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Crime News Gleanings
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Guns and Death
Temple Houston and the Jennings Boys have a Shooting Scrape
Guthrie, O. T., Oct. 14 – A telegram was received in this city from Woodward, stating that Temple Houston, son of the famous Sam Houston, had killed Ed. Jennings in a fight. A special to the Wichita Eagle says that Tuesday evening about 10 o’clock this town was aroused by a fusillade of shots in one of the principle saloons here, known as the “Cabinet,” and owned by Jack Garvey. Hastening there spectators beheld Lawyer Ed. Jennings weltering in blood, his brains oozing from a bullet hole in the left rear side of his head, his hand still clinging to a smoking revolver half concealed by his prostrate form.
Lawyer John Jennings was fleeing up the street with one arm limp and dangling by his side from which the blood poured in streams.
Lawyer Temple Houston and ex-Sheriff Jack Love were on their way to the sheriff’s office to surrender their persons to custody.
The trouble arose over a dispute between the attorneys involved, yesterday afternoon in Justice William’s court. The case on trial was that of several young men charged with the theft of a keg of beer from the Santa Fe railroad company, Temple Houston, the company’s attorney, appearing with County Attorney Smith for the prosecution, and the firm of Jennings & Jennings appearing for the defense.
During the examination of a witness a lie was given and an instant retort followed. Guns were brought to view then but the prompt interference of officers prevented their use.
Late in the evening, Houston, accompanied by his intimate friend ex-Sheriff Love, entered the Cabinet saloon and later Ed and John Jennings came in. But a few words passed between them when the shooting began on both sides, Houston and Love emptying their guns and the Jennings boys doing the same. Ed Jennings fell at the first fire, but managed to shoot once as he staggered to his death.
After exhausting his ammunition John Jennings ran out and reached his home after fainting once from loss of blood. He is now resting easy with every chance for recovering.
[The Langston City Herald, Langston City, O. T., October 19, 1895 - Submitted by Dale Donlon]
J. A. Evans
When the grave digger of Summit View, Logan county, cemetery went to the grounds Saturday morning he found lying upon the ground where it had been dumped Friday, a rough pine box containing the body of J. A. Evans, and old soldier who died in the county hospital. The body had been exposed to the elements without any protection. There is much indignation over the matter.
[The Langston City Herald, Langston City, O. T., February 22, 1896 - Submitted by Dale Donlon]
Guthrie, OK., Aug. 19, - Levi Reed and Bud Wingo, two outlaws captured recently in a raid made on the Casey Cravens gang by Oklahoma officers, were taken from the county jail at Cordell by a mob composed of several unknown men, who placed ropes around the prisoners' necks and strung them to limbs of adjoining trees until they revealed desired information regarding the movements of the leaders of the gang and recent outrages committeted in southern Oklahoma. Reed was so badly strangled that with difficulty he was revived. The prisoners were then replaced in jail. (Walnut Valley Times, August 22, 1902, Volume XXXIII, Number 31 - submitted by Peggy Thompson)
BOY'S EFFORT FOR LEARNING
Guthrie, OK., May 30 - At Alva, in the district court, Clinton Fox, a 15-year old boy, appeared before Judge McAtee and pleaded guilty to stealing a watch that he might be sent to reform school, as he was not able to make a living and get books and clothes suitable to continue his studies in the public schools.
The judge let him go on his own recognizance, after extracting a promise from the boy not to repeat the offense. There is no reform school in the territory, and this was the best that could be done. (The Dallas Morning News, May 31, 1897, Page 3 - submitted by Peggy Thompson)
REV. ROBERT B. SMITH CHARGED WITH FORGERY
Guthrie, Ok., Sept. 17 - Rev. Robert B. Smith, a United Brethren preacher, has been arrested at Perkins and taken to Kansas on a charge of forgery. (The Dallas Morning News, September 18, 1899, page 5 - submitted by Peggy Thompson)
THE CATAPULT IN GUTHRIE
"Babe" McNeal and George Nye blew in from Guthrie last night, presumably having been shot out of there by the authorities. "Babe" was fined by Judge Ellis this morning for using bad language on the streets. Perry (Kan.) Repubican. (Colorado Springs Gazette, November 21, 1904, page 4 - submitted by Peggy Thompson)
BABE McNEAL PLEADED GUILTY TO KILLING HENRY PIERCE
Guthrie, Ok., May 24 - In the District Court at Perry today Babe McNeal, a negro, pleaded guilty to the charge of killing Henry Pierce. (The Dallas Morning News, May 25, 1905, page 9 - submitted by Peggy Thompson)
BLACK BOOTLEGGER KILLS TWO GUTHRIE OFFICERS
Logan County Capital Aroused by the Assassination— Undesirables Must Leave City
POSSE IN PURSUIT OF FLEEING NEGRO
BECOMES ALMOST A MOB-CHASE HOT
Sheriff Could Not Stop Automobile to Replenish Supply of Gasoline—Dead Men were Veterans in Service—Both Killed Instantly
Guthrie, Okla., Sept. 7.
