February 13, 1894-Cleveland County Leader-Clyde Mattox, who has been on trial for murder in the United States federal court at Wichita for the past month, received his sentence on Friday morning. Judge Williams in a slow and steady manner requested Clyde to stand up and then pronounced the following sentence upon him: "It is therefore the sentence and judgment of the court, that you, Clyde Mattox, be remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal for the district of Kansas until the 23rd day of March, A. D., 1894, on which day at the city of Wichita, between the hours of 10 o'clock a.m. and 2 o'clock p.m. you may be taken by the said marshal and hanged by the neck until you are dead, and may God have mercy on your soul." With this the marshal and Clyde left the presence of the judgment seat. A great deal of nerve was shown to all appearances from the audience, even here by the staid front of Mattox. But the marshal said that as he got into the wagon which carries the prisoner to and from the jail, the briny tears trickled down his check.
February 13, 1894-Cleveland County Leader-Information has just been received of the brutal treatment to which Robert Gilliant, a settler on the Cherokee Strip was subjected to at the hands of two bandits supposed to belong to the Dalton gang. They rode up to within fifty feet of his dugout, which is located on Coon Creek, and called him by name. As soon as he opened the door he was covered with two Winchesters, and ordered to "hands up." Instead of complying he fell back into the building, the door closing after him. After firing several shots they went in and demanded his money, and when he refused they tied him to the floor with barb wire and went through his boxes, in which was $132. After securing his money, his gun and his watch they left him alone in that condition miles from another habitation. He at last succeeded in extricating himself.
February 10, 1894-Cleveland County Leader-The asphalt beds of the Chickasaw nation cover 108 acres.
February 10, 1894-Cleveland County Leader-The Rock Island railroad pays $4,l66 taxes in Canadian County.
February 10, 1894-Cleveland County Leader-Howling Wolf, who escaped from the El Reno jail, has only one eye.
February 10, 1894-Cleveland County Leader-One of Judge Bierer's first cases will be the murder trial of I. N. Terrell at Chandler in February.
February 10, 1894-Cleveland County Leader-There is a curious cemetery four miles south of Ponca City. It belongs to the Ponca Indians.
February 10, 1894-Cleveland County Leader-Near Tecumseh, O. T., masked men entered the home of L. C. Tyher Saturday night, bound him and family, ransacked the house, stealing $8,200 he had received for cattle. Thomas Bedell and James Veal, young farmers of the neighborhood, are under arrest charged with the crime.
February 10, 1894-Cleveland County Leader-It is more difficult to select original names for towns that most people think. The citizens of Pond Creek thought they had a copyright on that name, but they discovered a Pond Cree in Ozark, County, Missouri.
MARTIN HANGED IN EFFIGY
Ex-Constituents Living at Pond Creek Express Their Feelings Forcibly
February 24, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Pond Creek, OK--The body of Senator Martin of Kansas was hanged here Friday night in the court house square and was left hanging all night. On it was a tag reading:
Senator Martin of Kansas stood on the senate floor and spoke for the Rock Island railroad company to beat 3000 people out of their rights. His old constituents decided to hang him.
February 24, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--At Pond Creek every storekeeper is expected to have a ladder that will reach to the top of his building. This is for protection against fire.
March 3, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--A dispatch from Waynoka says: This County is all excitement. The Panhandle express that came in from Wellington on Tuesday was loaded down with deputy United States Marshals, to the number of thirteen, together with their horses and arms. They were under the command of T. Lilly, and are in search of the Daltons. The Daltons were seen within seven miles of Fort Supply a few days ago, and were traveling toward this vicinity. Lilly and his posse started out Saturday morning to look for them. They are located on Chimney Creek twelve miles from here, and if the birds are not flown there is liable to be a battle. Bill Dalton and Dynamite were the ones seen.
March 3, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Marshal Elliott took to Eufaula Wednesday night three robbers. They are Tom Wynn, Tom Jefferson and Pearce Jefferson. Tuesday night the store and post office at Lumkes, Seminole nation, of which John Marks was proprietor, was robbed. The robbers secured about $150 in money and a quantity of tobacco and cigars. After securing the booty they went through the old form of marching the proprietor and clerk about a mile into the timber and telling them to return. Before letting them go the robbers told them they were the same gang that robbed Brown brothers some months ago. Elliott organized a posse and started in pursuit. They were tracked several miles and finally without any shooting. The officers think they have the leaders of a gang of rogues that have been terrorizing that part of the country for some time. They will be taken to Fort Smith and lodged in jail.
