The Two Territories
Transcribed & submitted by: Mollie Stehno

Cherokee Sentinel

November 3, 1894

The Two Territories

A desperate fight occurred at Tahlequah in the jail between Felix Levy, Chule Starr and Bob Dalton, all of who 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.

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 the guards. Although hampered by a heavy chain locked about his wrist and ankle, he out ran the guards and warded off the bullets directed at him.

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 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 grail. 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.

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 this nation $10000, as the judicial expenses of attempting to try him.

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 his name is On 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 fficers 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.

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 $500 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.

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