At no time since the city was founded has Guthrie been so stirred as tonight. With the dead bodies of two veteran police officers lying in the morgue, pierced through and through by bullets from automatic revolvers operated by a negro bootlegger whom the patrolmen attempted to place under arrest for violation of the liquor laws, citizens in mass meeting took steps to rid the city of all "undesirables" and near midnight retired to their homes, expecting momentarily report that a determined posse, which has been trailing SheriffJohn Mahoney and his prisoner for six hours, had overtaken the officer, wrested his black captive from him and meted out justice as it was wont to be administered in the day when Guthrie was a city of tents. Lon Muxlow and L H. Caldwell were shot and instantly killed by Lou Green, negro bootlegger, police court character, and out on bail at the time of the killing, Sunday afternoon, when they attempted to arrest Green for selling liquor.
Green was arrested by Sheriff John Mahonoy, lodged in the federal jail, and as a mob approached from the south, intent on a lynching, the sheriff commandeered an automobile that was passing, hurried his charge into it and set out for the Noble county jail at Perry. Less than ten minutes behind the sheriff was a posse of citizens in automobiles, determined the negro should pay the penalty for his crimes without chance of commutation. Latest news from the chase was to the effect Sheriff Mahoney had discarded the automobile fifteen milesnorth of here when the gasoline became exhausted, and after traveling across country on foot for some miles secured a horse and buggy with which to continue the flight. The posse was reported still in pursuit and gaining in numbers as farmers along the way joined in the chase.
While there were no eye witnessess, unless such should prove Joe Simmons and an other negro giving his name as Robinson, held in the county jail in connection with the affair, information dropped by Green, supplemented by that of persons who passed by the shack just as the officers entered, and the condition of the interior when others arrived, forms what the police believe a fairly accurate account of the killing.
According to the story as pieced together by the officers, Muxlow and Caldwell were detailedto place Green under arrest shortly after noon Sunday. Approaching Green's place of business,a shack on the corner of South Second street and Vilas, Muxtow entered by the rear door while Caldwell passed to the back to cut off possible escape; in that quarter.
Stepping through the door, Muxlow its said, to have informed Green that he had come for himagain, Green, it is said, protested that he had nothing. As Muxlow attempted to place his hand on tho negro's shoulder, so the story goes, Green reached for his gun, Muxlow I brought his club over the negroes head, knocking him to kneeling position. Before Muxlow could draw his own gun, Green fired, the bullet piercing Muxlow's neck and killing him instantly.
Meets Shower of Bullets
Hearing the scuffle, Caldwell burst through the rear door to his brother oflicer's assisstance, only to be met by a fusillade of shots from the automatic revolver in the hands of the black. The first bullet struck Caldwell in the shoulder and the next squarely between the eyes, causing instant death. Not ceasing when his second victim sank to the floor, the negro emptied the automatic into the patrolman's body, and then seizing the officer's gun continued firing, several bullets striking Caldwell, one tearing the top of his head off and the others ranging about his chest. Only one hit Muxlow, that being the one in the throat which caused instant death.
Lon Muxlow, one of the Guthrie policemen killed by a negro Sunday, had many friends in Hobart, and in the early days of the "new country" was frequent visitor to Hobart.During the first term of federal court ever held in Hobart, with Judge Burford, presiding, Muxlow was here, and later while serving as a public officer often visited the city. [The Hobart Daily Republican 08 Sep 1913 - Submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer]
They Skinned Their Victim
GUTHRIE. O. K.—(Special.)
Wiley and William Littlehead. brothers, and fullblood Euchee Indians, have been arrested by members of their own tribe, after a two weeks' search, and are now in the federal jail at Claremore. I. T. They are charged with the murder of Candy Squire on Christmas, near Mounds by beating him to death with clubs, then skinning the body and hanging It over a fence. All were intoxicated, and there was no apparent cause for the crime so far is known.
[The Valley Falls, Jefferson County, Kansas Friday Jan. 10 1902 Page 1 -- Submitted by: Barbara Ziegenmeyer]