April 21, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Two of the Rock Island train robbers who made the unsuccessful attempt to rob the express car near Pond Creek a few nights since, were overtaken and arrested near Hennessey. They were taken to Wichita to avoid lynching. One of the captured robbers has made a full confession. He says that the robber who was shot dead by the train guard was named Bill Rhodes, alleging that he was an old member of the James gang and came from Clay county, Missouri. Rhodes, alias Pitts, had a claim adjoining Bill Dalton's in Oklahoma, and a man who is said to be a detective has visited it, and says there are four deserted shanties in that neighborhood.
KILLED WITH A COUPLING PIN
AN Officer Meets Death In A Fight With A Train Crew
May 6, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Oklahoma City--Great excitement prevails over the capture of a Rock Island train by officers of the city of Enid for the violation of a city ordinance against running faster than six miles per hour within the city limits. A fight occurred between the crew of a train and the officers in which an officer was beaten to death with a coupling pin in the ands of the trainmen. The company will be held responsible for its acts by Enid officials, who will attempt to prevent citizens using violence though it is generally believed more bloodshed will follow.
May 19, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Felix Young and Nate Sievers, two more of the outlaw band that tried to hold up the Rock Island train at Pond Creek about the middle of last month, were captured Saturday evening at El Reno, O. T., by Deputy United States Marshal Madsen and a posse after a sharp fight. Young and Sievers and three others of their band were in El Reno that afternoon buying ammunition, when they were recognized by Deputy Madsen and some of the crew who were on the train at the time of the attempted robbery. Madsen summoned a posse and surrounded the men, who were all mounted and made a break for liberty. Young's horse was killed in the shooting which followed and Young was seriously wounded before he was captured. Sievers was also caught after receiving a slight wound, but the other three got away.
May 26, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Harris; a deputy Marshal from Norman, and one Head, a horse thief had a fight near Lexington Wednesday in which both men were killed.
May 26, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--The other day the wife of a farmer near Pond Creek shingled a roof while her husband was in town looking for a carpenter.
June 16, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Arkansas Tom made an attempt to break out of the Guthrie jail Thursday afternoon, but the jailer was too quick for him.
June 16, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Bill Dalton is really dead and the Indian and Oklahoma Territories are rid of a bad man, who will not be mourned by the people
June 16, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Charles B. Dalton brother of the noted outlaw, Bill Dalton, went to Ardmore Sunday and identified the remains of they man killed at Ilk by Deputy United States Marshal Loss Hart, as his brother Bill. His identify as one of the Longview robbers has also been confirmed by William Finley, a farmer, who fished with the outlaws when camping near Longview the day preceding the robbery. This insured the $10,000 reward offered for his capture. The rewards offered by four states, two territories and the United States for the capture of Bill Dalton will amount $35,000. This reward will be divided between the nine officers who effected his capture. His remains will be taken to Guthrie where the large rewards await the proper identification. He leaves a wife and two children.
DIED WITH HIS BOOTS ON
Bill Dalton Killed Sure Enough This Time
June 16, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--The first accounts of the killing of Bill Dalton are to be found in the Acta Diurna a journal published by the Romans in the fifth century; the last killing occurred some forty miles from Ardmore, I. T. Dalton's whereabouts were discovered through the arrest of one of his confederates, and in attempting to escape from the house in which he was besieged was shot and killed instantly. Mr. Carr, of Lexington, went down and interviewed the dead man, and asserts that he is one of the two men who tried to assassinate him and young Hardwick some two moths ago at Violet Springs, O. T. "One by one the roses fall."
June 23, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Bill Dalton's death came just in time to obscure Pond Creek's railroad War.
June 23, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--The Anti-Horse Thief Association of the Indian Territory, with headquarters in Hennessey, will apply for a charter.
