Pittsburg County, Oklahoma Genealogy Trails Newspaper Gleanings

Pittsburg County

Crime News Gleanings

POST OFFICE AT LANE ROBBED BY THREE MEN.
Atoka, Ok., April 24.—The post-office at Lane, a town about ten miles east of this place, was held up and robbed by three men yesterday at 6 p. m. Ten or twelve men who happened to be present were lined up and relieved of their cash, about $50 being taken from them. After leaving the scene of the first holdup the robber met Ben Maxey, a deputy sheriff, and held him up, taking his horse, saddle and gun. A short distance farther down the road they met John Wright, candidate for sheriff, and held him up. They took his horse, saddle and $40. The robbers then made good their escape. When last seen they were making for the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway. One was a tall, slim man about 25 years old, weight about 140, light complexion and wearing a white hat. The other two were about 20 and 17 years of age, both dark complexioned and medlumly heavy. All three were shabbily dretoed and dirty, evidently new men In the business. A reward will be paid for the arrest of these parties.
[The Oklahoma Miner, April 25, 1912 - Submitted by a Friend of Free Genealogy]

Convicts Escaped
Wednesday morning about 2 o'clock, Chas. Ireland. serving a life sentence and Lon Styles on a five year term, made their escape from the McAlester penitentiary in a blinding storm. Ireland made good his escape by sliding down on a rope while his pal decided to jump from the high wall; and in so doing he hurt his back in such a manner that he had to give up.
Both men were working in the engine room and when they quit work they turned off all the lights leaving the entire building and grounds in total darkness From a flash of lightning the guard observed them on top of the wall, and in refusing to halt opened fire on them. All the guards were aroused ami blood hounds were put on the trail, but owing the raging storm the scent could not be followed.
[The Oklahoma Miner, March 27, 1913 - Submitted by a Friend of Free Genealogy]

Davis Gang Held.
In the perliminary at Eufaula last Tuesday, Joe Davis, Bob Wortham, Tom Spencer and Buck Bertholf, members of the Davis gang were bound over in the sum of $4,000 each, charged with holding up the Katy limited near Canadian last October. G. M. Blevins. a former member of the gang, told how the money was divided after the robbing. Jack Davis' father made bond for all the prisoners.
[The Oklahoma Miner, April 03, 1913 - Submitted by a Friend of Free Genealogy]

To Hang May 30.
Marion Capps is to hang in Ft Smith on May 30th. He was convicted of setting fire to his home causing the death of three of his children. It was testified by one of the children who escaped terribly burned, that the father bound them with a rope to the bed and poured oil over the bedding. He is considered a religous fanatic.
[The Oklahoma Miner, April 10, 1913 - Submitted by a Friend of Free Genealogy]

Killed at Kiowa.
Dan Beats, a carpenter 50 years of age was shot on the streets of Kiowa Tues. and died Wednesday night about 7 o'clock from a hemmorhage caused from a shot through the lungs. The Sherrill brothers charged with the shooting were brought to McAlester and placed in jail. The shooting grew out of an old feud of long standing.
[The Oklahoma Miner, May 1, 1913 - Submitted by a Friend of Free Genealogy]

Killed With a Rock.
In a fight that occured near Craig, this county, last Saturday night, Tom McCurtain an Indian was hit in the head with a rock thrown by Joe Dickerson from which he died. They were both Indians ond brother-in-laws. It is said McCurtain came home drank and commenced to raise a "rough house," cutting Dickerson's clothing in several places and Dickerson picked up a rock and threw it at McCurtain hitting him in head, the blow resulting in his death. Dickerson was arrested and now languishes in hotel DeTatum at McAlester.
[The Oklahoma Miner, September 18, 1913 - Submitted by a Friend of Free Genealogy]

Alex Bayouth Shot by Serian
Alex Bayouth, a Serian merchant was shot and dangerously wounded by another Serian last evening about 6 o'clock while coming out of his place on South Main.
We are unable to get at the bottom of this trouble, but it is generally reportod on the streets that it was the outcome of an old family feud that has been brewing for some years.
It is claimed that Cora, the man who did the shooting, had written Bayouth from Brazil a few weeks ago that he was coming over here and get him.
He made his word good, and arrived in Krebs late Thursday evening and went to the home of Bayouth and not finding him there proceded to shoot up the place, breaking furniture, looking glasses, etc. This caused the women folks to flee and they started for the store to inform Alex that his assailant was in town looking for him. It being about dark when he come out of the store he did not recognize Cora until ho commenced shooting at him. Me shot three times at him, one shot taking effect. Alex started to run and so doing fell, whereupon Cora went up to him and shot him twice- one shot took effect about two inches below the left nipple, (which may be fatal) one shattered left thigh and one on the inner side of the left knee.
Alex was picked up and moved into his store and Drs. Turner & Pemherton summoned and rendered necessary medical attention, after which he was removed to All Saints Hospital in McAlester where he is lying with very little hope of recovery.
Cora ran on to the home of his brother in the south part of the city where he was later captured by Chaney Haynes and Nim Homer and lodged in !ail.
The pistol, a rusty looking 5-shooter 38 Smith & Wesson, was found by Fred Douglass in Oscar Cora's pasture.
[The Oklahoma Miner, October 30, 1913 - Submitted by a Friend of Free Genealogy]

THREE CONVICTS BURN IN CHAIR

McAlester, Okla., Sept. 20 -Three convicted murders died in the electric chair at the state prison here today. Chester L. Barrett, Sapulpa father, for the poison deaths of three of his children; Bun Riley, taciturn hill dweller, for killing his three alleged partners in robbery and Alfred Brown, negro, for the murder of a Hollis relief worker.
Barnett walked unaided to the chair. In a weak voice he stammered:
"All I want to say is I hope God will forgive everyone for punishing me."
The current was applied at 12:05 a.m. and Dr. V. H. Barton, pronounced Barrett dead at 12:10.
Riley was strapped to the lethal device at 12:14. Perspiration poured off his brow as he said in a broken and scarcely audible voice:
"I'll advise every one of you to take Christ as a personal Savior and if you follow him you will have nothing to fear."
Riley was dead at 12:19.
Rowan like the other two men was visibly shaken as he walked unaided across the execution chamber.
"I want to ask everyone to forgive me for what I've done." He said, his hand twitching. "I want everybody to follow Jesus."
Executioner Rich Owens three the switch at 12:22 a.m. and the negro was pronounced dead four minutes later.
(El Dorado Times, El Dorado, Butler County, Kansas, Friday, September 20, 1935) Submitted by Peggy Thompson

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