Bobbitt's Fotothing

MEN HELD FOR GUS BOBBITT ASSASSINATION HANGED THIS MORNING

Jim Miller, Jesse West, Joe Allen and B. B. Burwell,

Held for Assassination of Gus Bobbitt are Hanged at 2:30 O’clock This Morning by Unknown Mob



April 19, 1909—The Evening News-- About 2:30 this morning a disguised mob of about 50 men swooped down upon the jailer at the Pontotoc County Jail, overpowered him, secured the keys to the Jail, took out J. B. Miller, Jesse West, Joe Allen and B. B. Burwell, held for the assassination of Gus Bobbitt, marched them to the old Frisco barn, just north of the Jail and hung them by their necks till did.

At this writing, the citizens of the town are so completely stunned over the affair that it is difficult to get an expression from any one as to the facts of detail, relative to the affair. This is the most noted? Of the kind in Oklahoma, and probably in the whole South, and people speak of it and whisper tones, so tight and taut with excitement.

The news of the incident spread throughout the city, and when the dawn revealed the specter of four Phantom-like, and gruesome human forms dangling at the ends of ropes, suspended from the joist of this deserted barn, every citizen shuddered and expressed sentiments.

Justices of the peace and other officials were immediately notified of what had happened and hastened to the scene. The bodies were cut down and brought to the undertaking parlor of L. T. Walters, where was assembled an immense crowd, whose curiosity prompted them to take a last look at the remains of men, about whom so much has been said and written.

Cause of Hanging

February 26, Gus Bobbitt, a prominent farmer and extensive handler of cattle was returning to his home from Ada when and unknown man riding a horse discharge the contents of a double-barreled shotgun in his body, the tragedy occurring at about 7:30 at night and a half hour later life was extinct in the body of Gus Bobbitt. Bobbitt was riding in a wagon loaded with cottonseed meal, and the force of the two shots knocked him from the wagon. Bob Ferguson, who worked for Mr. Bobbitt was behind in another wagon and saw the assassinator discharge the gun. The noise of the gun scared to Bobbitt's team and they ran down the road. Ferguson leaped from his wagon on the side opposite side on which the assassinator rode by and whipped his horse into a run until he arrived at the spot where Bobbitt fell from his wagon. The assassinate her disappeared in the darkness and Ferguson speed Lee went to the Bobbitt home and informed Mrs. Bobbitt, who immediately went to the relief of her husband. Bobbitt was removed to his home and medical aid summoned by Ferguson, but the end came before the arrival of the doctor. Bobbitt was a prominent man in this locality and was a deputy U. S. marshal under President Cleveland, and was instrumental in discharge of his duty, in meeting out justice to numerous criminals and outlaws in this part of what was then Indian Territory. In his official capacity at that time, Mr. Bobbitt was fearless and courageous in the discharge of his duty, and for this reason, gained many enemies among the law violators, and it is assumed that the inception of the spirit resulting in the assassination of Bobbitt was back to that time, and emanates from a grudge engendered by law violators, whom he was instrumental in bringing to justice, and which accumulated in the arrest of the quartet, who were summarily dealt with early this morning. The killing of Bobbitt, who was 46 years old, left four children fatherless, the youngest being five years old and the oldest 20, who with their mother were extended all the sympathy of the community. Great excitement prevailed after the report of the killing of Bobbitt and immense throngs of people discussed the tragedy and deplored the fact that one of our most prominent citizens had been shot from ambush, murdered in cold blood while going peacefully from Ada to his home southwest of here. The community became more and more enraged that on reflecting that the assassinator had disappeared in the darkness, and probably might again appear to take away the life of some other citizen, whose like Bobbitt, may have had a duty to perform for his country in unofficial capacity.

The feeling of the community and the sympathy, which prevailed, can better be estimated when we say that on Thursday, March 1, when the remains of Bobbitt were laid to rest. The funeral cortege was the longest and largest and Pontotoc County, which ever accompanied the remains of the deceased citizen to the final resting place.

