Paxton Talbert to Greenberry Tyson 

 

Talbert, Paxton was fatally wounded at Vinita by Henry Clay, a gambler in 1898. 

(The Enid Weekly Sun - March 16, 1898) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database)   Killed in the line of duty,

 

Tappens, Bob was remembered working out of the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

(Indian Pioneer History - Elizabeth Kemp Mead)

 

Tate

Ira

D.U.S. Marshal

February 27, 1907 to June 30, 1907

 

Tate, Thomas H. was commissioned in the Western District in 1900. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Tate, S. W. was commissioned on November 27, 1891, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.

 (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Taylor, Charles was killed in 1897. 

(Oklahombres)

 

Taylor, James “Jim” was working with Heck Thomas on September 6, 1885, when they were combing Cook County, Texas, looking for murderers, Pink and Jim Lee.  Alva Roff, a prominent rancher who lived near Ardmore, Chickasaw Nation, lost two sons to the two killers and was prepared to pay well to have the assassins brought in, preferably dead.  Deputy Marshal Jim Guy, the brother of the Chickasaw Governor, was summoned to serve a warrant of arrest to the Lee

Gang and a Negro named Dallas Humby who was charged with killing his wife.  Jim Guy formed a posse and was in the process of serving the warrant of arrest when he was killed by the Lee gang.   Jim Taylor and Heck Thomas spent two months searching for the Lee brothers and finally found them in a camp near Dexter, Texas.  The Lees had taken refuge in a small log hut which did not have any doors.  The only entrance to the building was through a small window.  Small peepholes were bored through the logs which allowed the outlaws to shoot at any one who approached their fortified cabin.  The Lee brothers were well aware that Deputy Marshals Heck Thomas and Jim Taylor were in pursuit of them.  The brothers knew the officers were near so they decided to leave their cabin and take their chances in a shoot-out in a near-by ravine.  Officers Taylor and Thomas found the brothers eating their breakfast when the gun battle developed which left both brothers dead.  Heck Thomas and Jim Taylor collected the reward when they hauled the bodies to Gainesville, Texas. 

(The Indian Champion - May 16, & September 12, 1885) (Herald News, Gainesville, TX. - September 8, 1885) (Indian Pioneer History - Mrs. Lou Brittenberg) (Indian Pioneer History - A. E. Mundy) (Encyclopedia Of A Western Gun-Fighter) (Heck Thomas) (Shoot from the Lip) (Bounty Hunter) (Black Red and Deadly) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Taylor, John M. Jr. was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, serving under Marshal Jacob Yoes.  In May of 1892, John arrested Aaron and Robert Holton on Murder charges, taking them to the Ft. Smith, Arkansas federal jail to await trial.  He was commissioned again on August 3, 1893, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, while living in Claremore, Cherokee Nation. 

(Indian Chieftain, Vinita - August 7, 1890) (Ft. Smith Elevator - May 6, 1892) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Taylor, R. J. “Lee” was killed near Skiatook while working Osage country and was remembered by W. C. Jacobs in Indian Pioneer History.  On the morning of October 1, 1891, Deputy Marshal Taylor was at the store owned by William Rogers of Skiatook, which was a mile from the Osage Nation boundary line.  He went there to meet Ben Haney, whose sister kept house for William Rogers.  Rogers was a half-breed Cherokee who kept a store and was postmaster of Skiatook for fifteen years.  He also was a prominent member of the Cherokee Senate.  Taylor arrived in Skiatook around noon, so Haney took him to Roger’s home where they ate dinner with Haney’s sister.  After dinner they went into the yard to visit when they saw Rogers coming toward the house with his gun in his hand.  As he entered the yard he swore at Taylor and ordered him to leave the premises.  Taylor spoke to Haney asking which way he should depart.  Rogers raised his gun and fired, shooting Taylor in the left breast.  Taylor said “My God I’m Killed.”  Another shot was fired by Rogers, this time the slug tore into Taylor’s right shoulder sending Taylor face down toward the ground.  Haney raised the deputy marshal’s head and held him until he died, which was only a few seconds.  Rogers got his horse and rode to the nearest railroad station to take the deputy marshal to Ft. Smith where he planned to give himself up.  Deputy Marshal Taylor was buried by a friend, John R. Skinner, who told Taylor he would give him a fit burial in the event he was killed.  The motive for the murder was never known, whether it was in a fit of jealousy or did Haney’s meeting with the deputy marshal reveal some wrong doings by Rogers?  Rogers remained free until June of 1892, when Deputy Marshal Cale Starr served a warrant of arrest, taking him to the federal jail in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, to await trial.  Rogers was acquitted of the charge on grounds of self defense. 

(The Territorial Topic - October 8, 1891) (Indian Chieftain, Vinita - October 8, 1891) (Ft. Smith Elevator - June 10, 1892) (Cherokee Advocate - July 1, 1893) (The Weekly Elevator - July 16, 1893) (Oklahombres) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Historical List)    Killed in the line of duty.

 

Taylor, Thomas was commissioned in Oklahoma Territory by Marshal W. C. Grimes.  He arrested a man named Henry Shoemaker who was charged with the killing of a prominent Mason named Townsend.  Shoemaker was convicted but was released in an appeal when he came up with an alibi.  Several witnesses said they had seen him at Cowboy Flats and that night he stayed with his brother-in-law.  Shoemaker was arrested again for the killing and was in custody when the notorious Ike Black and Ellsworth Wyatt alias “Zip Wyatt” alias “Dick Yeager” were confronted south of Fairview, Oklahoma Territory.  Ike Black was killed north of Longdale and Ellsworth Wyatt was shot three times before he was arrested and placed in jail at Enid, Oklahoma Territory.  Wyatt never recovered from his wounds to be tried for his crimes but he did confess to the killing of Townsend and said Shoemaker was not justifiably charged.  The widow Townsend came to the Enid jail where she identified Wyatt as the killer of her husband.  Tom arrested two soldiers at Hennessey and put them in jail there.  Several other soldiers attempted to break them out.  During the jail break, two of the soldiers were wounded while their effort failed. Tom was assigned to Guthrie, Oklahoma Territory, during the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889, under Marshal Thomas Needles. He was one of five deputy marshals that filed for an application for homestead and had it rejected.  In October of 1900, Thomas Taylor was killed in a saloon at Pawnee by a desperado named Orin Deloss.  Deloss was tried for the murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.  George Foster, former sheriff of Noble County, replaced Tom Taylor.  Oklahombres shows he was killed on October 13, 1891. 

