The Hugo Husonian (Hugo, Okla.), Vol. 10, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 17, 1911 Page: 1 of 8
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The Hugo Husonian
The Official Advertising Medium of the City of Hugo and the County of Choctaw.
VOL X.
HUGO, OKLAHOMA, THURSDAY, AUGUST, 17 1911
No. 25
IET0 STATEHOOD
V
WEAR DURANT SATURDAY, THEN
SHOOTS HER THROUGH HIPS.
IS BURNED BY AN
Infuriated Mob of Men After Being
Ahot to Death at 1 a.m. Sunday.
IN LETTER TO GAZETTE MCCUR-
TAIN COUNTY JURIST DE-
CLARES INTENT.
S<ys Enemies Hampered Him in
Performance of Duties.
Saturday afternoon while alone in
her home near Durant Mrs. Redden
'Campbell, the wife of a farmer, was
assaulted by a black brute in the
ipresence of her children and after-
wards shot through the hips by the
scoundrelly negro. Aroused by the
screams of Mrs. Campbell a neighbor
:ran to her and then hastened for
help. The suffering lady was remov-
ed at once to the Atwood hotel in
^Durant where she was treated by
physicians at once.
In no time at all one thousand
men were pouring into Durant arm-
ed to the teeth, and in no time at
all they were pouring out again on
•the trail of the dastardly criminal.
•Hour after hour they sought, and
■each hour the mob grew, every train
bringing in outraged men from all
over southeastern Oklahoma. At 1
o'clock Sunday morning a posse ran
the negro down near Red river and
a running fight started. The negro
was armed with two six-shooters and
In all he fired fifteen shots at his
pursuers, none of which took effect
In a few minutes he sank In the beau
tiful moonlight, his worthless body
riddled with bullets, and not a mark
on his head.
Hastily the body was carried to
Mrs. Campbell, where she lay in the
Atwood hotel, and immediately iden
titled. When asked what disposi-
tion to mftke of the remains she said
to burn it. A huge fire was built at
once near the Frisco station and the
body consigned to the flames. Soon
nothing was left but a few charred
bits of bone and flesh. Mrs. Camp-
bell died at 6 o'clock Monday morn-
ing
Deputy Sheriff C. L. Kilgore and
Mrs. Kilgore of Atoka came to Hu-
go last night to tee their new grand-
son. born Saturday to Mr. and Mrs.
Choc Kilgore. Mr. Kilgore was so
outraged at the attack upon Mrs.
Campbell that he caught the first
train and joined in the chase. He
said that frequently while the body
of the negro burned some one would
cry out, "Let the fry on the
other side awhile."
SOPER ELECTS ALDERMEN.
E. H. Sherman Appointed City Attor
ney—Water Works Soon.
Monday night council met and ap-
pointed three more ne-v members as
the Oklahoma provid' - or two from
each ward. I*ee Stubb. 'V. H. Allder
and Fred Maloney ■■ appointed.
The council now cor - >is of eight
members Instead of f ve This was
done in order to make 1 waterworks
bond issue valid. The i nance was
missed and ordered pu I hed calling
for an election at an e:uly date and
the bond issue.
D. B. Welty a leading attorney of
Oklahoma City was here last week
and said that as soon as the bonds
were voted on, that his company
would be ready to begin work on the
water works system. The election will
be held August 22.
E. H. Sherman was elected city
attorney by the council—Choctaw
County Democrat.
In the following letter Judge T. J
Barnes, who since statehood has
been county judge of McCurtain
county and who recently tendered
his resignation to the county com-
missioners, states his feelings and
his Intention of retiring from office
at once instead of waiting until Oc
tober first, the date originally set
for his stepping off the bench and
laying aside the woolsack:
Judge Barnes Makes Statement.
Editor Gazette:
Will you please be so kind as to
give me space in the columns of
your paper to explain to the public
my reasons for resigning my office
t« judge of the county court?
I have long since wanted to resume
my practice of law. My practice will
be much more remunerative than
the office of county judge. There is
an element who, instead of giving
me their support and assistance in
the discharge of my official duties
did everything possible to obstruct
my official success. This element
did not seem to realize that in doing
me an injustice they were at the
same time doing an Injustice to the
people whom I was serving.
All manner of rumors and false-
hoods have been circulated against
me dnring my term of office. 1 be-
lieve that any person would be bet-
ter off to live the life of a private
citizen than to enjoy the honor of
an official position and continually
be' slandered by those who have no
regard for the truth.
The other day I took my wife and
children to visit the graves of our
two babies at Wheelock academy
was gone from Idabel just 5 hours
during which time the enemy took
the advantage of the opportunity to
hatch and circulate the report that
I had resigned my office and ran
away from the county.