A few days after the murder of Bobbitt officers began to work up a clue to the murder. The horse which the assassin rode was traced to the home of one Williamson, near Francis, who is a nephew of Miller, and owner of the horse, and who testified in the pulmonary hearing last Thursday that Miller did ride this horse and, in fact, acknowledge to hum (Williamson) that he killed Bobbitt.

On March 19 Burwell, was placed in Jail, also Oscar Peeler, both of whom were evidently connected with the plot.

On March 31, Miller was arrested in a farmhouse near Hicks, Texas, a few miles west of Fort Worth, and was brought to Ada and lodged in Jail.

Following their clue closely the officers, on the night of April 6th, arrested of West and Allen and Oklahoma City, brought them to Ada on the seventh instant and placed them in Jail also.

Burrell and Peeler, Wade, preliminary hearing, while Miller had a hearing on Thursday and Friday of last week. The trial of West and Allen would have occurred tomorrow had the lynching not taken place.

Miller's Diamonds

Miller wore a diamond range and diamond shirt stud and before he was taken from the jail he presented James McCarty, one of the guards at the Jail, with the stud and requested that the ring be delivered to his wife in Fort Worth. The diamond ring was still on his finger when the quartet was cut down, it and being impossible to remove on account of the finger swelling.

Coroners Jury Verdict

This morning, Justice of the peace, H. J. Brown, acting coroner, empanelled a jury, the personnel of which follows the verdict, the verdict being at:

"Said jurors upon their oaths say that the said Jim Miller, B. B. Burwell, Joe Allen and Jesse West met their death on the morning on the 19th day of April, 1909, at about two or three a clock a.m. in the city of Ada, State of Oklahoma, by and being hanged by the neck with the rope, and that the death of each of the said parties was caused by strangulation produced by the ropes placed about their necks as aforesaid by parties whose names are unknown to the jurors.

In testimony, where all the said jurors have hereinto set their hands the day and year aforesaid.

H. E. Moore,

J. T. Higgins,

W. J. Coffman,

R. O. Lawrence,

J. C. Vanmeter,

F. S. Houpt

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Peeler’s Statement Today.

Voluntary statement of Oscar Peeler made on this the 19th day of April, 1909.



Miller gave to me and my sister, the money to come up here and rent a house with. It was a long and a simmer, 1908. We stayed at about six weeks. I left here between Christmas day and new year. Miller told us he wanted us to come here and rent this house, and that he wanted to come and stay with us, and he said that he had a land deal and was dealing and cattle, and that he wanted to kill this Bobbitt man. He told me to tell the people that he was our uncle, should we be arrested. We are not a bit of kin to him. About a week after that, he brought a pony there and told me to tell the people that I had bought it from Little John on the installment plan. We kept the pony here until we left, after he brought it. I took the pony back to John. My sister left and went home to see her people, and the people got to talking around here, and I got scared and told Jim Miller, if he wanted to do this to go ahead and do it, and told him that I was going back home. He said, "Well, we will both pack up and go." He was over there at the house, nearly all the time I was here. He would stay at the house during the daytime. I guess he came up to town five or six times during the whole time. I got my money from Jesse West. Mr. Miller said it was from Jesse West. I got three checks from Jesse West, one for $50, one for $75 and one for $25. I think one of the checks was made out from Texola and one from Canadian city. They sent them through here, one was New York exchange and one was a registered letter. I never seen them together except down in Jail, that is Jesse West and Miller. Miller never did tell me how much money he got or was to get for killing Bobbitt. I heard the testimony in Miller's trial, and the testimony about me and Miller and the trial was all true. We had started after the pony at Little John's the time that Skinner took the team away from me. After they took the team, we got on the train and went to Holdenville and doubled back and came to Ada that night and the next morning we went to Little John's and got the mare. I put the mare in the wagon yard below the Harris Hotel. I do not know how long she stayed there. I left Ada that night and did not come back until I was arrested. There was a saddle left there and I do not know what has become of it. Burwell spotted Bobbitt for Miller, that is what Miller told me, and that that was what he had him for. Burrell and I talked about the case after they put us in Jail. Burwell said that he had something to do with it and that Bobbitt was loading up here with some cottonseed meal and that he got in a buggy and went and told Miller, that Bobbitt was coming, and he got the team at this wagon yard and that the man he got it from was drunk. He said that it was a little gray pony team. Miller got to our ranch about 11 o'clock Monday morning, and asked me if I would take the team back to Ardmore, and said that he had made that deal, and was expecting to be arrested at any minute. I told him that I would take the team back, and guessed that they would not arrest me. He said, "If they do, don't you make any evidence against me, but be careful. "He told me to write my name "Milton" on the register up here at the Hotel and to deny it. It was the last thing he told me that Monday to be sure, and not own up to that name Milton. I have been with Miller about a year now. I knew him in Fort Worth. Miller is gray, his hair is about like a possum’s back.