(The Osage Journal - May 9, 1901) (Oklahoma Land Rush Of 1889) (The Woodward Bulletin - November 30, 1900) (The Antlers Democrat - May 10, 1901) (Indian Pioneer History - Henry Slaght) (Chronicles Of Oklahoma - Volume 35, 1957) (Oklahombres) (West Of Hell’s Fringe)

 

Taylor

T.

J.

D.U.S. Marshal

February 17, 1898

 

Taylor, W .L.  was commissioned on February 24, 1896, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, serving under Marshal George J. Crump.  Deputy Marshal Taylor lived in Ft. Smith, Arkansas when commissioned. 

(Ft. Smith Oaths of Office)

 

Taylor, Walter “Spunky” was commissioned as a deputy marshal on June 27, 1893, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  Spunky worked with Deputy Marshal Paden Tolbert when they tried to apprehend the Bill Cook Gang. Walter credited Bill Doolin with saving his life when a desperado tried to shoot him in the back.  Spunky was the last of Judge Parker’s deputies to die (December 15, 1961).  He worked as a city marshal at Catoosa before becoming an U.S. Deputy Marshal. 

(Iron Men) (Bill Doolin O. T.)

 

Taylor, William “Bill” was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, on September 2, 1892.  Bill went to the Creek Nation in January of 1893, to arrest John Vann, a Creek Indian who was charged with selling whiskey.  Vann was taken to the Ft. Smith federal jail.  In October of 1897, while living in Oolagah he went to Vinita to arrest Willie Nichols on charges of robbing the post office at Eli of five dollars.  Bill attended the 1908 reunion of U.S. Marshals at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

(The Weekly Elevator - January 27, 1893) (Indian Chieftain, Vinita - October 28, 1897) (Picture - The Western Peace Officer) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Taylor

William

H.

D.U.S. Marshal

Vian

March 11, 1905

 

Teal, Bud was remembered as a deputy marshal working out of the Claremore District.  Deputy Marshal Teal said there was more horse stealing in 1904, than any other time in Indian Territory. 

(The Byars Banner - October 6, 1904) (Indian Pioneer History - Charles Huckleberry Rogers)

 

Teel, Gary W. was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  He served a four year term and was appointed again early in 1906, at the Northern District Court at Muskogee for three years, assigned to the Sapulpa area. Teel’s appointment was pending on investigation of charges of which he was completely exonerated.

 (The Antlers News - February 9, 1906) (The Lenora Leader - April 20, 1906) (Picture - Notable Men Of Indian Territory)

 

Teeples, Isaac was commissioned on February 3, 1896, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  Deputy Marshal Teeples lived in Vinita, Cherokee Nation when commissioned.

 (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Teets, John was remembered as a deputy marshal serving in Territorial days by Daniel Starr in Indian Pioneer History. 

(Indian Pioneer History - Daniel Starr)

 

Terrell, R. M. was commissioned on August 5, 1895, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  Deputy Marshal Terrell lived in Vian, Indian Territory when commissioned.

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Terry, J. “Dick” was commissioned in the Northern District of Indian Territory, serving under Marshal W. H. Darrough. 

(File #10, Indian Library, Oklahoma Historical Library)

 

Terry

J.

R.

D.U.S. Marshal

July 6, 1906 to June 30, 197

 

Terry G. W. was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database)

 

Terry, L. A. was commissioned on January 26, 1886, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Terry, W. H. was working with Deputy Marshal George Tucker and C. L. Hart in October of 1889, when they went to serve a warrant of arrest to Charley Bowie alias “Charlie Davis” who was wanted for stealing horses at Lexington, Chickasaw Nation.  The nineteen year old Bowie had taken refuge at his father’s home in Fleetwood, Chickasaw Nation. The deputy marshals with a posse surrounded the Bowie home demanding Bowie to surrender.  Bowie refused, telling the deputy marshals he would kill them if they did not leave.  Tucker moved back to bring reinforcements forward.  Bowie, seeing an opportunity to escape, left the cabin firing as he ran.  Deputy Marshal Terry shot the fleeing outlaw with his Winchester rifle striking the horse thief in the right nipple, killing him instantly.  The Deputy Marshals went to court in Paris, Texas to report the shooting.

 (The Territorial Topic - October 10, 1889)

 

Tharp

W.

A.

D.U.S. Marshal

September 27, 1906 to January 1, 1907

 

