Michael D. Pace, Deputy Sheriff
Bryan County Sheriffs Office
On Wednesday, December 23, 1998, Deputy Pace was south bound on Highway 69/75 on his way home at about 1:45 a.m. his thought most likely on Christmas with his family. His cruiser was now approaching Choctaw Road as it had many times before. There was some glare in the mist from the headlights of the north bound traffic. Suddenly appeared a dark east bound flat bed tractor trailer across the south bound inside and part of the outside lane. The young deputy reacted by turning his Ford cruiser to the right but he was unable to avoid the portion of the trailer behind the last set of duel wheels. The impact sheered the hood and top from the cruiser. The lower portion of the car continued southwesterly into a ditch and caught fire. The semi-truck pulled on east to clear the intersection. Witnesses put out the fire with a fire extinguisher and tended to Deputy Pace until the ambulance arrived.
Deputy Pace was transported to the emergency room of the Durant hospital and later transferred to the Wilson N. Jones Hospital in Sherman, Texas, arriving there at 8:20 a.m. Deputy Pace had sustained massive head trauma and lived almost a week as family and friends kept an around the clock vigil at his bedside. Deputy Pace never regained consciousness. He died on Tuesday, December 29, 1998, just before 8 a.m. Deputy Pace was survived by his wife Shanna and their young son and daughter, Austen and Haley.
Cal Palmer, Patrolman
Enid Police Department
Shortly before midnight on Wednesday, July 8, 1936, Patrolmen Cal Palmer and Ralph Knarr answered a call at the German Village, a popular tavern in Enid. Jim Neill, proprietor of the tavern, called police stating, “There’s a ‘bad’ man in my place, and I think there’s going to be a hold-up.” Neill noticed the hard-looking, slight built stranger as he sipped a beer watching both front and side doors of the Village as if he were expecting someone. Neill thought he had recognized the man from pictures he had seen in the newspapers. Harry Grubbs, an employee, mentioned the similar circumstances preceding the Plaza grill robbery at Oklahoma City. The two patrolmen casually entered the front door. They approached the stranger and asked him to step outside with them. The man stated he thought he knew why they were there and asked if he could finish his beer. Being told he could, the man removed a cigar from his mouth and lifted the mug of beer with his left hand. At the same instant, he dropped his right hand beneath the table and started shooting with a .38 pistol held in his lap. Palmer died instantly with three bullets in his chest. Knarr fell next with bullets through his right shoulder and neck, in the right side and abdomen. Another bullet struck a customer standing 15 feet away. The killer then dashed out the side door. The stranger, escaped convict Lawrence DeVol, fled down the alley to a nearby service station where he was shot and killed by other officers. Patrolman Cal Palmer was buried on July 10, 1936, and was survived by his wife and two young sons.
David Thomas Palmer,
Constable
Pumpkin Center – Seminole County
David Thomas “Buddy” Palmer was the seventh of thirteen children born to William Asbury and Alta L. Barnes Palmer in Lamar County, Alabama. “Buddy” moved with his wife Saretha and five children from Lamar County Alabama to Seminole County, Oklahoma in 1916, at the age of 46. He soon became a Deputy Sheriff for Seminole County and was the Constable for the township Pumpkin Center.
On Tuesday, January 8, 1929, at about 11 a.m., Palmer, now almost 59 years old, was sent to search for three men who had robbed several oil workers near Maud. Constable Palmer located the three men about 1:30 p.m. on a road one mile south of Bowleg. He drew his gun and ordered the men to put up their hands. Two complied but the third man opened fire on the Constable. Palmer returned fire before he fell mortally wounded with three gunshots to his neck. Constable “Buddy” Palmer was survived by his wife and six children.
All three men were later arrested. Prentice Reed, the one who actually shot Constable Palmer, was sentenced to life in prison.
Slack Palmer, Deputy Sheriff
Pawnee County Sheriffs Office
Deputy Sheriff Palmer was shot Friday night December 8, 1911, at Fisher, 3 miles west of Sand Springs, in a fight with a another black man who had shot two men at Ripley the previous Wednesday. Deputy Palmer died in a Tulsa hospital on Sunday, December 10, 1911.