Oscar Peeler.

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 19th day of April, A. D., 1909.

H. J. Brown,

Justice of the Peace



All of the statements in general comment in the part of this article, laudatory of Mr. Guess Bobbitt, who was murdered, are deserved, for undoubtedly, he was an essential character, to this country throughout its initial development. Mr. Bobbitt deserved his friends and it is true that many of the better and stronger men of this county, were his strong friends, and would sincerely swear in commendation of his character, but it is also true that there were some honest man in this community, who are not the personal friends of Mr. Bobbitt, which fact, the News pleads does not rightly constitute such men marks of the wrath of the men who did last night's work.

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Associated Press Gets Crossed

The following quotation is a were verbatim excerpt from the Associated Press report of the lynching at this place today, and which has appeared in the evening papers. The over the United States. After getting possession of this story the News immediately wired the Western representative of the Associated Press at Kansas City, informing him that the story relative to the mob having used the commercial club rooms of the city for this purpose was most improper to relate, and that such impression as this would leave should be corrected in justice to the city of Ada.

"The mob, it is said, was organized in the commercial club rooms and was composed of many prominent citizens of the city, only a few of whom wore masks.

"200 men, who swarmed county jail, overpowered the sheriff and lynched for men. The leader of the mob pounded on the jail door. ‘Sheriff, we mean business,’ he called to the officer inside.’ You might as well go home, while boys,’ the sheriff answered,’ I will never open this door, duty is duty, I am here to observe the law and protect these men.’ For reply, three or four sturdy members of the mob fell against the door, breaking it. Once inside, one of the party, dealt the sheriff a blow with a revolver, felling him and the mob, ten completed its work."

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City Is Quiet

In view of the fact that four men, who were reputed wealthy and who are said to have many friends and strong financial backing, were lynched in this city this morning, perfect order has been maintained and the citizenship of the town has shown a disposition to make the best of it, and have all acted with cool, deliberate law to judgment. The occurrences of today will be long remembered by citizens of this town, and it is to be hoped that this will be the last scene of a tragedy, which all communities dislike and should try to avert.







REVIEW OF REPORTS OF YESTERDAY’S LYNCHING

Being a Reproduction of the Associated Press Reports Together With Other Comments From Various Other Sources.



April 20, 1909—The Evening News-- The News of yesterday handled the story of the lynching as best in good in a local way, though up did not endeavor to a lab or rate minor details or quote statements from officers and others informed regarding the affair. We were wore fully imposed upon by other papers over the country, who knew that we were disposed to show them every possible courtesy, even to the neglect of our own publication. All matter relating to the affair, which the people will care to know, however, will be given from time to time, and the readers of the News may rest assured that we will give the facts as nearly as they can be ascertained.

In getting hold of a story as important as this, it seems almost impossible for the large papers to get all their statements correct in the first reports.

In connecting reports and reviewing the facts it should be borne in mind that the statement of Oscar Peeler, relative to the guilt of the four men mobbed, was made after the lynching, and that it corroborated the evidence possessed by the county attorney's office, and that it was absolutely contrary to his previous statements. The evidence produced and the preliminary hearing of Miller will be published a verbatim in order that the public may be relieved of any possible doubt as to the guilt of the persons lynched.

