Outlaws of Pontotoc County, Oklahoma



FOUR MEN PAY PRICE OF BOBBITT'S DEATH MILLER, ALLEN, WEST AND BURRELL ARE LYNCHED BY MOB AT ADA THIS MORNING At Three o'Clock Two Hundred Determined Men Overpowered Jail Guards, Took Doomed Men From Cells and Strung Them to Rafters in Old Stable. Work Done Thoroughly and in Order Little Resistance is Made Copyright The Daily Ardmoreite
Ardmore,Oklahoma
Monday, April 19, 1909
Copyright, The Ada Evening News April 19 & 20, 1909 Page 1

The picture below was taken by N.B. Stall, photographer for Ada


The story below is from The Daily Ardmoreite


Ada, Ok., April 19 - With the lynching this morning about three o'clock at this place of Jim Miller, Jesse West, Joe Allen and D.B. Burrell, charged with the murder of Gus Bobbitt, ended what was for years one of the bloodiest band of murderers in the state of Oklahoma and an organization of professional assassins, that for a record of blood crimes, probably has no equal in the annals of criminal history in the entire southwest. The citizens of Ada were horrified but not in the least surprised this morning on arising to find in an old abandoned livery barn back of the jail the cold and dangling bodies of the four men, hanging from the rafters. When the details of the quadruple lynching became known the entire town was in a furor of excitement and for a time it was believed that violence to other persons would be done, so frenzied had the crowd become, however the work of the lynchers had been so thorough and so systematic and so little fuss had been made that there was little left to do but to notify the relatives of the victims to come and get the bodies. At three o'clock this morning the guards at the jail, Deputy Sheriffs Walter Goyne and Bud Nestor, were surprised and overpowered by the advance agents of the mob numbering between 150 and 200 determined men. Nestor attempted to make resistance, but was at once made to understand that no interference would be brooked and was beaten over the head with the butt end of a revolver. The keys to the cells were secured and the four men, Miller, West, Allen and Burrell were taken out of the jail and to an old abandoned livery stable in the rear where they were strung up one at a time to the rafters of the building. Their hands were tightly bound behind them with bailing wire and the first man to swing was Miller, and the others were hauled up in regular order. West was the only one of the quartette to offer any resistance and he put up a desperate fight when he learned what the mob was after. He was beaten into submission after a fierce struggle which lasted only a short time, and later when his body was cut down he was badly cut and very bloody from the beating. Three others charged with murder were in jail at the same time, young Peeler, nephew of Miller and two men charged with the killing of Town Marshal Zeke Putman, at Allen, were not molested. While the mob was carrying out its bloody work two of their number were left at the jail to guard the officers and to prevent them giving an alarm until the lynchers had completed their work. The deputies under guard were warned not to make an outcry or to stick their heads out of the window for thirty minutes, or they would be instantly shot. Shortly before the mob appeared at the jail other members visited the electric light plant and forced the employees on duty to cut all wires controlling street light service in the city so that their work might be done without fear of detection or interruption. Some few of the members of the mob were masked, while the others appeared with nothing to conceal their identity. It is believed by some that the mob was organized by friends and neighbors of Bobbitt, while others are of the opinion that many residents of Ada had a hand in it. Certain it is however that no member of the crowd has been apprehended and apparently no efforts have been made to establish any identities. Sheriff Tom Smith, of Pontotoc county is in Roff today and nothing toward the apprehension of members of the mob has yet been done. The justices' inquest on the bodies of the hanged men will be held today. Young Peeler, Miller's nephew has said that he would give out a statement for publication this afternoon. West and Allen were wealthy cattlemen of Canadian, Texas and formerly lived across the Canadian in the Seminole country. During their residence there ill feeling arose between them and Bobbitt, caused, it is said by Bobbitt having forced them to leave the country on account of some crooked deals. A few years ago they removed to West Texas in the Panhandle. County officers here claim that they hired Miller to kill Bobbitt, turning the money over to Burrell, who placed it in Miller's hands. The fear that justice would not be done in the trial of Miller is said to have been the cause of the mob's actions, and the information of the acquittal of Stephenson at Norman for the murder of City Marshal Cathey at Pauls Valley is said to have had an influence in causing the mob to act. Shortly after dusk last night, the guards at the jail saw two men go through the old stable and look around, supposedly for a good place in which to hang the men. The examining trial of Miller was held Friday and he was bound over without bail. The trials of the others was to have taken place Tuesday morning, but they waived examination after Miller's trial. R.F. Turner of this city, principal counsel for J.B. Miller had a telephone message from Miller's wife this morning in Fort Worth. She said that Miller's body would be prepared for burial in Ada and it would be shipped to Fort Worth. She made arrangements with the First National Bank in Fort Worth to have Oklahoma State Bank in Ada pay the expenses for preparing the body for burial. Jesse West who was one of the men mobbed last night is about 38 years of age and has a wife. He was reared in Indian Territory on a farm and his first business venture was to embark in the saloon business in Potawatomie county Oklahoma. The saloon was known as the "Corner Saloon," and was the scene of many killings. It was on the border of Indian and Oklahoma Territories. It is said also that West killed a man named Picket in Duncan about ten years ago and was acquitted. It seems that Pickett had before that time killed a brother of West. Jesse West and Joe Allen were partners in the saloon business. They sold out and left the country with about ten thousand dollars. They went to West Texas and bought many acres of the cheap panhandle lands. The land soon become valuable. West recently attended the Stockman's convention and told a friend there that he was worth $40,000. Allen had made similar investments to West and was said to have from fifty to seventy-five thousand dollars. John Williamson who was arrested in connection with the killing of A.A. Bobbitt on the 27th of February has been released on a $2,500 bond. Oscar Peeler who lives on the McLain farm west of Ardmore is in jail charged with complicity in the affair. He was the only man in jail charged with the killing who