The suspect was turned up by Beggs Negroes Monday with three bullets in his body and was turned over to Sheriff William McCullough.
William Louis
Pappan, Prohibition Agent
Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Treasury Department
Just before midnight on Wednesday, December 4, 1935, Agent Pappan and private investigator George Stewart went to the Sheridan Club at 51st and Sheridan Road in Tulsa. Agent Pappan was talking to J.L. Birkhead, a former county highway patrolman who was operating the spotlight for a floor show in progress, when George L. “Hickory” McCullough and Tyree Parks approached him from the club’s kitchen area. A fight broke out between the three men and Stewart. The struggle continued outside the club and shots were heard. Witnesses found both Agent Pappan and Stewart dead. Both men had been beaten severely about the head. Stewart had been shot twice in the left side with bullets that penetrated his body from side to side, and once in the head. Pappan had been shot five times in the back of the head in addition to a fractured skull from the blows to his head. Four guns were found lying around the bodies. McCullough and Parks were both arrested and charged with the murders, both having long histories with Tulsa county law enforcement.
Pappan’s obituary noted that he was a first cousin of Charles Curtis, the former Vice-President of the United States under President Herbert Hoover. Agent Louis Pappan was survived by his wife and six children from two marriages.
James Eli Parish, City Marshal
City of Bennington
On Tuesday, July 23, 1912, City Marshal Parish, 33, was given a judgment to serve on Sam Buford, a local rancher who had been sued in civil court. Parish was to confiscate Buford’s cattle. That morning, Marshal Parish confiscated the cattle and headed back to Bennington when he was ambushed by Buford’s two sons, Newt and Iman. Marshal Parish was shot in the chest with a shotgun and in the head with a Winchester rifle which killed him. Marshal Parish was able to shoot Iman Buford in the right chest during the gunfight before he died. Iman and Newt Buford were tried for the murder of Marshal Parish and were acquitted. Marshal Parish was buried in the Bennington Cemetery and was survived by his wife Effie and five young children
John Daniel Parker, City Marshal
City of Krebs
Early the morning of Sunday, December 31, 1933, Marshal Parker was making his rounds accompanied by Lee Parker, his nephew whom he had deputized. Marshal Parker went into the place of Clifton Logan, a local bootlegger. Finding Jack Winningham drunk, the marshal arrested him. Winningham resisted and Parker struck him in the head with his pistol. The marshal then took Winningham to a local doctor’s office to have him treated for his injuries.
While at the doctor’s office, Clifton Logan arrived, furious that the marshal had arrested Winningham in his place. The two argued, Logan drew his gun and the marshal began struggling with him. Witnesses said Lee Parker fired at Clifton Logan and accidentally hit Parker as well as Logan. Marshal Parker died from his wounds. Logan was critically injured. The county attorney’s office indicated that no charges would be filed against young Parker.
M.F. Parker, Deputy U S Marshal
U. S. Marshals
Deputy Parker along with Deputy Joseph Vannoy had spent most of the day, Saturday, March 22, 1873, following the trail of four horse thieves around Grouse Creek finally catching up to them. The deputies ordered the men to throw up their hands. Their order was answered with gunfire with the deputies returning fire in a pitched gun battle. Deputy Parker was struck by several shotgun pellets and died within fifteen minutes. The thieves escaped with Vannoy in pursuit but they soon out ran him. Vannoy returned to the scene of the shooting to recover Parker’s body. The killers were never captured.
William W. Paul, Deputy Sheriff
Garvin County Sheriffs Office
On Wednesday, February 12, 1947, Deputy Paul and his partner, Deputy Sheriff Lon Pearson, were alerted by officers in Duncan, Oklahoma, to arrest a local resident, J.W. Beasley, for a forgery that occurred in Stephens County. The deputies picked up Clarence Mays, a retired farmer from Maysville, who knew Beasley to help them identify the man.
About 3:30 p.m., they saw Beasley riding a motorcycle on Highway 19 near Meridian Road west of Pauls Valley. When they stopped Beasley, he pretended to have engine trouble and asked them for a pair of pliers. Having distracted the officers, Beasley then opened fire on them, wounding both officers as well as Mr. Mays before escaping.
