Officials Killed Sheriff Bullard and Deputy Coburn Shot By Horse Thieves Posse In Pursuit Are Hot On Trail Roger Mills County’s Two Faithful Officials Murdered Gang Located Near Foss Part of Gang Captured and the Remainder Closely Followed Submitted by: Mollie Stehno

Sayre:--Several days ago Sam Green, his wife and three children, together with Pete Whitehead and a man named Yocston, from Woodward County, passed through Cheyenne O. T., with three wagons, 22 fat steers and 19 horses. They camped eight miles northwest of Cheyenne in a canyon on Dead Indian Creek. Sheriff Bullard, of Roger Mills County was notified that the parties were camping in the neighborhood and that their actions were suspicious. The sheriff and his under-sheriff, Coburn, rode out to the camp. On nearing the location they met Joe Means and Frank Done, two farmers, and told them to come over to the camp. When the sheriff and his deputy found by investigation that the parties were guilty of stealing the horses, and also had nine saddles in the wagon, they sent out for a posse of men to take them to Cheyenne, but Sam Green and his gang anticipating the result of this action, concealed themselves behind their wagons and opened fire on the sheriff, shooting him three times, once through the heart and twice in the head. His deputy was shot once through the heart. The attack was a surprise to the sheriff and he had little or no chance for defense, though he shot three times before he fell from his horse, and wounded one of the men, who is thought to be Green. Coburn was killed before he had an opportunity to discharge his revolver. Immediately after the battle Sam Green and Pete Whitehead cut a mount each and rode away in a northwesterly direction.

Shortly afterwards Joe Means and Frank Done rode up the creek and captured the woman, who claims to be Green’s wife, and her three children, who did not try to make their escape. The bodies of the sheriff and deputy were taken to Cheyenne and laid out in the courthouse and captives lodged in jail.

Foss: A party of the horse thieves who killed Sheriff Bullard and his deputy have been captured. The remainder was located near Foss and a party went in pursuit but the hose thieves escaped. A posse immediately set upon their trail and is now only a few hours behind the fleeing fugitives. It is expected that they will overtake the gang and that a desperate battle will be fought.

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