The Killing Of James Guy and Three Others

May 7, 1885—Indian Journal—A private letter received at this place from Dresden by one of the attacking force gives a short account of the killing of James H. Guy. U. S. Indian Police, James, and Andrew Roff, cattlemen of the Chickasaw Nation and an unknown man from Cook Co., Texas. Guy had a warrant for the Lee Bros., who lives near Dresden, charging them with cattle stealing. They are bad men and have some followers who must have helped them out in their present fight. About sunrise on Friday last Guy and fifteen citizens who had volunteered to help him approached Lee’s place not expecting a desperate resistance by as they neared the house a volley was poured forth by the men inside through the chinks and windows and the four men named above fell dead and several had their horses shot from under them. The attacking party immediately fled leaving the dead where they fell and the desperadoes escaped. Friday evening the officers returned and secured the bodies and at last accounts were preparing to run down and mete out to the murderers the punishment they so richly deserve. It is a very unfortunate affair, as the men killed deserved a far better fate. James Guy was a member of the Chickasaw County, was U. S. Police and as an officer was brave even to rashness. He had made himself feared in that locality and in his death and the desperadoes rejoice.

Later advices say there were five men in the house and they had arranged portholes expecting an attack. The fourth man killed was named Kirkland or McCurtain. Emerson Folsom, with others, had his horse shot from under him. The country is thoroughly aroused and a large part is forming to make short work of them if they can be found. The fight took place on Caddo Creek, about ten miles south of the Arbuckle Mountains.

The following particulars were taken from a dispatch from Gainesville sent on Monday:

The thieves had sought shelter in a blockhouse, from which they dealt their deadly fire. Sergeant Guy was treacherously induced to believe that they would not resist the service of his papers on them, and with that understanding placed himself in a position where he might talk with them, when the fugitives opened a murderous fire on him from six Winchesters, riddling him with bullets. One bullet killed Andy Roff, five were fired into Jim Roff, and several pierced the body of Mathis. Reports as to the number of wounded are conflicting. One informant stating that five are wounded, while another says only one.

Who The Gang Are

The following are the names of the outlaws, all of whom escaped uninjured: Jim Green, Doc and Pink Lee, Ed Stein and a Negro. Jim Lee is the leader of the gang, and boasts that he did the principal part of the killing. Their place of rendezvous is the Lee ranch, where they have constructed a blockhouse for shelter with loop-holes all around. After the killing the murders emerged from their place of shelter and started in the direction of Delaware Bend, this county, notifying parties on the way that several corpses were left at the ranch and they had better get them or the hogs would eat them. They said they had done a good job, and were on their way to Delaware Bend to see what they could do there.

The news of the killing spread like wildfire, and a large number from near the scene of the tragedy, in conjunction with a posse organized by the Sheriff of this city, have assembled at Delaware Bend, to give support and capture if possible, these depredate characters.

The Desperadoes Surrounded

The latest information is that a posse of 200 surrounds the outlaws in a house. They will die rather than surrender. A messenger has been dispatched to Sherman for a cannon.

Transcribed & submitted by: Mollie Stehno

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