July 7, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Despite the passionate appeals of the newspapers the "honkatonks" of Oklahoma refuse to go.
July 7, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Tom Maddox the Newkirk man who killed Carter, has been remanded to jail and will await the hearing of the grand jury.
July 7, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--It is said that when Bill Dalton reached the other shore he was no doubt received with a great display of fireworks.
July 7, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--The John Dossett habeas corpus case has been argued before the Supreme Court sitting in Guthrie and been submitted.
July 7, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--C. K. Tucker, a deputy marshal, has been arrested in Ponca City on the charge of extortion. He tried to bleed an Indian for selling whiskey.
July 14 1894--Cleveland County Leader--The Muskogee and Fort Gibson stage was held up by six masked robbers in the Arkansas River bottom Saturday morning, and three of the passengers and the driver were robbed of their money and watches. The passengers robbed were Mr. Norris of Fort Smith, drummer; Colonel Joshua Ross principal of the Cherokee Male Academy, and I. W. Singleton; manager of the Phoenix Printing company. They can not identify the robbers, but they are supposed to be the notorious Cook band, which is known to be hanging around in that community. About an hour later William Drew, a prominent Cherokee, was held up about two miles away on the other side of the river, and was robbed of $80 in money and a fine pistol and belt. He recognized one of the parties who robbed him, but does not give his name.
July 14, 1894-Cleveland County Leader--A controversy between the United States Marshal and the sheriff of Q County as to who should have custody of the person should have of the person of C. Y. Bowman, who is indicted at Stillwater, in the United States court, and at Pawnee, in the territorial court, was heard in the district at Guthrie Saturday. Bowman is an alleged cattle and horse thief, who operated in Q County and in the Osage reservation, which is United States territory, and the question as to the authority to try him became an important one, as the United States penalties are much heavier than those of the territory. Judge Dale decided that the United States had the first claim on the prisoner, and ordered him turned over to Marshal Nix.
August 18, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--The man who killed Marshal Nix's brother has been captured and taken to Fort Smith.
August 18, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Deputy Marshal Madsen has been fined $50 and sentenced to ten days in jail for assaulting Percy Glaze.
August 18, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--The citizens of Enid have written for the pen with which President Cleveland signs that bill making the Rock Island put in depots.
August 18, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--The Tecumseh counterfeiting gang continues to grow. J. W. Walker, John Crilly and Joseph Cowden are the latest arrests on the charge of shoving the queer. The prisoners were taken to Guthrie Saturday and lodged in the federal jail by Deputies S. S. Nix and Ike Renfrow. A quantity of moulds and other counterfeiting goods were found in Crilly's possession. He is sixty five years old. It is now certain that an organized gang has been operating. Twelve arrests have so far been made.
August 18 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Ben Goode the old reliable deputy U. S. Marshal, from over the river was here Monday.
PISTOLS IN A CONVENTION
Two Oklahoma Delegates Indulge in Wild Shooting to Express Disapproval
September 1, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Enid, OK.--In the Democratic county convention Saturday night, a bitter fight was waged for the nominations.
Just before the close Delegate Mulholland of Waukomis denounced the action of the convention and drawing his revolver began shooting out the lights. Delegate Phillips of Jonesville a South Enid suburb, rushed at Mulholland and, with drawn revolver, began shooting through the floor. There was a wild scramble for the windows and doors but fortunately no was injured.
September 8, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--The girl arrested in the Osage country, charged with horse-stealing, comes and she was at one time a belle in Leavenworth society. She chose this mode of life because her parents would not let her wed the man of her choice.
September 8, 1894--Cleveland County leader--News was received at Guthrie Monday that a band of outlaws raided the ranch of Stearns in the western part of the territory, killed a man and looted stores. Deputy United States Marshals and a posse gave chase and had a battle with the outlaws during which one on each side was wounded. The outlaws escaped a second time and are being followed by a stronger posse than the first one.
September 8, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--The following new post offices have been established in the Indian Territory and Oklahoma: Opie, Chickasaw Nation, Ebinezer, R. Johnson postmaster; Flowerville, Choctaw Nation, Nathaniel Flower, postmaster; Dyke, Blain County, John R. Dyke, postmaster; Filson, County, Charles E. Helphrey, postmaster; Roy, Beaver County, Clara Westmoreland, postmaster.