Thomas, Henry Andrew “Heck” first joined the marshal’s force on November 12, 1885, in the Southern District Of Indian Territory at Paris, Texas.  Heck’s commission was also for the Western District at Ft. Smith Arkansas.  He served as deputy marshal for thirty years.  Heck was a tall slender man, six foot tall, weighing around one hundred - seventy-five pounds with dark hair and dark complexion.  He had a distinct garb which consisted of knee-high boots, corduroy trousers and flannel shirt, with two ivory handled six-shooters.   In his arms he normally carried a shotgun. The deputy marshal worked the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations.  Heck gained fame in Indian Territory when he was classified as one of the three best deputy marshals to serve.  The trio, Chris Madsen, Bill Tilghman and Heck Thomas, were given the title, the “Three Guardsmen”.  Heck usually brought in more prisoners from Indian Territory than any other deputy marshal.  On November 21, 1887, Thomas brought in a record forty seven prisoners which required using seven two horse wagons to transport them.  The arrests never came easy for Heck was wounded six times taking the prisoners.  Several books would be necessary to give due credit to Heck Thomas.  A number of these books have been written and are listed in the reference following this narrative.  The event I selected to write for this narrative came from his wife Mattie, who told the story in the 1930’s in an Indian Pioneer History interview.  In the Kiamichi Mountains, southeast of Talihina, a young man named William and his wife of two weeks traveled from southern Kansas to this sparsely settled district.  The couple was very poor, having only one horse which carried the young woman as the young man led the horse.  The horse was also carrying a load of camping equipment and prospecting tools.  The young couple heard stories of valuable gold in Indian Territory, which gave them hopes of striking it rich, taking them away from their life of poverty.  As the couple neared an area that looked promising to them, they saw a cabin where they went to ask for water and directions.  The cabin was occupied by an Indian named Cma-Har-Key-Sons, his two wives, several children and his father.  After a brief stop, the young white couple saw they were not welcome at the Indian’s home.  As the young couple left the cabin they were stealthily followed by the Indians.  The young couple paused after traveling a short distance to rest when they were approached by the Indians who shot and killed the man.  The young white woman became terrified, running for her life.  Within a short distance the Indian overtook the woman, forcing her to go to his cabin where he made his wives cook for her.  After feeding the woman she was taken to a high bluff which had a stream flowing along its base.  The old man positioned himself a short distance from the woman where he made a strange noise which drew her attention, making her look in the direction of the noise.  As she turned her head the Indian shot her.  Her body fell from the high embankment into the stream below, lodging itself into the rocks that lay in the creek.  The Indians went to the woman where they piled rocks on her body, leaving it where it fell.  The young man’s body was still laying at the spot where he had been killed so the Indians knew they had to hide it.  A shallow grave was dug so the body could be rolled into it to hide their merciless act. Their victim’s suitcase was burned but his horse and saddle were kept.  Within a few days one of the Indian’s wives, overcome by jealousy toward on of the others told outsiders of their barbarous deeds.  In 1887, Deputy Marshal Heck Thomas was summoned to investigate the case.  Heck went to the Indian cabin which he watched for several days.  Finally the Indian man left the cabin which allowed Heck to visit the cabin where he questioned the squaws.  The two Indian women would not tell anything.  Heck was good around children so he singled out the twelve year boy asking him about hunting and things he would talk about.  After a while, Heck tried to talk to the boy about the young man and woman that had stopped at their cabin but the boy would not tell anything, saying that he knew nothing.  Heck tied a rope around the boy’s neck, telling the boy he would have to hang him if he didn’t talk.  The boy said his father would kill him if he talked about it.  Heck finally assured the boy that he would be safe with him and wouldn’t let his father hurt him.  The boy said his father got mad when the man and woman came to their cabin because they were going to prospect.  The boy’s father said too many white men were coming into Indian Territory.  The young boy took Heck to the shallow grave where the young man had been buried, then took him to the creek where the woman’s body was left.  The water had moved the woman’s body where one arm and hand were protruding from the water.  Heck immediately went to Paris, Texas, taking the boy with him where he was given protection by the court.   He also secured arrest warrants and two posse men.  After arresting the Indian family they were taken to the federal jail to await trial.  During the trial the little boy would not talk or answer any questions.  Heck Thomas was quick to observe that the boy’s father was giving him an evil look.  The boy was moved from the view of the father where he told the whole story.  The Indian man was sentenced by Judge Parker to hang from the gallows.  The old Indian man died awaiting trial.   As previously stated, a narrative of all of the arrests and shootings that Heck Thomas was involved in would take several books.  Other authors have already done this in their writings about Deputy Marshal Heck Thomas, trying to include them in this writing would not do justice to this officer.  Between 1893 and 1896, only three years of Heck’s fine career, he was responsible for more than three hundred wanted men being arrested.  Some of the notable arrests and killings that Heck Thomas was involved in were:  Arrests - Sam Bass Gang, George Weightman alias “Red Buck”, Dan Clifton alias “Dynamite Dick,” William Raidler alias “Little Bill,” John Box, Bill Boutwell, Purdy Gang, Della Humba, Ol Yantis, Ed Newcombe, Manuel Patterson.  Killings - Bill Doolin, Dick West, Pink Lee, Jim Lee.  Perhaps greatest his single accomplishment was when Bill Tilghman and Heck tamed Perry, Oklahoma Territory, “Hells Half Acre”.  The town had 25,000 residents with 110 saloons.

(Citizen - February 8, 1890)  (Atoka Indian Citizen - February 19, April 5,19, &  May 3, 1890) (Ft. Smith Elevator - January 8, 1886) (The Territorial Topic - August 29, November 21, 1889) (The Woodward News - November 8, 1895) (The Enid Weekly Sun - April 21, 1898)   (Indian Pioneer History - Lem F. Blevins) (Indian Pioneer History - Mrs. Lou Brittenberg) (Indian Pioneer History - W.R. Cypert) (Indian Pioneer History - Samuel A. Dodson) (Indian Pioneer History - Jim Fitzpatrick) (Indian Pioneer History - Frank Harris) (Indian Pioneer History - William R. Harrison) (Indian Pioneer History - Dave C. Hybarger) (Indian Pioneer History - William Ingram) (Indian Pioneer History - Oscar K. Lawrence) (Indian Pioneer History - Richard Robert Mason) (Indian Pioneer History - George McIntosh) (Indian Pioneer History - George Lloyd Poston) (Indian Pioneer History - William N. Randolph) (Indian Pioneer History - John C. Robinson) (Indian Pioneer History - Ell Roberts) (Indian Pioneer History - James T. Spencer) (Indian Pioneer History - Bill Swimm) (Indian Pioneer History - Mattie Thomas) (Indian Pioneer History - J. S. Tyson) (Indian Pioneer History - Agnes Walker) (Picture - The Gunfighters) (45 Caliber Law) (Bill Tilghman) (Picture - Encyclopedia Of A Western Gun-Fighter) (Selden Lindsey) (Iron Men) (Picture - Oklahombres)  (Outlaws on Horseback) (Picture -West of Hell’s Fringe) (Law West Of Fort Smith) (Hell on the Border-Harman) (Moments in Oklahoma History) (Purple Sage) (The Western Peace Officer) (U.S. Deputy Marshals, I. T. & O. T., 1893 - 1896) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)  

 

Thomas

Henry

Andrew

D.U.S. Marshal

Lawton

Guthrie-1897  January 1, 1910  Lawton-January

 

Famous Outlaw Fighter Is Dead

Heck Thomas succumbs at Lawton After a Long Illness

 

August 16, 1912--Lawton, OK--Heck Thomas, for many years one of the most noted United States deputy marshals in the southwest, died Thursday morning here of a complication of Bright's disease and heart failure, after an illness extending over a period of two years.  He was 62 years of age.

          With Chief of Police William Tilghman of Oklahoma city and Chris Madsen of Guthrie, Thomas for many years, was know as the Oklahoma guardsmen.  The three practically rid the southwest of the Bill Boss, Dalton, Dooley and Casey outlaw gangs.

          Thomas was born at Atlanta, Georgia, in 1850 and at the age of 12 years was made a courier in the troop of his uncle, Brigadier General Thomas, of the Confederate army.  At 10 he was appointed a member of the Atlanta police force and went to Texas two years later.  There, while a messenger for the Texas Express company, he saved $22,000 for the company when a train was held up.

          He was appointed a United States deputy marshal in Indian Territory during the first administration of President Cleveland and served for many years.  He was the first chief of police of Lawton, serving for six years and after that he served for three years as deputy marshal again.

 

Thomas, M. L. was commissioned on June 17, 1892, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Thomas, Seaton served in the Central District on October 10, 1894.

(U.S. Deputy Marshals, I. T. & O. T., 1893 - 1896) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Thomas

Seaton

D.U.S. Marshal

Redoak, I T.

July 1, 1896--March 11, 1905

 

Thomas, Tom was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  In February of 1893, he arrested a Negro, Ephram Wilson who was charged with assault and taken to the Ft. Smith, Arkansas jail. 

