John Branson, Deputy Sheriff

Mayes County Sheriff's Office

On Sunday, August 13, 1911, Deputy Branson and another deputy were transporting a prisoner from Adair to Pryor Creek in a one-horse buggy. About one mile north of Pryor Creek the horse was spooked by a passing train and began to run. The buggy turned over and Deputy Branson suffered a head injury. He remained unconscious until his death two days later on Tuesday, August 15th.

 

Earp, Sean

Sean David Earp, Deputy Sheriff

Mayes County Sheriffs Office

On Sunday morning July 27, 1997, Deputy Earp, 22, had gone south of the small town of Rose on a call of a man with a gun. Finding the man gone Deputy Earp radioed that he would check the turnpike for the man. At about 10:25 A.M. Earp was traveling north on a county road and turned on to Highway 412, disregarding a stop sign in his haste. His cruiser was struck by an eastbound car and pushed 73 feet into the front of a flea market building. Deputy Earp was pinned in his car for 40 minutes and was pronounced dead at the scene. The two men in the other car received minor injuries. His parents survived Deputy Earp, who had only been a full time deputy 27 days.

 

Charles Nicholas Mitchell, Deputy Sheriff

Mayes County Sheriffs Office

 Just before 8 P.M. Christmas Eve of 1908, Deputy Mitchell was attending a Christmas program at the Hogan Institute, 15 miles southeast of Pryor and had gone outside to quite a disturbance. Several shots were heard and several people came out to find Deputy Mitchell dead from three gun shot wounds, one being to the head. Three brothers named Frye were later arrested and charged with the deputy’s murder.