Deputy Pearson died at the scene while Deputy Paul and Mr. Mays were rushed to the hospital. Paul was shot through the jaw and Mays was shot behind one ear. Over the next few days officers learned more about the fugitive Beasley. Beasley has been dishonorably discharged from the U.S. Navy during World War II at the age of 17 and was convicted of armed robbery in California. He was currently an escapee from the Correctional Institute for Men in Chino, California.
Beasley was later shot and killed by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Howard Hill after a lengthy foot chase when Beasley pulled a sawed-off shotgun on the trooper. Clarence Mays survived his wounds but Deputy Paul died on Saturday, February 15, 1947. He was survived by his wife and two sons.Clifford Phillip Payne, Deputy Sheriff
Washita County Sheriffs Office
On Saturday, June 18, 1977, Deputy Clifford Payne and undercover narcotics agent, John Smith, were shot by the stepfather of Dean Melton, 17, as they tried to arrest the youth on a marijuana charge at his home about 1:30 a.m. Melton’s stepfather, John Eakin, fired five rounds from a snub-nosed .38-caliber pistol, fatally wounding Payne through the neck and striking Smith in the chin and left hand. Eakin was wounded in the side by Smith who fired from the doorway of the residence as Smith was seeking cover. Melton fled out the back door when the shooting began. He surrendered to authorities about 9:30 a.m. after a massive eight-hour search of the Burns Flat industrial district.
Eakin was arrested and charged with murdering Deputy Payne. Eakin testified that he thought Deputy Payne was an armed intruder in his home that night and cited the fact that Payne had a beard and long hair. The prosecution countered that Deputy Payne was dressed in uniform. On October 20, Eakin was acquitted by a jury. Deputy Payne was survived by his wife and three sons.
Alfred Alonzo “Lon” Pearson, Deputy Sheriff
Garvin County Sheriffs Office
On Wednesday, February 12, 1947, Deputy Sheriff Lon Pearson and his partner, Deputy Sheriff Bill Paul, were alerted by officers in Duncan, Oklahoma, to arrest a local resident, J.W. Beasley, for a forgery that occurred in Stephens County. The deputies picked up Clarence Mays, a retired farmer from Maysville, who knew Beasley to help them identify the man.
About 3:30 p.m., they saw Beasley riding a motorcycle on Highway 19 near Meridian Road west of Pauls Valley. When the stopped Beasley, he pretended to have engine trouble and asked them for a pair of pliers. Having distracted the officers, Beasley then opened fire on them, wounding both officers as well as Mr. Mays before escaping.
Deputy Pearson died at the scene while Deputy Paul and Mr. Mays were rushed to the hospital. Paul was shot through the jaw and Mays was shot behind one ear. Over the next few days officers learned more about the fugitive Beasley. Beasley has been dishonorably discharged from the U.S. Navy during World War II at the age of 17 and was convicted of armed robbery in California. He was currently an escapee from the Correctional Institute for Men in Chino, California.
Beasley was later shot and killed by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Howard Hill after a lengthy foot chase when Beasley pulled a sawed-off shotgun on the trooper. Clarence Mays survived his wounds but Deputy Paul died on Saturday, February 15, 1947. Deputy Sheriff Lon Pearson was survived by his wife, four sons and two daughters.
Ben Pearson, Deputy Sheriff
Atoka County Sheriffs Office
A dance was held at a local home near Caney on the evening of Friday, October 14, 1910. A man named George Brown had been hired to play the fiddle at the dance. Brown showed up at the dance drunk and disorderly and was told to leave. Becoming very angry, Brown drew a .32 automatic pistol and began shooting out the lights and windows. Party-goers left the dance and one summoned Deputy Sheriff Ben Pearson from Caney. Deputy Pearson and Deputy Sanders found Brown still at the dance. As they approached Brown, demanding that he surrender his weapon, Brown shot the Pearson twice, once in the heart and once in the stomach.