(Ft. Smith Elevator - February 10, 1893)

 

Thomason, Haywood P. was commissioned on May 16, 1892, and June 2, 1893, in the Western District at Ft. Smith Arkansas.  In April of 1894, he went to Grove, Cherokee Nation to serve a warrant of arrest to James Arwood, a white man on charges of passing counterfeit money.  His prisoner was taken to the federal jail at Ft. Smith, Arkansas to await trial. 

(Ft. Smith Elevator - April 13, 1894) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Thompson, Alex L. was a deputy marshal working in the Cherokee Nation.  Prisoners captured by Thompson were taken to the Ft. Smith, Arkansas court and to the court at Paris, Texas.  Deputy Marshal Thompson worked under Judge Parker and lived near Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation, living with Charlie Bearpaw.  Thompson was summoned to arrest a very dangerous killer who was reported staying in a cabin north of Boggy Depot.  The killer, Robinson Camp, was possibly one of the most cold blooded killers in the territory.  A young boy walked past Camp’s cabin, singing as he journeyed down the trail.  An irritated Robinson Camp shot the boy, killing him.  Three other men crossed Camp’s path whom he killed in cold blood.  Officer Thompson traveled to the killer’s cabin, waiting through the night hoping to make an arrest at daylight.  Early the next morning Camp left his cabin and was apprehended by Thompson.  Robinson Camp was taken through Atoka on his way to the jail in Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  A reward worth $2000, “Dead or Alive,” was paid for his capture.  Robinson Camp went to the gallows where he was executed by hanging.   Deputy Marshal Thompson was returning from Pauls Valley on his way to Colbert, Choctaw Nation, when he met a man who was leading a horse, which he thought was stolen.  Thompson ordered the man to halt but he kept on going.  Thompson pulled his gun, and shot the man under the arm.  The horse, owned by John Hoppen, was purchased in Kentucky.  While returning the horse to its rightful owner, Thompson ran into John Hoppen and Dan Collins.  The two men, thinking Thompson had stolen the animal, rode up on each side of him.  Thompson took the two men to Bell’s Store where the real horse thief lay wounded.  Thompson was paid a $500 reward by Mr. Hoppen.  Officer Thompson worked as deputy marshal until 1890, when Jacob Yoes became marshal over the Western District of Arkansas.  He worked on occasion with Deputy Marshal Bud Ledbetter. 

(Indian Pioneer History - A. L. Thompson) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database)

 

Thompson, Canada H.  United States Marshal

 

Thompson In Indiana

Ex-United States Marshal Leading A Quiet Life Now

 

August 26, 1903—Guthrie, OK—It is stated that ex-United States Marshal Canada H. Thompson is living on a farm recently purchases by him in Indiana.  He is spending his time attending to cattle and horse flesh, having quit politics and railroads for good.  His health failed him in Oklahoma about two years ago and he has been striving to find some place to recuperate.  It is said that Thompson quit politics and railroads with $250,000 to the good.

 

 

Thompson

Canada

H.

U.S. marshal

Guthrie

January 10, 1898

 

Thompson

Fred

D.

D.U.S. Marshal

Tulsa

November 26, 1910

 

Thompson, George W. was commissioned on August 12, 1889, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Thompson, Gus was commissioned in 1895, to the Northern District in Muskogee.  He was one of several deputy marshals that arrested the Al Jennings gang which was made up of Al and Pat Jennings and the O’Malley boys Pat and Morris.  The arrest was made in 1897, when the gang was taken by surprise early one morning.  The lookout for the outlaws had fallen asleep while the rest of the outlaws were asleep in the ranch house.  Deputy Marshal Bud Ledbetter clamped his large hand across the O’Malley boy’s mouth who was asleep on post and carried him to the barn, where he tied and gagged him.  Paden Tolbert made his way to the ranch house where he hid behind the stone chimney.  Joe and Gus Thompson climbed in a thicket while William Elliott and McClannahan took cover behind a stone wall.  Bud Ledbetter and Lon Lewis positioned themselves to cover the front of the house.  The deputy marshals ordered the outlaws to surrender.  The outlaws refused and started firing on the deputy marshals.  The officers fired back delivering heavy gunfire into the house, resulting in all three outlaws receiving flesh wounds.  The gang jumped from a rear window, making their way into the brush where they climbed into a wagon.  The deputy marshals knew the outlaws would have to cross Caney Creek so they rode hard to head them off.  The deputy marshals were the first to reach the creek so they fell a tree across the trail.  The gang knew their time to surrender had come and offered no resistance to the officers. 

(Iron Men)

 

Thompson, H. A. “Hi” was commissioned on June 30, 1893, in Oklahoma Territory, serving under Marshal Evett Nix.  He was one of the thirteen deputy marshals that rode from Stillwater to Ingalls to capture the Doolin Gang in 1893.  He was commissioned served as deputy marshal from 1893 to 1904, living in Tulsa.  In 1895, he rode with Deputy Marshals Ledbetter, Jones, Tom Bigsby and Marshal Leo Bennett to arrest Seminole Indian, Johnson Tiger, who killed another Seminole on the Creek-Seminole Nation border.  In 1902, he was assigned to Tulsa in the Western District, under Marshal Leo Bennett. Thompson was still alive in 1930, making his residence in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 

(Choctaw Champion - August 12, 1898) (Ft. Smith Elevator - July 18, 1902) (Indian Pioneer History - William Floyd Davis) (Indian Pioneer History - W. F. Jones) (Indian Pioneer History - C. B. Rhodes)  (Black Red and Deadly) (Experiences of A U.S. Deputy Marshall) (Bill Doolin O. T.) (Picture - Shoot from the Lip) (Charles Francis Colcord) (Bounty Hunter) (Ghost Town Tales of Oklahoma) (Frontier Trails) (Outlaws and Peace Officers) (The Marshals Monitor - Microsoft Internet Explorer)

 

H. A. Thompson Pioneer State Officer Is Dead

 

March 3, 1945--The Oklahoman--Hiram A. (Hi) Thompson, 71 pioneer Oklahoma peace officer, and widely known among old time federal and state officers in the state, died suddenly Friday night at his home, 319 NW 26.

          Thompson, who since 1919 has been employed by the Oklahoma City police department, left his post Friday morning in the police record bureau, complaining of feeling slightly ill. He suffered a heart attack shortly after 6 p.m. and died before he could be removed to a hospital.

          A native of Indiana, Thompson moved to Kansas with his family when a youngster.  From Kansas he moved to Tulsa, Indian Territory, and was one of the first police chiefs in that city.