If the time has come in McCurtain
county that a public official cannot
leave home long enough to visit the
graves of his children without being
slandered by his political enemies,
then, I thing it time to resign.
I resigned my office to take effect
October 1st, 1911, but I am tired of
being made an objcct of vituperation
and slander, and shall ask Judge
Cochran to take charge of the office
at once and not later than September
1st. 1911.
Very truly yours,
T. J. BARNES
County Commissioners Working Late Over Decision get
Together Late Friday Nigjrt and Settle the
Matter for allTime.
Will be Placed on East Duke Street. The Site Costs $8000.00
After many, many days and weeks
of thought and worry the county
commissioners of Choctaw county
have settled the location of tha soon
to be erected court house. At ten
o'clock Friday night after having lock
ed themselves in an upstairs room of
the present court house for the past
three hours the decision was reached
between Chairman John Huskey and
Commissioner J. W Bryan. Mr.
Morton still held out for the site
south of the A. and C. tracks and re-
fused to make the vote unanimous.
The site settled upon by the major-
ity member.; is block 95 on Duke
street. The square just next east of
th^ one in which the Freeman hotel
Is. It is bounded on the north by
Duke, the west by Church, the south
by Jefferson and the east by Homer
The aite is really an excellent one
amd the 'commissibners «,re to be
congratulated upon the choice. It
will preserve a splendid balance for
Hugo in a business way The "lay of
the land" is good and level and it
Will show the structure up in fine
tfyle.
Mr. Morton, in an interview this
ipprning. said: "I did not come into
Agreement on this decision and re-
gret that the south side proposition
was not accepted" Mr. Huskey
fought as long as he deemed wise for
the west site he had favored, but
saw the value of the Duke street site
%t the price offered which was $8,000.
This property is really worth twice
that, ail dthe county is making a
good real estate investment; it is de-
sirable land and will doubtless in-
crease In value.
At the board meeting today the
official vote was taken so as to make
the matter legal It is a relief to
have this vexatious question closed
and even though there may be sor:
spots, time will cure that.
MURDERED LAST RI6HE DIDDER HELD OD
ID HUE Elm BAIL TO OCTOBER
YOUNG BARBER SHOT DOWN IN
DARK BY MISTAKE FOR AN-
OTHER MAN
W. A. Smith and Will Hess Arretted
by Sheriff Loftin and are Now in
the Choctaw County Jail
Judge Cochran.
Judge E. E. Cochran of Valliant,
who succeeds Judge Barnes In office
is a young man of excellent charac-
ter and reputation .thoroughly hon-
est, capable and a good lawyer. He
came to Valliant in 1906 from Arkan-
sas where he had formerly practised
law. His friends are legion and hla
appointment Is very popular. For
some time he has been secretary of
the county election board of McCur-
tain county.
Trade Week in Paris.
This week is trade week In Paris.
All the wholesale houses have gone
in togtber and arranged for this week
which they intend as an inducement
to the country merchants to come to
Paris and see the jobbing and manu-
facturing houses, and incidentally to
tempt him to buy. The organisation
refunds railroad fare to merchants
who come.
PARIS NOTES. •
The first bale of cotton was brought
to Paris yesterday morning by a negro
named Bob Henson, who lives a few
miles east of town. Henson thinks he
will average a halt/bale to the acre.
The old court house well has been
opened for the first time since 1879.
For years the old well formed the pub-
lic water supply for Paris In the early
days. The well, which has been held
as a reserve supply, was opened to in-
sure enough water for the Woodmen
encampment here next week.
Temperatures here have bung high
about the 100 degree mark all week.
Several prostrations have been re-
ported, mostly In the country.
Paris labor men will meet tonight
and make arrangements for labor
day plans.
Tuesday night a young barber
named Wallace went walking in Port
Towson with Constable Carter. The
two walked out to Mill Town, where
the Pine Belt Lumber Co., is situate)},
and sat down on some lumber. Just
before they had gotten there they
had passed two men who were hurry-
ing townwards. After a few moments
conversation Mr Wailaoe-ana Mr
Carter shifted their seats a few in
ches and resumed conversation. Sud-
denly a shot was fired from the dark
and Constable Carter heard his com-
panion fall forward and groan. Pick-
ing him up be discovered he had been
shot in the back and was bleeding
profusely. Carrying him rapidly ipto
town to his quarters. Mr. Carter call-
ed a physician. Inside of thirty min-
utes the young man was dead.
Upon examination it was discovered
that Wallace had been shot in the
right shoulder and that the bullet had
pierced the lung and come out of the
right breast. Wallace bled to death.
