attempt will be made to let loose the murderer, Arkansas Tom, who is said to have killed Shadley in the recent fight at Ingalls. These ruffians believe there is good “loot” in the banks, and that the private houses of our citizens will bear profitable inspection.
Whether this rumor amounts to anything or not it would be a good idea for our citizens who remain at home to be well heeled on the day of the opening, and for some succeeding days. If they should come we might possible make a few of them sick. The best part of the makeup of these fellows is bluff and bluster, and this has been proved when ever they have run against anything that’s nervy and white.
The Dalton Gang
They Take Dinner Eighteen Miles East of Guthrie
Reliable information was received in this city last evening that the Dalton gang took dinner just eighteen miles east of Guthrie.
ROUGH RIDERS
A Band of Men Seen Heading for Guthrie
Are They the Bandits Who Have Threatened to Loot the City and Release Arkansas Tom From Jail?
September 14, 1893— Guthrie Daily News --A well-known gentleman, resident of this city, was coming into Guthrie from the northeast yesterday morning, when he suddenly noticed a large body of men going into camp. They were well mounted and fully armed and appeared to be a very well drilled band of rough riders. Our informant states that the gang seemed to be under the orders of a leader and quite well disciplined. From the looks of their horses he judged that they had ridden quite a long distance and were heading for the banks of the Cimarron. Among the crowd he recognized Jack Evans, who is known in this city under several aliases. He says that whenever Jack is there you may look out for murder and robbery.
If this gang is steering for this city they will not only get very little to loot, but will receive a reception that they may have occasion to long remember. Doe Slocum will play his band at them and if the “music” doesn’t destroy them, then they will be taken in hand by the company of infantry under command of Col. Slocum, when woe betide them.
U.S. MARSHALS VINDICATED
Honest Settlers Defrauded by Fraudulent Officers
Bold Operators Arrested by Marshal’s Faithful Deputies
September 24, 1893— Guthrie Daily News --Of all the fraudulent schemes being operated in the strip the one conceived by J. B. Dent, a prominent candidate for appointments as postmaster at Kingfisher is at once the most ingenious, the boldest and most profitable, but has resulted in the arrest of the chief operator.
He operated at Enid, and his method was to issue tickets, upon which was printed the following:
The tickets were issued to honest settlers, who very naturally believed that they were being issued under proper authority. The number of tickets issued runs into the thousands and a fee of 10 cents was charged for each.
Marshal Nix states that J. B. Dent has never been authorized to act as a deputy under any circumstance. Mr. Dent was arrested Friday for impersonating a United States officer and placed under bonds to appear for preliminary examination next Wednesday.
This is only one of many schemes being practiced by irresponsible parties without authority, which have unjustly brought severe criticism on the head of Marshal Nix. It should be understood by all newcomers to Oklahoma, as is well known by all who have an acquaintance with Marshal Nix, that no act of fraud or connivance, or irregular official conduct connected with his officer, will be countenanced for a moment.
The marshal holds himself in readiness to act immediately on all cases savoring of irregularity on the part of any of his deputies, and will deem it a favor to have the names of parties reported to his office who claim to be deputy United States marshals, who have no authority so to act.
Chief Deputy Marshal John Hale says that he is satisfied that fraud was practiced at Perry, and further says that he intends to call the guilty ones to account.
BANDIT STARR
Henry Starr, With “Kid” Wilson, Attempts to Break Jail
They Were Assisted by Three Condemned Murders—They Were Foiled and Begged to Be Shot
October 4, 1893— Guthrie Daily News --Fort Smith, Arkansas, Oct. 3—“Kid” Wilson and Henry Starr led an unsuccessful attempt to break jail today. John Pointer, Alexander Allom and Frank Collins, condemned murders, and Charles Young and Jim Fair, Negroes assisted them. They refused to go into their cells at dinnertime and made an attack upon one of the guards, who tried to force them in. They had been making trouble all day and a big force of guards were on. One guard fired, shooting Young in the face and breaking the cheekbone but not seriously injuring him. Pointer, Starr and Wilson begged to be shot. The court meets tomorrow to try the case of Starr and Wilson and this made them desperate.