was spared. Peeler is a lad about nineteen years of age. His youth probably saved him from the noose. John Williamson, a man about 24 years, living at Francis is the person who turned state's evidence. In his story he said Miller came to his house and borrowed a mare. A deal was made between the two men for the purchase of the animal. Miller gave him $20 and promised him $80 more if he took her and if he did not keep the animal Williamson was to have the $20 for use of the animal. Miller rode off from Francis and returned Monday before the killing on Saturday. He told Williamson he was on a cattle deal and if he made it he would give Williamson a job in helping drive the cattle from the country. He left the Williamson home again and returned between nine and ten o'clock on the night of the killing. According to his testimony Miller was restless and complained of headache. Supper was prepared for him and he retired for the night. He coughed frequently through the night and did not rest well. On the following morning both Miller and Williamson took mounts and rode to Sasakwa some nine miles north. While riding together Williamson says Miller told him that the cattle deal was not made but that he had killed Gus Bobbitt and told him it would not be well for him if he ever told anything. Berry Burrell one of the men hanged could have saved his life probably if he had been willing to tell what he knew. The county attorney had a talk with him last Thursday and urged Burrell to confess and tell what he knew of the others. This he positively refused to do. Burrell has a number of acquaintances in this city. He has been engaged in the banking business at Duncan and at Cornish and has dealt some in Indian lands. He is a man who was presumed to act as treasurer. In the conspiracy it is charged that Burrell was to receive the money and turn it over to Miller. A telephone conversation between Miller at Roff and Burrell at Ada connected Burrell in a manner that the mob felt justified in the lynching of him. Miller and Burrell were also seen together in Ada just before the killing. The loss of the wire clippers carried by Miller and the loss of the oil cloth in which he kept his shot gun wrapped led to the clue that finally convinced the officers and the citizens of Pontotoc county that they had the right man. The man West who was hanged is said to have been nervy. He was afraid of nothing and had had trouble with Bobbitt. A killing was expected for many months between the two men and it is claimed that West and Allen furnished the money to hire Jim Miller to commit the crime. What evidence the officials had to connect these men with the crime is not known as their examining trials had not been held. They were set for today but the mob's work last night sent their spirits to a higher court for examination. It is said that a conversation overheard in Oklahoma City connected West and Allen with the killing. On the streets here and in the offices this morning little else was talked of, but the lynching at Ada and many here knew well all the parties connected with the affair. The killing of Gus Bobbitt is well remembered, having occurred only a few months ago. That Bobbitt knew who shot him was learned from those who are in the position to know and who, since the lynching are willing to talk. When he was shot by Miller from ambush he went home and told his wife all about it. He kept his coat buttoned over his wound and told her not to talk to him, as he had only an hour to live and that he wanted to take up what time he had left on earth talking to her and giving directions as to the disposition of his property. He had his will made and in it provisions for a large sum of money to be set aside be used for the officers in running down Miller, whom he said had killed him. Miller is said to have been careless of late and talked with many parties of the many murders and killing scrapes that he had been in and it is said that he had acknowledged to the murder of thirty one others and it seems was the master workman, whose bullets sent to death those who fell out with him and his gang in business and other crooked transactions. Miller is said to have been received $1,700 for the murder of Bobbitt. His last victim in this part of the county was Ben Collins, whom he killed about three years ago, the occurrence being remembered by hundreds here. For this job he is said to have received nearly $2,000. Miller is believed to have operated with his gang over a large territory and in Texas as far south and west as the Panhandle his record is written in blood. He was a member of a thoroughly organized gang, that for unwarranted bloodthirstiness had the Bender's of Kansas outclassed and overshadowed many times. So thoroughly was the work of this gang done that none arose to interfere, even the officers in this part of the state being a little shy of taking up Miller's trial. He seemed to have little difficulty in securing bondsmen when arrested for any of his crimes, which were all the way from cattle and horse stealing to murder. He was arrested in Texas by a well known Texas Ranger after his place of hiding had been located and the man who it is said to have found out where he was, was afraid to go with an officer to him to arrest him. The informant went with the Ranger to where Miller was stopping, it is said and when Miller made his appearance, the man said "that is Miller," and left the officer to make the arrest as best he could. There are dozens of men in this part of old Indian Territory, who it is declared have never gone to bed at night without being sure all the curtains in the house were down, fearing a shot from without the night from Miller or one of his gang. The wife of Miller's nephew told one of the witnesses in court the other day that her husband would be dead in less than ten days, but at that time no thought was had of a lynching. Some have even gone so far to say that the friends of Miller were responsible for the lynching, believing that if justice was not done in the trial that nasty and disagreeable things would come to light that would implicate hitherto respectable citizens. It is believed that with the lynching of these four men, Oklahoma is now rid of the worst band of outlaws and murderers that has ever infested her borders and beside whom the Starr and Dalton gangs and others of their kind were simply petty malefactors in comparison. It will possibly never be known how many murders might be traced to Miller and his associates


The Stories below are from The Ada Evening News

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 an 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.

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.

Allen Augustus "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.
 Picture of headstone at Rosedale Cemetery, Ada, Pontotoc County, Oklahoma  Source: find-a-grave
It might be noted that there is a book that commerates this event called "The Pontotoc Conspiracy"

 


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