The young man's parents, wtupi
home Is In DeQueen. Ark., were at
once notified. They arrived in Fort
Towson this noon; they sent for E. O.
Haines of the Hugo Furniture Co., to
come down on this afternoon's train
to embalm tbe body.
Wednesday on the early train
Sheriff Lee Loftin and Assistant
County Attorney Jordan went to the
scene of the crime. After a thorough
Investigation two men were arrested
charged with murder. W. A Smith
and Will Hess.
These men protested their inno-
cence but were unable to give a satis-
factory alibi fo rthe time of the shoot-
ing. It is generally presumed that the
murderer or murderers, wanted to
shoot Constable Carter and that the
fact that the two men had just shifted
their seats before the shot was fired
U the reason Mr. Carter Is not the
one now lying dead The two man
arrested are lying in the jail here,
hawing been brought up Wednesday
CLAIMS HE SHOT SHERLOCK BY
ACCIDENT—BAIL FIXED AT
S2.0M.
"
Will he Tried in District Court Next
October—Garner Haa Lived at
Sawyer for the Past Trree
Years.
Special to the Husonian
Sawyer, Aug. 10.—The preliminary
examining trial of G. W. Garner, the
farmer who shot Robert Sherlock, the
horse trader Wednesday at RockChim
ney Crossing on the Kiamichi river,
was held late in the evening in the
court of Justice of the Peace Iglehart
Sheriff Loftin had the accused in
hand and the trial was handled for
the state by County Attorney Hardi-
son. Garner swore on the stand that
bis gun went off accidently, but two
other witnesses testified that he did
the sbootirfg with intent. It was de-
cided to let Garner out on bail and
bind him over to the October term of
the district court. His bail was fixed
at $2,000 and upon his making that
he was turned loose.
Garner has been living near here
for the past three years, farming. He
owns no property and has rented
most of the time.
Sherlock, who lives in Bowie coun-
ty, Texas, has been traveling about
the country with his father, mother
and six brothers and sisters They
•ay that they have been unable. to
make a living on the farm they have
been operating and so took to the
road horse trading
AND ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO
ADMINISTRTION MAY BE
OVERTURNED.
House and 8enate Will Undertake to
Pass Measure Anyhow—Failing
That, New Resolution.
Washington, Aug. 10.—Surprise and
rather shocked, but influenced by the
overwhelming vote by which the Sen-
ate Tuesday passed the House State-
hood resolution, President Taft let It
be known yesterday that he intends
to veto the measure. A delegation of
New Mexico and Arizona statehood
boosters who had an audience with
the President yesterday afternoon, re-
vised its opinion of the situation, and
came away convinced that Instead of
letting the bill become a law without
his signature the President will veto
it, basing his veto on the provision
by which the recall clause of the Ari-
zona constitution is to be re-submitted
to the people, for acceptance or re-
jection.
May Pass Over Veto.
Immediately upon the vetoing of
the resolution the House and Senate
will undertake to pass the measure
over the veto. The resolution passed
by about a three-fourths majority of
the House. The combined Democratic
and insurgent majority in the House
is more than the necessary two-
thirds vote necessary to override a
veto, but many Western regular Re-
publicans are as anxious for the pass-
age of the statehood resolution as
are the Democrats. Hence the House-
leaders say there is no question but
that the House can overpower the
veto.
Letter
to the People from
Commissioner
Bryan
The following letter from County
Commissioner J. W. Bryan of Bos-
well is touching upon the recent
settlement of the court house loca-
tion. It is an expression of his
views to his friends:
"Boswell, Okla., Aug. 13, 1911.
"To the People of Hugo and Choc-
taw County:
"I am certainly glad the court
house has been located and without
having to call an election. I hope
after due consideration has been giv-
en that the people of Hugo will see
that it is as well located as could
have been under the existing condi-
tions in Hugo.
"Respectfully,
"J W. BRYAN.
"County Commissioner."
by Sheriff Loftin
Postal Bank Doing Business.
Every day sees the postal bank do-
ing business, new accounts being op-
ened Postmaster Needham savs that
no money will be sent out of town.
The Hugo National Bank has been
named as a depository and all money
taken in is deposited there and the
bank pays a small interest to the gov-
trnment
Bryan County Aroused.
All Bryan county is aroused over
the negro outrage of the other day
in Durant. Caddo, where there are
quite a number of negroes, is espe-
cially excited. An organization of
white men there have dubbed them
selves the "Kad Do Klan" and have
taken it upon themselves to drive
the negro from the confines of the
city The circular copied below
shows their intention:
Warning.
NEGRO—Don't let the sun go down
on vovj. in Caddo August 19. Notice
is hereby given that every negro In
the town of Caddo must sell or take
with him his belongings and leave
by 7:30 p.m. Saturday, August 19.