September 8, 1894--Cleveland County Leader-The contest between the Interior Department and the railroads operating in Oklahoma, which has been a stubborn one, has finally been settled by the enactment of a law compelling the roads to maintain depots and stations at all townsites in the lines established by the department. An act was passed extending from four to five years the limit of time within which final proof may be made by settlers who have declared their intentions of taking up desert lands. Another law in the interest of Western settlers was one enabling those who desire to locate on northern mineral lands to secure a survey by depositing with the government a sum sufficient to cover the costs of the survey. Affidavits in land entry cases made before United States Commissioners instead of a United States Circuit Court Commissioner, as provided by law, were made valid by a special enactment.
September 8, 1894--Cleveland County Leader-Conjarde, a Seminole Indian, who was tried in the courts of the Nation for murdering one of his relation, convicted and sentenced to death, was shot at Wewoka on August 28. He was brought from Ft. Smith to Wewoka and lodged in jail, guarded by light horsemen. The condemned man was dressed only in pants and shirt and wore a cowboy hat. The place of execution is on the outskirts of town, and consists of a large stone set up against a tree. The condemned man takes hi seat on the stone with his back to the tree and the executioners take their positions in front of him twelve or fifteen feet. Conjarde is the thirteenth man shot to death on that stone. He took his seat unconcernedly, pushed back his hat from his brow and allowed his eyes to be bandaged. This done the physician of the tribe, Dr. Holloman, pinned a piece of red paper in the shape of a heart to the condemned man's shirt directly over the heart, and stepping back declared him ready. Two light horsemen armed with Winchesters were the executioners, and at the word they fired putting two bullets directly in the center of the paper heart and through the heart of the murderer. During all the preliminaries there was not a tremor noticeable in the man; but as soon as shot his contortions were terrible. He was held up in the seat by two of his guards until pronounced dead by the physician. His corpse was then put in a coffin and delivered to his friends for burial.
September 8, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--The Secretary of War has started an officer for Mount Vernon Barracks, Alabama, where he will take charge of the Geronimo band of Indians and escort them to Fort Sill, O. T. This is in accordance with the scheme worked through congress by some of the southern members. The band is about 250 strong and was taken off the warpath in Arizona and New Mexico in 1884 and placed in prison in Alabama, where they have since remained.
September 15, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Two Otoe Indians, Nancy Lizzard and John Rattlesnake were married at Tecumseh last week.
September 15, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Friday night about 9 o'clock Deputy United States Marshal W. E. Little shot and instantly killed George Edwards, a notorious whiskey peddler, at South McAlester. Edwards was intoxicated and had been intimidating the trainmen on a freight train. Conductor Ream notified the United States officials at that place that Edwards was on the train. In attempting the arrest the marshal had to shoot Edwards. Edward partner was captured and will be taken to Paris, Texas for trial.
September 15, 1894--Cleveland County Leader-A running fight occurred west of El Reno between a force of deputy marshals and a posse of Indian scouts and the notorious Bill Doolin's band of outlaws. The officers had been pursuing the outlaws several days. One Indian Scout and his horse were killed and two of the horses of the outlaws were captured. The outlaws escaped into the Wichita Mountains, in the Kiowa or Comanche country. The officers have been enforced by fifty Comanche militiamen, and have the bandits surrounded in the mountains.
September 22, 1894--Cleveland County Leader-The man supposed to be the murderer of Inkinish was captured by Deputy Marshal Madsen, Thursday near Kingfisher.
September 22, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--A queer circumstance has come to light in Oklahoma, where a father and mother traded their daughter to a young farmer, who lived adjoining them, for two cows, with the understanding that he should keep her two years and if he did not like her at the end of that time he could return her to her parents. Since then the girl has given birth to a child, and it is report that he going to return the girl to her parents.
September 22, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--A rumor is current to the effect that a lynching took place at a small town about 100 miles from Guthrie called Lincoln. The supposed victim was Perry Cook, leader of a band of horse thieves. He had aided in several raids of late and a posse came upon him in a cave. He had in his possession several stolen horses when found and this so enraged the farmers that they hung him without giving him a word to say.
