Deputy Marshals

As there is always two sides to a story, we, the U. S. Deputy Marshals of the First Judicial Division, Indian Territory, wish to lace our side before the public. As every person living in the Indian Territory, today, knows there is not a rich U. S. Deputy Marshal in the Territory, nor is there any but whom are in debt. Speaking about the compensation a deputy marshal receives, the truth of the matter is this--- a deputy is very poorly paid considering the risks danger and hardships he is at all times exposed to. There are today thousands of men living in the Indian Territory that could not be employed to do the duties of a U. S. Deputy Marshal for as large a salary as the President of the Unite States receives, and why? Simply because these men value their lives too highly and will not stand up as a target for horse thieves, whiskey peddlers, cattle thieves, murderers and other desperadoes, and be killed at any time.

A deputy marshal does not receive any stipulated salary and if he does not work, receives nothing. A. U. S. Deputy Marshal may pursue a criminal for weeks in any and all kinds of weather, sunshine, rain sleet or snow, and if he doesn't get his man, which is very often the case he never receives penny for his labor, besides being out many dollars for horse hire, feed and his own board bills. How many men are there in the United States who are willing to work for the United States government on these terms. But the overworked, misrepresented deputy marshal keeps a stiff upper lip and fight life's battles on this line, only looking and longing for better times.

Five years ago it wasn't safe for a person to risk his life too farm from home after night for if he did he might be help up and robbed and perhaps murdered. This state of affairs is now changed, and most of those desperadoes have either been hung, sent to the penitentiary, or have taken to new fields to carry out their plots. Who is the cause of this change of affairs? Why no one but the u. S. Deputy Marshals. And for all this labor, exposure and risk, how rich is he today? Those who were fortunate enough not to be shot down by some desperate character, still pursue the vocation of a U. S. Deputy Marshal, barely eking out a living. We, the U. S. Deputy Marshals of the First Judicial Division, Indian Territory, only ask for justice. Give honor to whom honor is due, and we will try and protect the people of the Indian Territory and will be satisfied if we can make a living without becoming rich. Our experience has aught us that should we all live to be as old as Methuselah, we could not become rich, following the business of U. S. Deputy Marshal, no difference how hard we work. Hoping this will throw the light on our business, we remain,

U. S. Deputy Marshal's Association, First Judicial Division, Indian Territory.
G. G. Tyson,
Second Vice President.
George R. Levering, Secretary

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