Deputy Sanders, unarmed, was unable to prevent Brown from escaping the premises. A large posse began looking for the fugitive and a $750 reward was offered. It was suspected that Brown escaped to Mexico where his father and brother lived.
Deputy Pearson was survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.
Thomas Newt Pearson,
Deputy Sheriff
McIntosh County Sheriffs Office
Deputy Newt Pearson struggled with a black man named Winton Irwin near the railroad depot near the small town of Hoffman on June 12, 1909. He was trying to serve a warrant on Irwin. Irwin managed to get the deputy’s gun and escape. Deputy Pearson formed a posse which included his brother, Lon and General Thomas. On the evening of Sunday, June 13, 1909, they had tracked and found Irwin on an island in the Deep Fork Creek three miles from Hoffman. The deputies waited in ambush for their suspect. As Irwin walked by them, Pearson stood up with a shotgun demanding the suspect surrender. Irwin shot the deputy fatally in the head with the deputy’s gun he had taken from him the previous day. The two possemen opened fire on Irwin, hitting him in the head, right arm, side and abdomen. Despite his wounds, Irwin ran off. He collapsed about a mile away where the officers apprehended him. The deputies marveled that he had made it that far because of the extent of his wounds. Irwin died the next day while being transported to Checotah. Deputy Pearson was survived by his wife, two young children and ten children from a previous marriage.
Marshall H. Pebsworth, Deputy Sheriff
Rogers County Sheriffs Office
On Thursday, March 21, 1957, Deputy Pebsworth was returning from Coffeyville, Kansas, to Claremore. He had been to Coffeeville on a larceny investigation. In the car with Deputy Pebsworth was Richard Owen Hendricks. At the north edge of Talala, on US 169, Pebsworth lost control of his vehicle, which slid about 287 feet broadside, and then overturned four or five times, crashing into a telephone pole. A vehicle has passed Pebsworth traveling about 80 mph and he may have increased his speed in an attempt to catch the other car. The speeder drove on in to Talala and summoned an ambulance and notified the highway patrol. Hendricks survived but Deputy Marshall Pebsworth died at the scene. He was survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.Henry Peckenpaugh, Deputy U.S. Marshal
U.S. Marshals
W.A. Cox was the postmaster of the small town of Wilburton, located about 25 miles east of South McAlester in the Indian Territory. At 8:30 p.m., Monday, November 27, 1899, after working on the books for several hours, Cox started walking home. It was his normal routine to take the daily receipts home with him, and this evening he had $240. While walking, Cox was approached by two men who demanded the money he carried. Cox refused and was knocked to the ground by the two men, who grabbed the moneybag and walked away. Cox’s cries for help were heard by Dr. W.A. Woodward, a dentist, and Deputy U.S. Marshal H. Peckenpaugh, who were walking together on an adjacent street.
As Peckenpaugh and Woodward ran toward the sounds of the cries, they observed two men walking toward them. Peckenpaugh told the men to stop, grabbing one of the men by the slicker he was wearing. The man spun, slipping Peckenpaugh’s hold, drawing his revolver at the same time. Peckenpaugh was in the process of drawing his gun when a shot rang out and the deputy staggered a few steps and then fell into the street. The two suspects ran, leaving behind a slicker, one glove and a mask.
Dr. Woodward and Post Master Cox attempted to help Peckenpaugh, but found he had been shot in the heart and was already dead. John Hart and Oscar Mickle were later arrested and held without bond for the murder of U.S. Deputy Marshal Peckenpaugh. Peckenpaugh was survived by his wife and five children.
John B. Pemberton, Deputy U.S. Marshal
U.S. Marshals
Marshal John Pemberton was issued an arrest warrant for William Payne, who had assaulted Deputy U.S. Marshal W.C. Simpson on Thursday, February 18, 1892, in Muldrow, Indian Territory. Marshal Pemberton traveled from Muskogee to Muldrow on Friday evening with his posseman named Woods. On Saturday morning, February 20th, Pemberton and Woods located William Payne and placed him under arrest. An agreement was made with Payne that they would release him only if he promised to return to the train station that evening for transfer to Muskogee. Payne agreed.