STARR, THE TRAIN ROBBER
His Mother’s desperate Plot to Deliver Him From Jail
She Offers the Gang a Large Sum of Money to go to Fort Smith—a Plan to Rob the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Train
October 12, 1893— Guthrie Daily News --Last Saturday a United States officer received a letter, which produced a sensation among those who were informed of its contents. A party in the Indian Territory, whose name is withheld for obvious reasons, wrote the letter. That it is genuine there is no doubt, and it sets forth in detail the plan of a desperate gang of men. In brief the details are as follows:
“Mrs. Starr, mother of the notorious Henry Starr, offered a large sum of money if the gang would go to Fort Smith and release her son from jail. Her offer was accepted, and the letter states that the gang have plans all laid to go to Forth Smith and release Henry Starr, and with him at their head, hold up a Missouri, Kansas and Texas train, thus giving them funds. The time and place was not mentioned in the letter. The writer urges the officer, who is a man of well-known bravery and a fighter, to organize a posse to prevent the gang from carrying out their plan. He gives good reasons for his knowledge and connection with the scheme. The men connected with the affair are bold and determined, and a price is set on the head of nearly every one, and they may yet attempt to carry out their plans.
MARSHAL NIX EXONERATED
The Blame for Extorting Monies Put Where It Belongs
A Congressional Investigation That Promises to Throw a Great Deal of Light Into Many Dark Corners
October 13, 1893— Guthrie Daily News --Private advices received from Washington, recently, make it reasonable certain that a rigid investigation of alleged frauds at the booths and land officers in the strip will be made by congress.
A territorial official who is acquainted with the facts at Perry said that the deputy marshals were not wholly to blame for the impositions on the people in the line, as men representing themselves to be deputy marshals who had never had any connection with the office were chiefly the one who profited by the extortion. Information was conveyed to Marshal Nix that his temporary deputies were robbing the people on the line and his chief deputy went from Guthrie to Perry and took the commission away from every deputy he could find. He put six of the oldest and most reliable deputies in charge of the line. These were Heck Thomas, Forrest Halsell, Bill Tilghman, John Quimby, Jim Bryant and Jim Jones. He also posted four papers on the land office building notifying the people that the deputy marshals had nothing whatever to do with the land office and that no deputy marshal should exercise any authority over the line under any pretext whatever under penalty of having his commission taken from him at once.
Then the register and receiver of the land office urgently requested that the deputy marshals be kept on, and Mr. Nix went personally to the land office and again let his deputies assume control, the land office men having asked the attorney general by wire for authority to employ these six men for ten days longer at this duty. Before the expiration of this time Receiver King asked for four men five days longer and Marshal Nix received authority for this extension from the attorney general. Last Saturday night the five days expired and every marshal was withdrawn. The supposition is that soldiers will be substituted on the line, and if they are, great dissatisfaction will result.
Marshal Nix is said to feel keenly the imputation cast upon his office by the charges of corruption among his deputies, but declares that the employment of unrealizable men was forced upon him. It is stated that upon investigation, the matter he found that one of his deputies, a man named Johnson, accepted a bribe and he was promptly arrested, his commission revoked and the money secured.
Blame has been entirely taken from the shoulders of United States Marshal Nix and not a shadow of blame attaches to his methods of owing his duty in the strip.
TO BE HANGED
This is the First Sentence of Death in This Territory
Chief Justice Dale Deals Out Justice as He Likes to—A Man to Swing
November 10, 1893— Guthrie Daily News --The courtroom was as a graveyard last evening.
A man’s life was at stake. John Dossett was on trial. Evidence pro and con was submitted.
Chief Justice Dale decreed that Dossett should be hanged by the neck on the 8th day of January 1894, until he was dead.
Did Demosthenes or Cicero ever issue a pronouncement more decisive?
Hang a man by the neck until he is dear?
Stop, Mr. Chief Justice Dale. Is this the kind of justice you propose to deal out in this community?
Do you, Mr. Dale, Roy and Renfrow, propose to hang, draw and quarter everybody that dares not to dance to your music?
Ain’t you, Renfrow and Roy, satisfied after robbing the poor people of all they have without hanging a man?
Are you, Mr. Dale, looking for a reputation as a “hangman?” Grover Cleveland pulled a rope that sent a poor devil to hades; remember this.
Can you, Mr. Dale, on oath, swear that you believe in capital punishment?
Answer this through Renfrow, Roy’s and Dale’s paper.
A newspaper reflects only one man’s ideas. A judge does the same.
“Hanged by the neck until he is dead!” Poor Dossett, shackled and defenseless. A man weighing over 200 pounds pronounces this sentence, with minions ready to do his biding.
They are the power. We admit that, Roy and Renforw and Dale are running the country. They are out for the stuff.
If there is a chance to bleed the settlers rest assured they’ll do it.
It was worse than a cyclone when President Cleveland handed the reins to Renfrow, Roy and Dale.
God if there is a God knows that these people have suffered. God knows if there is a God they’ll have to suffer, unless Cleveland comes to the rescue.
Claude Duval, in all his glory, never sentenced a man to be hanged by the neck until he was dead.
Dale done this, and he is backed by Renfrow and Roy.