September 22, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Deputy Marshal Smith, of Ft. Smith who reported in the press of the country Sunday as having visited the Cook outlaws, under the guidance of the sweetheart of one of the band, to persuade Cook to quit his outlawry, passed through Muskogee, enroute west again Tuesday. He procured a license from the clerk of the court at Muskogee for the marriage of the bandit chief, Bill Cook, to Miss Martha Pullman, of Sapulpa. Their ages were registered in the clerk's office as 22 and 19. Cook is a Cherokee, but his sweetheart is a white girl, as is evidenced by a United States marriage license being required.
September 22, 1894--Cleveland County Leader-J. W. Walker, John Crisley and Joseph Cowder of Tecumseh, were brought to Guthrie Tuesday and lodged in jail, charged with being leaders of a gang of counterfeiters that have been flooding the territory with spurious coin. This makes ten members of the same gang now under arrest and it is believed that in their imprisonment a dangerous gang is broken entirely up.
September 22, 1894--Cleveland County Leader-The War Department is moving with energy to carry out the direction of congress concerning the removal of Geronimo and his band from Mount Vernon Barracks Alabama. General Howard, commanding department of the east, has just ordered Lieutenant Allen Capron, Fiftieth Infantry, with Company I, Twelfth Infantry (Indians), with all the Indian prisoners at Mount Vernon Barracks, except Es-Kin-in-Zin, and his band of about forty San Carlos Indians, to proceed without delay to Fort Sill, I. T., where the Indians will be placed in charge of Lieutenant H. L. Scott, Seventh Cavalry. All of the property of the Indians worth the cost of transportation will be taken to Fort Sill and especially doors, window sash, etc., of use in construction of new quarters. Mount Vernon barracks will then be abandoned as an army post.
September 22, 1894--Cleveland County Leader-News received at Minco of a terrible murder by outlaws of an Indian named In-ki-nish. Dr. T. J. Strum, who lives among the Caddo on Cobb Creek, tells the story. There is a formidable band of outlaws whose rendezvous is in the Wichita Mountains and who prey upon the settlers almost nightly. The agent sent a young Caddo Indian policeman, In-ki-nish, without uniform, to ferret out the hiding place of these outlaws. They discovered that they had been tracked and decided to revenge themselves on the In-ki-nish family. Wednesday, the father of this young man, the elder In-ki-nish, and some companions were out hunting deer in his pasture on a little stream called Lake Creek. In-ki-nish became separated from his companions and rode into a canyon, following some deer tracks. He was seized by the outlaws who were laying for him and was tied to a tree and shot. Six shots were fired into him, and the he was taken to a swamp and thrown in. In this condition was he found a day or two after the tragedy by the Indians and whites of that section who knew not what had happened to In-ki-nish until his body was found. A posse was organized and gave pursuit. They followed the trial across the river, around in the bottoms on the north side, and discovered that the gang had simply doubled on their track, re-crossed the Canadian and were again back in the reservation. It is evident that the outlaws were making for some hiding place in the Wichita Mountains, in the Kiowa or Comanche country.
September 29, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--A new post office has been established at Sofka, Creek Nation, and William F. Burton appointed postmaster.
October 6, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--The Dalton gang has crossed the Red River into Texas and the Panhandle towns' banks are strongly guarded.
October 13, 1894--Cleveland County Leader-- Cyrus Bates has been appointed postmaster at Wade, in the Choctaw Nation.
October 13, 1894--Cleveland County leader--The Oklahoma law requires a cemetery to be located at least three fourths of a mile from any town.
October 13, 1894--Cleveland County Leader- A 13 year old girl was married in Oklahoma last week by the name of Fanny Elliott. As she weighs 200 pounds she can take care of herself.
October 13 1894-Cleveland County Leader--Near Sallisaw, I. T., Nathan Jones, a deputy United States marshal, shot and instantly killed Newt Fry, one of the wealthiest Cherokees in that part of the nation. Fry shot at Jones first and was attempting to shoot again when he was killed. Jones was guarding a prisoner whom, Fry was desirous of releasing and having an old grudge against Jones he thought this a good time to get rid of him.