          In 1908 he was name deputy United States marshal and was stationed at Tulsa in the eastern federal district with headquarters in Muskogee.  After serving again in the police department there he was named a deputy marshal when the northern district was created and served in 1928 under the late Grant victor, United States marshal.

          After Victor went out of office Thompson was named special agent for the Frisco railroad and was transferred to Sapulpa, coming to Oklahoma City in 1929.

          Surviving in addition to his daughter, Miss Janet Thompson, with whom he made his home are four sons, Fred, of Lawrence, N. Y. Lee of Derby, Conn,, Ralph and George, both of Seminole.

          Arrangements are in charge of the Watts Funeral home.

 

Thompson, Jim could be J. C. Thompson who was involved in a shootout with Impson near Coalgate, in November of 1895.  Bad blood existed between the two, which occurred when Deputy Marshal Thompson arrested him in 1894, for the murder of Dave Robinson.  When the two came into contact both parties fired, each shooting four times.  All of Impson’s bullets missed their mark with one going astray and killing Thompson’s horse.  Three of Thompson’s slugs hit their mark leaving Impson dead.  In 1901, Jim was commissioned under Chief Deputy Marshal William D. Fossett.  In 1902, Jim was working as deputy marshal and sheriff of Caddo County under Marshal Fossett.  Jim Thompson headed a posse to locate the Bert Casey Gang who were meeting in Cedar Canyon in the Wichita Mountains.  The lawmen surrounded the gang without being detected and asked them to surrender.  The outlaws fired on the posse which resulted in a short but decisive gun battle.  Casey’s gang was in the opening and unable to take cover which resulted in a quick surrender of the outlaws.   Eight of Casey’s gang were captured but the leader of the gang, Bert Casey, left his horse, crawling in the underbrush to make his escape. Casey was killed near Cleo in November of 1902 by Deputy Marshals Fred Hudson and Ed Lockett.  Business became to much to handle for the duties of sheriff and deputy marshal so Jim Thompson resigned as deputy marshal in November of 1902, being replaced by John T. Blackmore of Caddo County.

(The Woodward News - November 8, 1895) (The Cleo Chieftain - November 14, 1902) (Woodward Bulletin - October 17, November 21, 1902) (Gunman’s Territory)

 

Thompson

James

H.

May 6, 1898

 

Thompson Appointed

 

April 25, 1902—The Coalgate Courier—J. H. Thompson of Coalgate, was appointed United States Deputy Marshal for this district last Saturday.  Friday night he drove to Atoka, caught the Flyer and returned Saturday evening with his commission in his pocket.  Monday morning he went to Atoka and was sworn in and returned on the next train.  As a foretaste of what is to come, “Jim’s” first official act was to smash two quarts of alcohol at the depot.  Mr. Thompson is a hustler, has served as a deputy for years, knows his business from start to finish and will make the evil-doers select a climate more congenial to their nefarious business.  His appointment is satisfactory to most of our citizens who will gladly lend their support.

 

Thompson, J. C. was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Thompson, Joe H. worked out of the Eastern District at Tulsa with Lon Lewis and Bud Ledbetter when they tried to capture the Al Jennings Gang in 1897.

(West Of Hell's Fringe) (Iron Men) (U.S. Deputy Marshals, I. T. & O. T., 1893 - 1896)

 

Thompson

Joseph

H.

D.U.S. Marshal

April 1, 1898

 

Thompson, Lee was commissioned on August 9, 1892, and June 12, 1893, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  Lee Thompson lived in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, when commissioned. In September of 1893, Deputy Marshal Thompson arrested Charley Clark who was charged with obstruction of administration of orders given by the judge.  Clark was taken to jail in Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

(The Weekly Elevator - September 22, November 17, 1893) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Thompson, Pleas C. was commissioned as office deputy marshal in the Northern District in 1892, and then reassigned as field deputy marshal by Marshal Thomas B. Needles.  Deputy Marshal Thompson was appointed for other terms of office by Marshals James J. McAlester, Samuel Rutherford, Leo Bennett, and William H. Darrough.  In July of 1902, he served as office deputy marshal at Nowata.  Farmers around Tahlequah in the Spavinaw Hills complained they were losing large numbers of cattle to young Indian rustlers.  The cattle were being sold to John Morrison and Sam Zeno, two large ranchers, who had a need for cattle.  Most of the cattle were being taken to Sam Zeno’s large ranch which was located five miles north of Spavinaw.  A visit to John Morrison and Sam Zeno by the marshals persuaded the two men to turn evidence to help the officers capture all involved in the cattle theft.  Four regular Deputy Marshals, Payton Tolbert, Twyman Thompson and D. M. Webb took a posse made up of eight deputies to Island Ford on Grand River.  The posse started traveling at dusk to detect being seen.  At midnight the lawmen crossed Grand River to Sam Zeno’s place on Lynch Prairie.  Sam Zeno told the officers cattle would be brought in three days to the south end of Lynch Prairie.  The marshals and posse set up camp waiting for the rustlers to arrive.  John Morrison notified Sam Zeno that the rustlers would be at the home of Louis Wickliff that night and he also would be there.  Zeno passed the message to the lawmen, telling them that John Morrison would come to the back porch to light a cigar when the time was right for the raid.  Louis Wickliff was not suspected in the rustling but two of his sons, Charley and young Lewis, had been identified by John Morrison.  Young Lewis Wickliff left the house alone going to the barn to get his horse when he met the marshal’s force.   Young Lewis surrendered for he was taken by surprise and did not have time to react.  John Morrison appeared on the porch a while later giving the pre-planned signal to surround the house.  When Payton Tolbert knocked on the door Old Louis Wickliff came to the door.  Louis told the officers the only person home was his son Charley.  Charley refused to come to the door but told them he had plenty of ammunition and would shoot it out with them.  Payton Tolbert asked the women and children to leave the house.  While they were leaving the house, Charley made an attempt to exit out the back door but was greeted by four Winchesters.  Charley, using good judgment, gave up the fight.  John Morrison told the marshals that the Wickliff boys were expecting a bootlegger that night who was to deliver whiskey to them.  Five members of the posse went to Saline Creek where five of the wanted Indians were captured. The suspected rustlers were taken to Vinita, Cherokee Nation, before they were transported to the Muskogee jail.  John Morrison left Indian Territory, knowing his life was in immediate danger.  Morrison’s horse, saddle and bridle all came back to his home in a few days, giving a definite sign that he had been killed.  Sam Zeno refused to talk or testify knowing his fate would be the same as Morrisons.  Young Lewis Wickliffe died in jail.  Deputy Marshal G. S. White went to old Louis Wickliffe's home to serve a warrant of arrest to Charley Wickliff but the old man would not tell where Charley Wickliff was hiding.  Word was spread in the Cherokee Nation that Captain White used force trying to get old Louis to talk.  A hot iron was placed against his feet but the old man would not talk.  When Charley Wickliff found out what happened to his uncle he went on the war path, sending word that he would kill Captain White if he ever set foot across the Grand River again.  See Deputy Marshal Ike Gilstrap for continued information on Charley Wickliff. 