Pemberton and Woods waited only a short time at the station when Payne arrived. He thanked Pemberton for his kindness and said he was ready to go. As the three men waited for the train, John Bailey, 21, approached them. The four men stood talking when either Woods or Bailey took offense at something that was said. A fight broke out between the two men. Bailey broke Woods grip and ran. He returned with a rifle and started firing, hitting Pemberton in the left chest, who dropped to the ground and died a few minutes later. Woods returned fire causing Bailey to run from the area. Woods then went to aid his partner, but discovered there was nothing he could do for him.
Steve Pen-Su-Wau (Pensoneau), Posseman
U.S. Marshals
Pen-Su-Wau was a sergeant of the Kickapoo, Pottawatomie, Iowa and Sac and Fox Indian Police. The Oklahoma City Gazette of February 12, 1891, reported that Pen-Su-Wau had acted as a posse for Frank Cochran and Sheriff DeFord during the arrest of several parties in his neighborhood. Deputy U.S. Marshal Preston Armstrong had an arrest warrant to serve and expected the man named on the warrant to ride along a certain road. Armstrong secreted himself by the roadside and waited for his suspect. Pen-Su-Wau was riding the same road on his way home and as he approached Armstrong stepped out and commanded the Indian policeman to halt. Pen-Su-Wau refused and Armstrong shot him out of the saddle, falling into the dirt, dead. Armstrong stated he had fired with his six-shooter, although some witnesses claimed he fired with a shotgun.
According to a report printed in the Oklahoma State Capitol of Guthrie on February 21st, Armstrong came in from Shawnee Town the night of the 6th to face trial the following day. A coroners jury was impaneled on the morning of the 7th, returning a verdict of justifiable homicide. John Decker testified that Armstrong had stopped him when Pen-Su-Wau rode up on a horse. Armstrong told him to halt, Pen-Su-Wau refused, firing a shot at Armstrong and it was then that Armstrong shot him, firing eight or nine shots, hitting Pen-Su-Wau five times.
Another report at the Oklahoma State Capitol on November 22, 1894, Deputy U.S. Marshal Frank Cochran brought Captain S.J. Scott, Ex-Sheriff James H. Gill, Deputy U.S. Marshal Preston Armstrong and Daniel Brestman into Guthrie and jailed them on charges of killing Pen-Su-Wau. A separate report states that Pen-Su-Wau was killed by three deputy marshals who mistook him for Bob Counallis or George Howell, both noted outlaws who the marshals were looking for.
On February 12, 1895, the Guthrie Oklahoma State Capitol reported that Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal John M. Hale and posses left on a train bound for Brooklyn Penitentiary with George Howell who was sentenced to ten years in prison for the killing of Pen-Su-Wau, who was “acting as posseman under Deputy United States Marshal Armstrong.”
Steve Pen-Su-Wau (Pensoneau) was survived by his wife and several small children.
James S. Peters,
Officer
Tulsa Police Department
James Peters joined the Tulsa Police Department in 1928. He was laid off in
1933, but rehired in 1936. In 1949, Peters, 76, was one of only two foot
patrolmen on the force.
Clarence H. Phillips, Sheriff
Beckham County Sheriffs Office
On Saturday, June 21, 1930, Sheriff Phillips and his deputies busted two stills in two days. One still had been at the home of Frank F. Griffin along with three barrels of mash. Sheriff Phillips went back to his office about 9:00 p.m. that night to do paperwork. Undersheriff Inman was spending the night on the floor above Sheriff Phillips’ office when shortly before 10:00 p.m. he heard four shots downstairs. He ran downstairs only to find Sheriff Phillips dead, shot four times in the head and chest with a 7.5 millimeter Luger. Phillips was unarmed, lying on his back with his hands hooked in his suspenders, a characteristic stance of his.