October 27, 1894-Cleveland County Leader-In a reported interview with Geronimo he is made to say: "Indians are like white men-they get what they can and they keep what the get, unless a stronger man gets it. One time, thirty or forty years ago, the Mexicans got a lot of us Apaches down to a town in Sonora to make a treaty. The Mexicans served out large buckets of whiskey, with tin cups and told us to help ourselves. Most of the Apaches were fools enough to drink and they got drunk, and the Mexicans attacked all that were drunk and killed every one of them. I and two or three others that did not drink got on our horses and rode away. The Mexicans killed every one of the others, six women and thirty four men. That is the way they wanted to make treat with us, to kill us all. Whiskey is not good. Whiskey bad, awful bad, no good at all. I have never drank whiskey, so I never got caught. The white people came to our country after the Mexican war. They liked our table land so they ran us off. They ran us out on the plains and up in the mountains and took our beautiful table lands for themselves.
November 3, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Bill Cook, the outlaw, is winning thousands over to statehood for the Indian Territory every day.
November 3, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--A desperate fight occurred at Tahlequah in the jail between Felix Levy, Chule Starr and Bob Dalton, all of whom are under sentence of death. Levy got possession of a razor and made an assault on the other two prisoners, cutting Starr fatally, when he was knocked senseless by Dalton, who used a chair, fracturing Levy's skull and otherwise injuring him so he cannot recover.
November 3, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Jim Cook brother of the leader of the noted Cook gang of desperadoes, who was under arrest for murder, has made his escape from Tahlequah. While in charge of two guards he made a break for liberty, and after giving his captors a severe tussle got free from them. Although hampered by a heavy chain locked about his wrist and ankle, he outran the guards and warded off the bullets directed at him.
November 3, 1894--Cleveland County Leader-The capture of the desperadoes responsible for the depredations in the territory cannot much longer be delayed. Marshals are on the trail of the men who committed the Monday night's robberies and are pressing them closely. Chief Harris of the Cherokee Nation has offered a reward of $500 for the capture of Bill Cook, the gang's leader, dead or alive. All of the light horse guards and all Indian police have been summoned for duty, and all United States Marshals of the territory have been put on the trail. In addition there are the special officers of the railway and express companies, making a total of between five hundred and six hundred men ready to commence concerted action immediately.
November 3, 1894--Cleveland County Leader-The railroad officials are making special efforts to capture the robbers who held up a train at Wister, I. T., having their best detectives together with United States Marshals and Indian police in pursuit. No reward has yet been offered by the railroad but an official said that a large reward would be offered for the delivery of the bandits.
November 3, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Deputy Sheriff P. K. Albert has returned to Guthrie from the Creek country, bringing a gruesome relic. On the Canadian river near Thurber, he found a pair of rusty handcuffs, clasping the arms of a skeleton which had been partly torn to pieces by wild animals. It was all that remained of some prisoner who had undoubtedly escaped from his guards some time in the past and perished.
November 3, 1894--Cleveland County Leader-Eighteen hundred dollars is the price now on the heads of the leaders of the cook gang. Chief Harris of the Cherokee Nation offers a reward for each of the Cooks. The Pacific Express Company and the Missouri Pacific railroad have offered $500 each for the Cooks, and the United States has issued a reward of $300 for each of the leaders, dead or alive. Tuesday began an active campaign to run down the bandits. A special train at noon took a force of officers up the road to their whereabouts, but is understood that they could not get horses and could not get out until supplied. Attorney General Onley wired United States Attorney Jackson at Muskogee Tuesday to see that a competent force of officers was put in the field and the outlaws arrested. Besides murder and robbery the band is interfering with mail service and interstate commerce.
November 3, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--A runner just in from west of Grand River, reported to the Cherokee militia stationed at Fort Gibson that the Cook gang is in hiding in a cave three miles northwest of this place. Cherokee Bill, a half-breed negro, and one of the most desperate men in the gang, was seen in that vicinity about 4 o'clock Saturday afternoon. The runner states that there are sixteen horses staked in a pasture near this cave and this fact leads to the belief that the entire gang is fortified in this cave.