(Ft. Smith Elevator - July 18, 1902) (Indian Pioneer History - Nat Dickerson) (Picture - Notable Men of Indian Territory) (File #10, Indian Library, Oklahoma Historical Library)

 

Thompson

Pleas

C.

D.U.S. Marshal

Nowata

July 3 1902--July 1, 1906--1907

 

Thompson, S. M. was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, in 1899. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Thompson, Twyman was commissioned in 1898, and worked many areas in Indian Territory.   Deputy Marshal Thompson rode with Payton Tolbert, Pleas Thompson, D. M. Webb and a posse of eight deputies to break up a gang of cattle rustlers which were active in the Spavinaw area.  A group of young Cherokee Indians appeared to be influenced to steal cattle, take them to a large ranch on Lynch Prairie where two ranchers would purchase the stolen animals.  The two ranchers, Sam Zeno and John Morrison, were approached by the marshal’s forces who told them there could be some leniency given to them if they helped capture the rest of the cattle ring.  The band of cattle rustlers were apprehended, except for Charley Wickliff, who remained a fugitive of justice for several years.  Attempts to arrest Charley Wickliff and two of his younger brothers, along with a band of friends who had sworn allegiance to the gang, caused one of the largest manhunts in Indian Territory.  See Deputy Marshal Pleas Thompson and Ike Gilstrap for more information on this manhunt. Twyman was still living in Salina, Oklahoma in 1930.

(Indian Pioneer History - Nat Dickerson) (Indian Pioneer History - W.F. Jones) (Experience Of A U.S. Deputy Marshal) (Picture - The Gunfighter)

 

Thompson

T.

Wyman

D.U.S. Marshal

April 1, 1898; terminated September 16, 1898

 

Thornton, B. M. was commissioned on September 6, 1888, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Thornton, George was commissioned in 1889 in Oklahoma Territory by Kansas U.S. Marshal Richard L. Walker, headquartered in Oklahoma City with Charles Francis Colcord.  He occasionally worked the Oklahoma Territory with Chris Madsen who was assigned to Guthrie.  On October 3, 1891, George went to the Creek Nation with posse man Fred Williams of Oklahoma City to serve a warrant of arrest to Captain Willie, who was wanted for horse stealing and another warrant for Creek Indian, Michael, who was wanted for murder.  They tried to serve the warrants at the home of Sam Lasley which was approximately ten miles southeast of the Sac & Fox Agency.  The lawmen approached the house in darkness and were riding uphill when they were fired upon.  They dismounted from their horses, trying to move closer to the house.  Firing came from three different directions which told the officers that all three of the wanted men were there.  George Thornton said “Fred, I’m sick.”  George Thornton fired one more shot before falling over.  Deputy Williams fired at the wanted outlaws until he ran out of ammunition.  When he worked his way back to George he found him dead.  Williams held his position until daylight before making his way toward the cabin to find the outlaws escaped into the darkness.   An Indian, who lived nearby, hauled George Thornton’s body in his wagon to the Sac & Fox Agency where it was later transported to Guthrie.   George was shot through the body with a 45 caliber ball shot from a Winchester rifle which entered his right breast and left the left side through the spinal column.  George’s body was shipped to Peoria, Illinois, to his father.  George started his career in Indian Territory in 1887.  He was about 38 years old at the time of his death.  There was probably not a braver deputy marshal than George Thornton.  In the summer of 1891, Captain Willie was captured by Deputy Marshals Ed Short and Lillie.  Captain Willie was left in custody at the Sac & Fox Agency where he escaped.  There is another account of George Thornton’s death which may be factual but differs from the newspaper account.  The other account indicated that George Thornton tried to make the arrest alone and a duel occurred in which George Thornton was killed and Captain Willie died before he stood trial.  Captain Willie was captured and taken to jail where he pleaded not guilty during his trial.  He died in jail in July of 1893. 

(The Weekly Elevator - March 3, July 7, 1893) (The Territorial Topic - November 5, 1891) (West of Hell’s Fringe) (Charles Francis Colcord) (Black Red and Deadly) (Oklahoma the Beautiful Land) (Oklahombres)

 

Thornton, George E. was commissioned by Marshal Richard Jones in Oklahoma Territory for the 1889 Land Rush. 

(Chronicles Of Oklahoma - Volume 35, 1957)

 

Thornton, James A. was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database)

 

Thornton, M. M. was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, serving under Marshal Jacob Yoes.  In March of 1892, he was summoned to the Creek Nation to arrest Frank Hawkins on charges of introducing and selling in Indian Territory. 

(Ft. Smith Elevator - March 18, 1892)

 

Thornton, William S. was commissioned on February 4, 1892, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Thrasher, Alva J. Deputy U. S. Marshal

 

Thrasher Rites Set For Friday

Veteran Peach Officer Dies After Long Illness

 

August 13, 1932—The Oklahoman—Funeral services for Alva J. Thrasher, deputy United States marshal, who died in Enid Tuesday will be held there Friday afternoon, according to word received here Wednesday.

          Thrasher had been ill for several months and was granted a leave of absence by R. B. Quinn, United States marshal.  His position was filled temporarily by Ed Robinson.

          Thrasher came to Oklahoma with his father at the opening of the Cherokee Strip and like his father engaged in peace officer work most of his life.

          He was once city marshal at Enid and served there for six years a chief of police before his appointment as deputy United States marshal under Alva McDonald.

 

Threlkeld, John was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, where he served as special deputy. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database)

 

Thurlo, Edward Ellis was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  Edward was killed on February 10, 1895, by outlaw Dave Putty on the street in front of the Wade Hotel at Duncan, Chickasaw Nation.  Deputy Marshal McLemore confronted Dave Putty on a dance platform in Duncan where Thurlo’s murder was revenged.

