Wycliffe Outlaws Again In Trouble

Kill One United States Officer and Seriously Wound Another

Three Brothers, Full Blood Indians, at Head of Unknown Number of Outlaws

March 16, 1906-Chocotah Enterprise-Kansas, I. T., March 11-The Wycliffe gang of Indian outlaws are on the warpath again.

A marshals policy composed of Ike Gilstrap who was leading, Otis Tittle, Dick Terry, Andy Dick, Thau Woffard, Henry Holderman and Bob Thompson, rode up to the headquarters of Wycliffe's Sunday morning. Five men, one of them a white man, ran out and the positive pursuit. The bandits turned and commenced shooting.

Bob Thompson, one of the posse, to a reporter said:

"Among the first shots exchanged, while Gilstrap was ejecting a shell, he dropped at my feet, mortally wounded, shot through the forehead. His head struck the toe of my boot.

"Just a moment before Gilstrap had dismounted from his horse he shouted to us to'come on boys, we will build all up together.' When he fell he called out, 'Oh, Bob! Oh, Andy, Oh, Mother!' and died.

"By this time the Wallace had been joined by six more, who came suddenly from out of the brush. I shot at the white man and I saw a stream of blood trickled down his shirtfront, he stumbled and fell but regained his feet and ran into the thicket.

"The white man was a tall man, wore dark clothes and had only large white, white brand Stetson hat, which was pushed well back on his head.

"The white man shot by posseman Bob Thompson is thought to be been Ben Cravens, the noted outlaw who has terrorized the Indian country for many years.

"After the smoke of battle had cleared away, we found Tittle and Terry at the home of Lewis Budds, a crippled Cherokee Indian. Terry was suffering from a bullet wound, which had pierced his body.

"We dispatched Budds to Spavinaw for assistance and he returned with Dr. Hollingsworth. Terry will recover and in the meantime he is being cared for at the hall of the friendly Indian.

"When the bullets commenced to sing Dick Terry ran and was shot in the back. Tittle followed Terry and left Holderman, Andy Dick, Thau Woffard and myself. We started to crawl away up to the head of the hall of death. Two holes in the meantime shot in my coat, but we still continued up a hollow until we reached an advantageous point to make a stand, but the gang did not follow us.

"After Gilstrap was killed the gang returned and stole his watch, about $30.00 in money, his six shooter, built and cartridges and shot into his body several times."

The outlaws have escaped and no word has been heard of them up to date.

Marshal Darrough has issued orders to run every deputy Marshal in the Northern District of Indian Territory to the scene and an addition has wired the Department of Justice at Washington asking authority to offer a thousand dollar reward for each of the outlaws, either dead or alive. He has gone to Kansas, I. T., and will personally direct the operations against Dallas. Charlie, John, and Tom Wycliffe, sons of a former Justice of the Cherokee Supreme Court head the outlaws.

The three Wycliffe boys began their career of outlawry five years ago. They were concerned and a stabbing affray at an Indian dance. They are professional horse thieves and have given the authorities and much trouble.

The Wycliffes are fullbloods, and would not come to the Dawes commission and select an allotment so their land that was allotted to them arbitrarily about a commission.

OUTLAWS TAKE TO MOUNTAINS

The Indians Said to Have Crossed the Illinois River

March 28, 1906-Coldwater Star-Oaks, I. T., March 26-Word received here indicates that the three Wycliffe Indian outlaws who are being sought by numerous posses, crossed the Illinois river on the night following the fight and are headed for Less Creek, a wild, mountainous country west of Stilwell, settled almost entirely with full blood Cherokees. If this proves true, the outlaws have a long start. Marshal Darrough moved his camp from Spavinaw hills to the Illinois River.

TWO OUTLAWS SURRENDER