TRAIN ROBBER RELEASED
November 10, 1893-- Guthrie Daily News --Judge Goodrich, sitting as U. S. commissioner, released Lee Johnson, who has been in jail here for some time, this morning. Johnson was charged with train robbing.
Police Court
November 10, 1893-- Guthrie Daily News --James Keenan got hilarious and was run in and yesterday morning, Judge Goodrich said it would be $10 or the rock pile. James put up a hard luck story about going to the strip and getting a claim and the judge will investigate and if this is correct he will release the prisoner, as he does not feel like adding to the burden of woe already accumulated.
AN AWFUL TRAGEDY
Outlaws Riddle a Man with Bullets Near Pond Creek
They Fight Like Demons and Are Hunted Into the Sand Hills With the Sheriff and His Posse Still in Pursuit
November 21, 1893— Guthrie Daily News --One of the most fearful tragedies connected with the name of the Cherokee Strip occurred five miles west of Pond Creek Saturday. While Captain Dodd was giving his troops the usual drill exercises in the morning, Deputy Sheriff Jones of that county approached the captain with his clothes riddled with bullets and the top of his hat blown off. He said that a Mr. Hendrickson, a rancher, had come to him and made a complaint that certain parties were stealing his and his neighbors’ cattle, driving them to Kansas, killing them and returning the beef to the Cherokee town butchers. Mr. Hendrickson said he knew the cattle thieves to be cowards and easy to arrest, Sheriff Jones procured warrants, and accompanied by Mr. Hendrickson started for the abode of the thieves. They found two of them in a small cabin. As soon as the outlaws found that the sheriff had warrants for them they opened fire with Winchesters from the cabin door. Sheriff Jones returned the fire with fatal results, one of the outlaws dropping. The other kept up the fire, shooting Mr. Hendrickson and killing him instantly.
A posse was secured and followed the outlaws into the sand hills. The sheriff says that while there were but two of them at the cabin, he is satisfied that there is a well organized band, that so far has escaped the law and has been very successful in its unlawful business. Up to this hour the sheriff and his posse have not been heard from. Mr. Hendrickson has a brother living in Medicine Lodge, Kan., who has been notified of the sad affair.
THE BANDITS AT CUSHING
They Appear and Patronize a Church Fair
They Defy the Officers of the Law, Partake of an Oyster Supper Waited on By Admiring Ladies
November 26, 1893— Guthrie Daily News --The Dalton gang are determined to show the people of this territory that with all their power, police and judicial they do not fear them in the least, and defy them on any and every possible occasion. It was but the other day that they marched defiantly through Stillwater. It was but recently that they shot down and murdered men wearing badges of deputy sheriffs of this territory Ingalls, and still the red-handed ruffians enter our towns and cities with impunity and no one dares sends them away.
How long is this terrible condition of things to continue? Are there no men in this territory gallant enough for the rewards that hang over the heads of these men, to get together and go forth for their capture? It appears not. We give below the last galling and impudent feat of the abandoned desperadoes.
The Dalton gang, who has been very bold since they defeated the officers in the Ingalls battle, capped the climax a few nights ago when they appeared in a gang at Cushing and all attended an oyster supper given by the ladies of the church there. They left their arms outside, patronized the tables liberally, and conducted themselves like society gentlemen through out. It is needless to remark, though, that they enjoyed themselves more than did the balance of the people in attendance.
SIX MURDER CASES WILL BE ARGUED
May 29, 1907-- Guthrie, Oklahoma--The Supreme Court docket was completed for the term which begins June 1. Three federal cases, 12 territorial criminal cases and 38 civil cases are set for hearing.
Six murder cases are scheduled for argument, including that of Jim Wilkins, colored, sentenced to hang for the murder of "Choctaw Bill" Creele at Waurika in March 196. The other murder cases include Thomas Gibbons, sentenced for 99 years for killing Thurston Renfrow at Anadarko; Elisha Barker, sentenced for four years for killing Charles Birlew, and Canadian County; Samuel Cavett, three years for killing his brother-in-law J. C. Gillham, at McLoud’ Wesley Yandells, three years for killing Lee Ginn, a justice of the peace at McComb and W. P. Price, four years for killing Hood Randell and Jim Parks at Sayre four years ago.
The most prominent federal cases that of Ed Lisle, of the Osage nation, who was sentenced for life for killing Deputy Marshal John B. Jones, four years ago. The case will be argued of L. W. Myers, the aged Anadarko banker, who convicted of demanding a usury interest from Indians and with disguising himself as an Indian in order to collect the interest. He was ejected from the reservation by federal marshals. Myers’ interest ran as high as several hundred percent in some instances.
Wong Gin, the Oklahoma City Chinaman resisting deportation will be given a hearing.