We feel that you have ample time to
do this in. Don't forget the date—
Kad Do Klan.
Our motto— Pass Word—
A Clean Town. WE WILL.
DEPUTY SHERIFF RESIGNS.
Tom Bohjnnon, Officer at Grant.
Turns in Resignation.
New Post Office Employe.
Jaa. Barrett, who has resigned his
position in the post office, has ac-
cepted a place at the depot Hia posi-
tion at the post office haa been filled
by Geo. B. Smith who taught school
taatr year at the Forest Home school
hou w west of the city
Tom Bohannon .who has been dep-
uty sheriff under Lee Loftin and was
i previously deputy under R. M. Con-
■eli, has sent in his resignation to
Mr. Loftin to take effect at once. Mr.
Bohannoa said today that he had for
some time felt unable1 to give his time
to the work and that he should give up
the offic> Mr. Loftin has not yet
signified whom he would appoint to
the office.
INQUEST HO SDH-
Oil HID RIVER
JACK JOHNSON LOST
LIFE IN RED RIVER.
Body Found Sunday at Mouth o*
Horse Creek—Sheriff and Con-
stable Vindicated by Coro-
ner's Jury.
The lifeless body of Jack Johnson
was found by searchers Hosting in.
Red river at the mouth of Horas
creek three miles below Arthur City
at ten o'clock Sunday morning. The
officers of this city were notified
and left immediately for the scene
where a coroner's Inquest was held.
A Husonian reporter accompanied
the officers to the scene and wit-
nessed the proceeding of the inquest
for the purpose of giving an authen-
tic account of the aff^jr.
City Justice T. F. Biard of Grant
empaneled a jury to make Inquiries
as to the cause of the death, and sev-
eral witnesses were called and tes-
tified as to what they knew. The
first witness called was Dr. T. L.
Kelleam of Grant who testified that
he had helped in holding the exam-
ination of the remains and that he
found no signs of a wound and that
in bis opinion the deceased came to
his death by drowning. Dr. Allen,
also of Grant, and Dr. A. C. Milam
of Arthur City were called next and
testified to the same facts.
A young man named Arthur Jen-
nings was next called who testified
that he was a short distance from
the ferry across Red river at Arthur
City late Friday afternoon and heard
three pistol shots, that he was one
of the men who composed the hunt-
ing party who found the remains
and assisted in raising them out of
the river. Albert Gibson, a young
man who was on the Oklahoma side
of the river on the date mentioned,
saw the officers while they were
talking to Johnson.
Sheriff Loftin was next called. He
stated that on Friday afternoon he.
in company with Constable J. C. Cof-
fee, went to the river to endeavor to
capture the bootlegger who had been
for a long time selling whisky by
crossing over from the Texas aide.
After arriving at the river he secret-
ed himself on the bank while his
companion went to Arthur City.
While so secreted he saw Coffee and
a man come across the river and
when they landed he heard Coffee
tell the man to consider himself un-
der arrest, then he hastened to the
assistance cf his fellow officer when
the man began to back off into the
river defying the officer, after get-
ting a little way out he broke into a
run and soon pas swimming, that he
fired two shots in the air and his
Companion also shot one shot in the
air in the hope that the fleeing man
would stop and that when he failed
to stop he got into the boat and
started to row out, but decided that
If he caught the man that he or the
man might be drowned in the scuf-
fle and gave up the chase.
After the sheriff had concluded hia
testimony, G. A. Marshall came for-
ward and on behalf of the Woodman
lodge at Grant of which he is Con
sul Commander, and of which John-
son was a member, asked the mem-
bers of the lodge who were present
II they had any questions which they
wbUld like to ask and if they were
satisfied with the testimony which
had been brought out, in response to
which no question was asked. After
all the testimony in the matter was
given to the jury they retired a lit-
tle way off and returned the follow-
ing verdict: "We, the Jury, duly em-
paneled, find from the evidence that
the deceased. Jack Johnson, came to
his death by drowning." Signed by
B. A. Nelson, W. P. Weaver. Lon
Keel. T. B. Pritchard. C. C. Babb and
O. G. Byars, after which the remains
were turned over to the undertaker
tor burial.
County Attorney T. 8. Hardison in
company with Assistant County At-
torney B. D. Jordan, Sheriff Loftin
•ad Deputy Cooper. Constable J. T.
Deweese and the Husonian reporter
left the city for the scene about one
o'clock Sunday, where he conducted
i
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The Hugo Husonian (Hugo, Okla.), Vol. 10, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 17, 1911, newspaper, August 17, 1911; Hugo, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc139701/m1/1/: accessed April 25, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.