November 10, 1894--Cleveland County leader--The number of United States officers that are after the Cook gang, it ought not be very long before they should be safely incarcerated.
November 10, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Richard Crittenden is report to have been murdered by the Cook gang. Crittenden was a member of the sheriff's posse that first attacked the Cooks. He soon afterwards joined the Cooks but was murdered for fear he would betray them.
November 10, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--It is to be hoped that the territories will free their skirts with the desperate gang of thieves, robbers and would be Jesses James' as soon as possible. There is nothing so deterring to a new country as a knowledge that life and property is at stake and the fact exists throughout the east and money centers of the United States that until martial law is declared a new country is not the best place in the world to make permanent investments.
November 10, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Jim Cook, brother of Bill Cook, who has terrorized the territory the last three weeks, is on trial at Tahlequah for the murder of a Cherokee deputy sheriff a year ago. His trial has been set three times and he has cost the nation $10,000, as the judicial expenses of attempting to try him.
November 10, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Deputy Marshal Bouden and posse, have come in with two prisoners supposed to belong to the Cook gang. One of them gives his name as Jim Price, and is identified as the man who jumped his bond at Paris, Texas, eight months ago. He was on bond for stealing and jumped his bond a few days before his trial. The other says that his name is Lon Perry, but it is believed from the description given that he is really Perry Brown and one of the Cooks. John Beck, Deputy United States Marshal, wired the authorities at Muskogee that five of the Cook gang was arrested at Sapulpa, and that the officers are in pursuit of the others. Beck is one of the most reliable men on the force and there is no doubt that the report is true. Only two of the parties are known. Cook and French, the two leaders, are not among them.
November 10, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Perry, O. T.--News comes here today by courier from Stillwater that S. J. Dumlap, postmaster at Red Fork, O. T., fifty miles of here, was shot to pieces by the Cook gang yesterday. Dunlap owned the Store and the gang ordered him to unlock the post office safe, which he refused to do, and they shot him full of holes. The robbed the entire store and post office. Officers are in pursuit.
November 10, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Ardmore, I. T.--As Deputy United States Marshals Burns, Roberts and Garret were returning last night from Lebanon, having in custody four prisoners, the officers were attacked by Alvison Keel, a full blood Chickasaw Indian, who shot and seriously wounded Deputy Marshal Burns. The marshals returned the fire, and Keel fell mortally wounded, being shot through the abdomen. Keel was formerly jailed at Tishomingo.
OUTRAGED BY THE COOK GANG
November 10, 1894--Cleveland County Leader-A special from Fort Smith to a Little Rock paper says: The Cook gang, tiring of robbing trains, stations and travelers, are now committing the most fiendish crimes, that of raping young girls. Just before nightfall last evening four of the gang, one of whom was Jim French, came across three young girls in the suburbs of Oolagh, a small place on the Missouri Pacific road, then miles north of Claremore, I. T. The villains, who were on horseback, dismounted and with leveled revolvers compelled the frightened girls to go with them to the bushes, here their victims were repeatedly outraged. After satisfying their lust these devils mounted their hoses and rode away, leaving their victims in a most critical condition. It was several hours before one of the girls recovered and went to town and gave the alarm. A posse of citizens was at once organized and started I pursuit of the brutes but as far as heard from they failed to capture them
There is no doubt but what Jim French is one of the rapists, as he was recognized by one of his victims. He is a full blooded Choctaw and one of the handsomest and best education young men in the nation. He is 21 years old.
The country is being scoured by searching parties and if the fiends are found they will be shot to death. The entire Cook gang is supposed to be in the neighborhood.
December 1, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Perry, OK--United States Deputy Marshal Snoddy and Frank and James Brown, J. R. Knight, and Charles Kitchens had a regular battle at Winton, several miles west of here Thursday. Winchesters, shot guns and pistols were freely used and after the smoke cleared away Snoddy and Frank Brown were found to be dying. The men were foes of the marshal and while drunk attacked him.
AFTER THE COOK GANG
Conclusion Reached to Wipe Them Out With Winchesters
December 1, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Fort Smith, Ark.,--Marshal Crump returned from Washington yesterday and left immediately for Muskogee I. T., where he is holding a conference with Marshal McAlester, with a view to concerted action against the outlaws. The understanding is that the Cook gang is to be wiped out with Winchesters at once, at the cost of the government.