 (Edmond Sun Democrat - February 14, 1896) (Indian Pioneer History - D. N. Doak) (Indian Pioneer History - P.A. Jermaine) (Oklahombres) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Historical List)   Killed in the line of duty,

 

Thurman, Tobe was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, in 1899. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Tilghman, William M. “Bill” was commissioned in Oklahoma Territory in 1892 by Marshal W. C. Grimes.  Bill was assigned to the Wharton District on July 15, 1893, by Marshal Evett Nix of the Oklahoma Territory.  Tilghman’s most famous apprehension was when he captured outlaw Bill Doolin in Eureka Springs, Arkansas in 1895.  Bill Doolin was the most sought after criminal in Indian Territory at that time.  To capture Bill Doolin single handed seemed absurd but Tilghman pulled the task off, without firing one shot.  The outlaw was taken to the territorial jail in Guthrie, Oklahoma Territory where he quickly made his escape.  Tilghman was also credited with capturing two teenage girl outlaws that were acquainted with the Doolin gang, Little Breeches and Cattle Annie.  On September 6, 1895, Bill Tilghman had to shoot Bill Raidler of the Bill Doolin Gang before he surrendered twenty-five miles northeast of Pawhuska, Osage Nation.  Raidler was convicted of the Dover Train robbery and sentenced to the Columbus, Ohio penitentiary for ten years. Tilghman received $2,500 reward for his capture.  Deputy Marshal Tilghman rode with Sheriff Rhinehardt and Deputy Marshals W. D. Fossett and Heck Thomas to try to capture Dick West near Guthrie.  The arrest turned into a gun battle where Dick West was killed.

Tilghman was dubbed the Oklahoma Guardsman, a title he shared along with Heck Thomas and Chris Madsen.  At this time, Tilghman was one of the most sought after lawman in any territory and for this reason was selected by Judge Isaac Parker to bring in Bill Doolin.  Bill Tilghman seemed to have a knack of bringing in the more feared outlaws alive than most of the other famous deputy marshals. In August of 1924, Ben was persuaded to leave retirement and become city marshal of Cromwell, Oklahoma.  Cromwell was not easy duty for a city marshal for it was full of illegal narcotics, alcohol, gambling and bawdy houses.  The seventy year old marshal met his death on November 1, 1924 when he was shot by a drunken prohibition officer named Wylie Lynn.  Tilghman had suspected Lynn of taking bribes and allowing illegal alcohol to be sold in several towns.  It appeared that the people Lynn associated with were taking some sort of a payoff.  Conditions were bad when Tilghman took charge of Cromwell but seemed to be worsening and Linn seemed to be a part of the cause.  Around 10:00 P.M. on November 1, 1924, Tilghman and another party saw Wiley Lynn park a car which transported another man and two women that operators in bawdy houses in Wewoka.  Tilghman received a report that the four had been drinking moonshine whiskey and Lynn’s condition soon verified he was drunk.  As Wylie Lynn stepped from his car and drew his gun he began firing it into the street.  Tilghman, seeing the Lynn’s state drew his own pistol and went to make the arrest.  He grabbed Lynn’s pistol hand by the wrist and held his own pistol against Lynn.  Deputy Marshall Hugh Sawyer took Lynn’s gun from his hand while Tilghman prepared to take him to jail.   Thinking his prisoner was disarmed he released his grip on Lynn’s arm and Lynn drew a second gun from beneath his coat, shooting the Marshal twice point blank in the chest.  Lynn wrestled his gun from the deputy and left town.  Lynn later turned himself in at Holdenville where he pleaded self defense.  A witness to the murder named Sirmans, fled to Florida after his life was threatened and would not return to testify at the trial.  The twenty four year old Wiley Lynn escaped punishment.  However, justice was served when Wiley Lynn was killed in a shoot-out with Crockett Long at the Corner Drug Store in Madill, Oklahoma on July 17, 1932. Wiley Lynn walked into the store with his pistol in his hand.  Lynn’s order to the eighty-seven year old retired lawman was “Put em up you S. O. B.  I’m going to get you sometime, so it might as well be now.”  The fearless Crockett Long was not backing down from his younger foes of some fifty years.  Instead of giving into Lynn’s demands the old lawman went for his own gun and surprisingly the fast draw of Long made the contest even for two gunshots rang out which sounded as one shot.  Both men emptied their pistols and both were fatally wounded.  One young sixteen year old boy, Rodie Watkins, who was a by-stander, was hit by a bullet which traveled through Crockett Long’s body before killing him. The arrests and activities of this famous lawman are too numerous to report in a book such as this, which makes it difficult to give the credit due him.  Some of the numerous books written about him and other references following this narrative better compliment his service as a lawman.  Before becoming a U.S. Deputy Marshal, in his early life, he had been a army scout, guide, a buffalo hunter and Indian fighter, but was most remembered as Sheriff or Marshal of Dodge City, Kansas, before he came to Indian Territory.  In Dodge City, Sheriff Tilghman was recognized as a gunfighter.  His survival depended upon his fast draw and steel nerve for the town was a wide open cattle town with the reputation of being one of the wildest towns in the west.  Tilghman own reputation was known as one of the most fearless lawmen to wear a badge.  The badge that he wore in Dodge City was a highly work of art, hammered out of two $20 gold pieces which bore an insignia famous through-out the west.  (Taloga Advocate - September 14, 1895) (The Enid Weekly Sun - April 21, 1898) (The Enid Daily Wave - April 11, 1896) (Indian Pioneer History - William C. Cook) (Indian Pioneer History - Richard Robert Mason) (Indian Pioneer History - W.R. Mulkey) (Indian Pioneer History - Bill Swimm) (Moment In Oklahoma History) (Picture- Encyclopedia of A Western Gun Fighter) (Western Badmen) (Great American Cattle Trails) (Heck Thomas) (Selden Lindsey) (Bill Tilghman) (West Of Hell’s Fringe) (The Gunfighters) (Oklahoma’s Last Great Shoot-0ut) (Purple Sage) (Bill Doolin O. T.) (Picture - Shoot from the Lip) (Justice for All) (Ghost - Town Tales of Oklahoma) (Outlaws and Peace Officers) (The Western Peace Officer) (Picture - Oklahombres) (Outlaws on Horseback) (Iron Men) (U.S. Deputy Marshals, I. T. & O. T., 1893 - 1896) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Tilghman

William

M.

Bill

D.U.S. Marshal

Chandler

March 11, 1905--December 4, 1906 to June 30, 1907

 

Tilley, Tilery, Joseph S. was sworn into duty as deputy marshal for Northern District in 1897.  In May of 1896, Joe was taken to court and was sued for $175 in damages that occurred during a liquor raid in Payne County.  The suit was brought by a man named Dysart.  In March of 1905, Deputy Marshal Tilley was called to control the peace when Nicholas Nash was charged with disturbing the peace.  When Tilley went to make the arrest, Nash made a move, making Tilley think he was going for a gun.  Tilley shot and killed the doctor.  Dr. Nicholas, the father of the man that was killed, stated he would prosecute Deputy Marshal Tilly. Tilley was commissioned again on June 1, 1902.  He was still alive in 1930, living at Dustin. 

