Adair County Oklahoma Crime News Stories

Adair County Oklahoma Crime News Stories

The Miami Record June 6, 1902
Westville, I.T. Marshal shot a Man
A killing occurred near Westville Saturday, in which a Creek laborer on the new Ozark & Cherokee Central Railroad was shot by Marshal Stokes of Westville. There was a riot, in which the laborers made a rush on the commissary, and the Creek, whose name was unknown was killed. there were several hundred foreigners at work there. [Submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer]

The Daily Oklahoman May 16, 1909 Page 14
BROTHER OF HENRY STARR ARRESTED AT MUSKOGEE
Charged with Killing Man in Adair County Two Years Ago
Muskogee, Okla., Mary 14. (special)--Charles Starr, a cousin of Henry Starr, the Oklahoma bandit, now under arrest in Arizona, was arrested last night in a hotel on a charge of killing a young man named Johnson in Westville, Oklahoma, two years ago. When arrested Starr called for his gun, but local officers got the drop on him. He said that he had recently been with Henry Starr in New Mexico and that Henry was ill with consumption.
Sheriff Adair of Adair county arrived here from Westville tonight and took charge of the prisioner. [Submitted by Linda Craig}

The Daily Oklahoman Nov. 23 1909
GHOULISH ANIMAL ROBS GRAVES NEAR WESTVILLE
Bones and Coffin Handles are found in the Starr Cemetery
Westville, Okla. Nov 22
Mystery surrounds the actions of some ghoulish animal which has taken up its abode in the Starr Cemetery on the Baron Fork near this place and persistent burrowing into the graves and bringing to the surface the bones of the dead.
A few days ago it was discovered that a great hole had been burrowed into the grave of Lula Starr, a member of one of the prominent families of the Cherokee Nation. A large number of bones and the handles of a coffin were found in the dirt scattered around the grave. This grave was made sixteen years ago.
While digging another grave, workmen discovered they had made a mistake in location and dug down into an old unmarked grave. They found that a large hole had been burrowed through this old gave and that is was a passage to other graves.
Traps have been set to catch the animal. [Submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer]

The Daily Oklahoman Nov. 10, 1910
WESTVILLE MARSHAL IS FATALLY SHOT
Westville, Okla. Nov 9
Marshal Forbes of this place was shot and fatally wounded by Tuck Alberty near the calaboose at noon. Forbes arrested Albert Alberty, son of Tuck Alberty, and put him in the calaboose for fighting. Tuck Alberty followed up and shot Marshal Forbes in the face and there is slight hope of recovery [Submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer]

The Daily Oklahoman March 7, 1911
ARREST IS MADE ON ARSON CHARGE
Former Councilman at Stilwell Accused of Starting Big fire
Stillwell, Okla. March 6
A big sensation was sprung here with the arrest of T.J. White, former councilman on a charge of arson. White, the proprietor of a leading hotel, is accused of setting fire to the City Hotel last week. five buildings were consumed. He was released on bond. [Submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer]

The Daily Oklahoman April 13, 1911
LIFE OF STILWELL MAN THREATENED AND VALUABLE BARN BURNED DOWN
Stilwell, Okla., April 12
A telephone message was received here this morning from Greenburg, Ark., on the state line, eight miles east of Stilwell, giving the information of the burning of Button Reed's $1,000 barn and contents last night. Reed received a number of threatening letters from parties recently advising him to cease his efforts to oust some alleged undesirable citizens of his section and the evidence is abundant that the fire was of incendiary origin. [Submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer]

The Daily Oklahoman July 15, 1912
WESTVILLE JAIL BURNS
Westville, Okla. July 14
The city jail was burned here early Saturday morning and the town now is without a lock up. the orgin of the fire is a mystery. The city council already has made plans to erect a new building of either brick or stone. Early completion is demanded by the fact that a two day picnic with the usual amount of booze, it is presumed, will be held July 25 and 26. In the event of no place to house disorderlies, a ball and chain will be substituted.

The Daily Oklahoman February 1, 1913
STILWELL LAWYER CHARGED WITH FALSE PRETENSE AT FORT SMITH
Fort Smith Ark Jan 31
Linus A. Williams, a prominent attorney of Stillwell Okla. who name was frequently mentioned in the sensational Sallio Mink case, which resulted in charges being filed against County Judge W.A. Corley of Adair County was arrested Friday and placedunder $1,000 bond on a charge of obtaining money under false pretence.
The charge has no connection with Mink case, but in connection with another estate and is based upon loans Williams is said to have secured.

JOHN DOUBLEHEAD TO DIE FEBRUARY 20TH
John Doublehead who last week was found guilty by the jury in District Court of one of the most brutal murders ever committed in this section when he killed and buried the body of James Davenport in his back yard near Stilwell several months ago, was sentenced Tuesday by Judge J. H. Jarman to die in the electric chair one minute after 12 o’clock on the night of February 20th.
It is stated that when Judge Jarman called the prisoner before him to be sentenced that he made a talk that brought tears to the eyes of many in the court room and is said to be the most solemn and advising talk ever delivered by any judge in this district. Doublehead with bowed head took his sentence without a sign of emotion and has been delivered to the state penitentiary at McAlester to await the date of his execution. This is the second sentence of death that has ever been passed by our courts, the first being that of John Corntassell, which sentence was later commuted by the Governor. Corntassell died with a few minutes after being taken to prison. (Westville Record, December 22, 1922, page 1, submitted by Peggy Thompson)

RICHARD S. HOLLAND HIGH SHERIFF
Tom McCasland Found Guilty on Three Charges
The trial of Tom McCasland, former sheriff of Adair county, was concluded in District Court last Saturday, resulting in his conviction on three of the counts filed against him and his permanent removal from office by Judge A. C. Brewster, of Pryor, who presided at the trial. The verdict was no surprise to those who listened to the evidence as it simply sustained the verdict of the jury, and should set at rest the rumors prevalent before the trial of any personal or political animus against McCasland being the cause of the prosecution. He had a fair and impartial trial, as all, including his attorneys admit, before a fair and impartial judge and jury.
A total of nine counts had been filed against McCasland but he was found guilty only on three and they consisted of charges of allowing prisoners their freedom after they had been convicted in the courts and one charge was that a prisoner who was supposed to be serving a jail sentence for violation of the prohibition law was allowed his freedom and was made a deputy under the deposed sheriff.
The jury was composed of twelve of as good men as there are in the county, the majority of whom are of McCasland’s political party. We conclude that the McCasland case is, or should be a closed incident, except in so far as it should be a lesson and a warning to those in office and who seek office, to look well to the trust they ask the people to repose in them.
The charges having been brought against McCasland several weeks ago the commissioners appointed Dick Holland of Stilwell to act as temporary sheriff until the trial and when the charges as above stated were sustained the commissioners at once appointed Mr. Holland as permanent sheriff to fill the unexpired term. (Westville Record, March 26, 1926, page 1, submitted by Peggy Thompson)