December 1, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--The man James, who shot Deputy United States Marshal Carr at Violet Springs a shot time ago, and a member of the old Dalton gang, was arrested in Texas this week. Sheriff Smith immediately procured the necessary papers and now has the gentleman save in custody.
DRUNKEN MEN FIGHT
Two Killed Outright, One Maimed for Life, Two Seriously Wounded
December 12, 1894--Cleveland County Leader-Guthrie, OK-A regular pitched battle took place yesterday morning on the highway between Alva and Eagle Chief. James Brown, J. R. Knight, Charles Kitchen, Sam Wescott, and a man called One-Eye Taylor, who lives near Eagle Chief, were returning home with their bodies soaked with whiskey. On the road they met Sam Crocker, a killer, and three rangers en route to Alva. The drunken men stopped and one without provocation opened fir on Crocker. Immediately a fusillade of shots followed and a regular battle ensued. Kitchen and Brown were killed outright, Sam Wescott was maimed for life and Taylor was badly wounded. During the fight a deputy United States Marshal rode along and received a severe wound from a stray bullet. The whole difficulty was brought on by liquor.
December 12, 1894--Cleveland County Leader-Claremore, I. T.-Deputy Marshal John Beard of this place was shot and instantly killed yesterday morning four miles south of here, while attempting to arrest Jim Price, a local tough, wanted by both the United States and Cherokee authorities. Deputy United States Marshals Beard and Pulse went after Price who got the drop on them. Beard stepped behind his wagon and took a snap shot at Price, who returned the fire with a Winchester ball which pierced Beard's brain. He then, after driving Pulse off, fled to the brush, saying he was going to join the Cooks.
December 15, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--South Enid, OK.--A United States Deputy Marshal arrived in this city about 7 o'clock p.m. and stated that the Farmers and Merchants' bank of Hennessey was robbed by highwaymen at about 3 o['clock yesterday afternoon. They secured about $13,000. It is supposed to be the work of the Cook gang.
December 15, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Guthrie, Ok.--News reached the city last night that King Berry, who lives on a claim near Cushing, was killed by a gang of outlaws. Berry has been playing the informer and gave the deputy marshals tips as to the lay of the desperadoes. He was warned several ties to leave but refused. Yesterday he was called to his door and shot down by the bandits.
December 15, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Marshal Crump has given instructions to wipe out the Cook gang. But his little wiper doesn't appear to be in working order.
December 15, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--There is not much game in the Oklahoma markets. While Bill Cook is abroad in the land, hunters are mighty careful about wandering about with a gun.
HELD UP BY THE FRENCH GANG
December 29, 1894--Cleveland County Leader--Claremore, I. T.--The French band of outlaws, headed by Jim French and Cherokee Bill, made a raid last night on the town of Nowata. Station Agent Bristow stepping out on the platform of the station found himself covered with four guns. He was marched through the waiting room and compelled to open the safe. The robbers got about $190.
BILL COOK IS WAITING
He Invites Marshal McAlister to Call and See Him-Bill Ryder Dead
December 29, 1894--Cleveland County Leader-Muskogee, I. T.-Yesterday afternoon about 5 o'clock a courier from the Cook gang rode into Muskogee and delivered the following message to Marshal McAlister from Bill Cook:
"Uncle Jim: I am in camp with my men four miles north of the Arkansas bridge and we are ready for any kind of un you and your deputies will suggest. We will remain in our present quarters a day or more and if you decide top ay us a call, ride right in without knocking. We know you and your force. Our spy told us that you tried to get your deputies out after us yesterday morning shortly after you heard about us borrowing Cash's horse, but failed. Take your time to get up a posse; we will be near your town for some time yet."
Marshal McAlister ordered all of his available deputies to report at his office at once, but some of them refused to go out again until the were reimbursed for the money spent on former trips.
Buss Luck, Tom Root, Jim Reed and two others robbed the express office at Nowata last night, securing $95.
At 10:30 o'clock last night, William Ryder, one of the cook gang was killed in a dive in the northern part of town by confederates.
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