(The Woodward News - May 15, 1896) (Woodward Bulletin - March 17, 1905) (Antlers News - March 10, 1905) (Picture - Experiences Of A U.S. Deputy Marshall)

 

Tilly

J.

S.

D.U.S. Marshal

March 21, 1905

 

Tinker, Frank was commissioned in the Northern District, Muskogee Court, assigned to the Pawhuska Court.  Frank lost his commission on July 1, 1901.  Frank served with Ed Brunt, Franklin Revard, Fred Penn, Paul Wheeler, Gilbert John Plummer and Dave Sears. 

(The Osage Journal, Pawhuska - July 4. 1901)

 

Tinker, Joseph was commissioned on February 26, 1871, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, serving under Marshal Logan S. Roots.  He was commissioned again on July 13, 1872 while living in Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  Joe Tinker was called to handle the case of Uncle Billy Colbert, an old Negro, who had been burned to death in his log cabin near Boggy Depot, in January of 1877.  Tinker arrested two Choctaw Indians for robbery and the murder of Billy Colbert.  Several items that belonged to Billy were found in their possession.  They were transported to court in Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

(Independent - January 18, 1877 & February 8, 1878) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Tipton, Thomas was assigned to the Chandler District on July 15, 1893, under Marshal Evett Nix.  He served there with Deputy Marshal Alonzo Poling. 

(West Of Hell’s Fringe)

 

Tittle, Otis rode with fellow Deputy Marshals Ike Gilstrap, Dick Carey of Vinita and Than Wofford, with two posse men of Tahlequah, Andy Dick and Bob Thompson, in March of 1906.  Their mission was to capture the Wickliffe Gang who were full-blooded Cherokees that killed Deputy Marshal John Henry Vier on February 20, 1905.  The gang took refuge in the Spavinaw Hills near Little Saline Creek, twenty-five miles southeast of Vinita.  Charley, Tom and John Wickliffe were the three brothers that headed the gang and they had a following of several other tribesmen.  They were sons of the former justice of the Cherokee Supreme Court.  Capturing the gang proved to be a very difficult task due to a large number of relatives and friends who had swore allegiance to the outlaws.  Indian scouts hid in tall trees, spotting the deputy marshals as they moved through outlaw’s domain.  The hills, heavy brush and large boulders provided hiding and vantage points for ambush.  The outlaws swore they would not be taken alive.   The deputy marshals and their posse trailed the gang for a month using bloodhounds.  On March 11, 1906, six lawmen were traveling in a very hilly area completely unaware that their assassins were lying in wait for them.  As the deputy marshals and posse men came within close range they were met with a heavy barrage of bullets from the gang’s Winchester rifles.  The gang used large rock boulders to fully conceal and protect themselves.   After the smoke cleared from the ambush, Deputy Marshal Gilstrap lay dead on the ground with Tittle and Carey lying motionless with wounds.  The officers’ horses were killed to prevent them from escaping if they survived the ambush. Than Wofford, Henry Holdeman, Andy Dick, and Bob Thompson survived the ordeal by retreating in a hail of bullets.  Than Woodord’s mount was shot from beneath him which forced him to take cover. The lawmen had ridden into the site of Jim Wickliffe's home which set on the bank of Spavinaw Creek.  Jim Wickliffe was an uncle to the three Wickliffe brothers.  The lawmen took cover in Jim Wickliffe’s home which provided protection from the gang.  Several attempts were made to recover the bodies of the dead and wounded deputy marshals.  Every time a rescue effort was made to retrieve the dead and wounded, the gang would start firing.  Wofford and the two deputies reported the incident to the Northern District Court at Muskogee. Marshal Darrough was infuriated when he learned of the ambush.  A posse of one-hundred deputy marshals, which included the whole Northern District, was ordered to the murder scene.  Marshal Darrough placed himself in charge of the forces.  The reward was increased to one thousand dollars for each outlaw “Dead or Alive”.    The Bennington Tribune reported that Dick Terry and Otis Tittle fled to Lewis Budds, a crippled Cherokee Indian’s home.  Terry had been shot in the back. 

(Marietta Monitor - March 16, 1906) (The Bennington Tribune - March 2, 1905; January 11, March 15, 22, 1906)  (Oklahombres)

 

Tittle, S. H. was over Greer County when Marshal Patrick Nagle replaced Marshal Evett Nix in February 1896.

 

Tittle

S.

H.

D.U.S. Marshal

Mangum

March 11, 1905

 

Todd

Charles

C.

D.U.S. Marshal

Sapulpa

September 1, 1902

 

Todhunter, R. S. was commissioned on July 7, 1893, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  Todhunter was commissioned again on July 8, 1896, while living in Springdale and Fayetteville, Arkansas.

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Tolbert, Boynton was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  On June 27, 1890, he arrested Eugene Stanley.  Stanley, one of the most dangerous outlaws in Indian Territory, was wanted for various crimes such as robbery of a man named Horn near Eufaula.    A young boy was shot by Stanley when he wouldn’t take part in their robberies.  Boynton captured Stanley who escaped and was recaptured by Deputy Marshal Mickle.  Stanley escaped again before they could get him to the Ft. Smith jail.  He was tried on numerous counts and received fifty-five years of confinement. 

(Hell on the Border-Harman) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Historical list)

 

Tolbert, John was commissioned on April 13, 1896, July 3, 1896, and May 15, 1899, while living in Vinita, Cherokee Nation.  He rode with Bud Ledbetter, Isaac Peeples and Paden Tolbert in December of 1896, to capture Al Jenning and Pat O`Malley.  John was a brother to Paden Tolbert.  (Picture in 1880 - 1890, Heck Thomas) (Guardian Of The Outlaws) (West Of Hell’s Fringe) (Picture - Muskogee Genealogical Society) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database)

 

Tolbert, Paden  was commissioned on May 29, 1893, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  He captured Eugene Stanley, one of the most notorious outlaws in Indian Territory.  Stanley was charged with eight counts of highway robbery, one murder charge, one assault charge and had served two terms in the penitentiary by the time he was nineteen years old.  Stanley and his gang were suspects in several murders, for numerous bodies had been found in the area they were working.  They confronted an old man and woman named Horn who would not give up their money.  The gang burned Horn’s feet but he still refused to give up his money.  Finally they threatened to pour oil over his wife and set her afire.  Oil was poured on the old woman and they were about to set her ablaze when the old man finally gave up his money.  Paden played an important role in killing notorious Cherokee outlaw Ned Christie.  On November 2, 1892, Paden led a sixteen man posse to Ned’s Fort Mountain carrying a three pound cannon and six sticks of dynamite.  The effects of the cannon were minimal and failed to bring out the outlaw.   The blast from the