The Associated Press, report of the lynching, which appeared in the daily papers over the United States this morning is a very fair and reasonably. We produce the report in full herewith:

Ada, Oklahoma, April 19.--This morning between two and three o'clock. A mob of masked men, estimated from 30 to 40 in number, stormed the Pontotoc County Jail, overpowered the four guards, Bob Nestor, Walter Goyne when, Jim McCarty, and Joe Carter, took the keys of the jail from them and proceeded to take four prisoners from jail and hang them.

The men hanged or Jim Miller, Joe Allen, Jesse West and B. B. Burwell, all under a rest in connection with the assassination of A. A. (Gus) Bobbitt near this city on February 27.

The jail is located at the rear of the courthouse and is accessible both from the rear and through the front hall of the courthouse.

The mob was literally choking the hall of the courthouse before the guards were unaware of its presence in the city. Leaving men stationed on the outside of the courthouse, and to the rear of the jail, the masked men quickly overcame the four guards, who put up a stiff resistance as possible

One guard, Bob Nestor, received a severe blow on his head with a revolver and was left stunned at the point of their guns. The mob forced one guard to open the jail doors. Having secured entrance, they told Miller, Allen, West and Burrell to dress and prepare for death.

West Resists Mob

The doomed men dressed as quickly as possible, made no resistance that the guards could hear, with the exception of Jesse West, who fought the mob fiercely and head to be beaten on the head with guns before he could be taken from the jail.

Leaving the guards tied and bound, the mob, then took the men to the Frisco barn, a deserted livery stable not 30 ft. from the jail, and their hanged them to the rafters. The wounds of guard Nestor were dressed this morning, and he is resting easy.

Before raiding the jail, the mob had apparently taken pains to map out every detail. To masked men were sent to the power plant of the Ada, at Electric and Gas Company, who, at the point of their revolvers, forced the night engineer to cut off the circuit lighting the streets, thus leaving the city in darkness. The lights remained off an hour or more, and during the temporary darkness, the lynching was done and the mob dispersed.

Bodies Are Found

The bodies of the victims of the raid were found at an early hour this morning hanging in the Frisco barn, and were cut down and taken to the undertaking establishment of L. T. Walters, were they now lie.

No shots were fired during the raid, and everything was carried out in accordance with seemingly carefully laid plans. The town is quiet, but a gloom hangs over yet, such as was never before felt.

All of the members of the mob are thought to have been out of town parties, as they were mounted.

The examining trial of Jim Miller, charged with the killing of Gus Bobbitt and one of last night's victims, was heard here before Justice of the Peace H. J. Brown all last week, and Miller was a bound over without bail.

Justice of the Peace Brown made an order excluding this testimony from the newspapers, but the trial was attended by the largest crowd that ever attended a criminal prosecution in this city.

Spectators Searched

Officers of the court searched every man who entered the court room for guns before he was allowed to enter.

Gus Bobbitt, the assassinated man, had been a former United States Marshal for the Southern District of the old Indian Territory, appointed under Cleveland's administration. He was a vigilant officer and made many enemies among some of the early settlers of this country. On February 27 or thereabouts, he was shot from ambush, with buckshot from a double-barreled shotgun near his hall, 7 mi. south of Ada, from behind a clump of trees near the roadside. Blood towns are brought to the scene could not take up the sent. The murdered man told his wife, who reached him before he died, that two of his enemies were in on the plot. B. Beebe, Burwell, another of last night's victims, was also captured at Fort Worth and brought here about the same time. B. Beebe, Burwell, another of last night's victims, was also captured at Fort Worth about the same time. Burwell had been associated with Miller for some time past. Joe Allen and Jesse West are citizens of Canadian city, Texas. They were captured in Oklahoma City about April 6 or seven.

The county attorney of this (Pontotoc) County, learning that Allen and West were in Oklahoma City and head phoned or written for an attorney from this city to come up to see them, he immediately phoned a description of the two men to the Oklahoma City officers, who captured the men. One night and brought them to Ada the next day.

Allen and West raided in this part of old Indian Territory years ago.

B. B. Burrell, one of last night's victims, had formally lived in Dallas, Texas. All the men who were lynched are said to be men of means.