A Rock Island Railroad officer reported that some men had approached him trying to borrow a gun. Within 14 hours, Joe Pounds, Frank Griffin and Jess Brown were in jail. Griffin, the owner of the still Phillips had smashed the previous day, supplied the Luger used in the murder. The three men had been drinking after the raid on Griffin’s still and decided to get revenge on the Sheriff. Joe Pounds was one of Phillips’ former deputies who Phillips had fired several months before for stealing confiscated liquor. All three men were convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
John Phillips, Deputy U S Marshal
U. S. Marshals
On Saturday, June 30, 1888, Deputy Phillips and his posseman William Whitson, had gone 20 miles east of Eufaula and waited in hiding along a trail in the area of a “green corn” dance in an attempt to locate Daniel Thompson, a Creek Indian prisoner who had escaped from them.
The officers also had warrants for a Creek Indian bootlegger, robber and murderer named Wesley Barnett and one of his gang, a Ute Indian named San Lopka but did not expect to encounter them that night. Soon the officers observed three men riding down the trail toward them. The men were San Lopka, Wesley Barnett and his brother Watie. When the officers stopped them the men thought they were being arrested and quickly drew their guns and started shooting. In the gun battle Deputy Phillips, posseman Whitson and Watie Barnett were killed. Wesley Barnett was killed in another shootout with Deputy U. S. Marshal on January 13, 1889.
William M. Phillips, Sheriff
Pottawatomie County Sheriffs Office
On the night of Wednesday, December 3, 1980, Sheriff Phillips was involved in a traffic accident at the intersection of Market and McArthur Streets in Shawnee. One of his legs was badly broken and he required surgery. He was released from the hospital on Tuesday, December 23rd. Shortly after noon on Christmas Day, Sheriff Phillips died from a heart attack caused by a blood clot from the injury.
William Pitts, Deputy U.S. Marshal
U.S. Marshals
William Pitts was relocated from Paris, Texas, to McAlester in the Choctaw Nation of the Indian Territory. On Sunday, November 30, 1890, he traveled to Lake West where he started a surveillance point after being informed that three Indians were smuggling liquor into Indian Territory from Texas. Pitts spotted a wagon traveling north occupied by three Indians. He stepped out of the brush and stopped the wagon. The Indians identified themselves as Isam Frazier, Lige Woods and Jim Allen. Pitts told the three men that he suspected they were transporting illegal liquor and he was going to search their wagon. An argument ensued and escalated into a struggle. As Pitts fought to control the three men, his gun was ripped out of its holster and he was shot in the stomach. Pitts staggered back, dropped to the dirt and died within minutes. The three men quickly left the area.
Neighbors found Pitts body and reported the killing to the marshal’s office in Paris, Texas. The three Indian men were captured and jailed in Paris, Texas. All three men pled not guilty. Due to several delays, the trial was not conducted until May 1891 and a verdict returned on May 21st. Isam Frazier was found guilty of manslaughter. Jim Allen and Elijah Wood were acquitted of the shooting. Frazier was sentenced to a lengthy term in prison.
William Edward Plank, Deputy U.S. Marshal
U.S. Marshals
Just after noon on Thursday, July 23, 1914, Deputy U.S. Marshal William Edward “Ed” Plank, Deputy U.S. Marshal Holmes Davidson and Deputy U.S. Marshal Ike Wilkinson went to the home of William Baber in Tulsa. Baber had a long record of liquor violations and was currently waiting to start a two-year prison term for conviction of bootlegging. He had previously been the Chief of Police at Tulsa but had been ousted from that position and had then taken up bootlegging as a means of making a living.
When the deputies arrived at the Baber home, Wilkinson headed to the back of the house, while Plank and Davidson went to the front door and knocked. Mrs. Baber answered the door, opening the inner door, keeping the screen door shut. Davidson stated they were going to search the house at which time Mrs. Baber denied them entrance. William Baber then came to the door again denying the deputies entrance. Davidson started to draw his gun, at which time Baber grabbed a double-barreled shotgun and fired one barrel into Davidson’s neck and shoulder. He then turned toward Plank and fired the other barrel into his chest. Davidson turned and started walking toward the street when he collapsed and died. Plank staggered a couple of steps and then fell to the ground. Tulsa Police would later say that Davidson’s gun was in his hand when he was found but it hadn’t been fired.
William Baber called the police and confessed to killing both Davidson and Plank. He was arrested and in 1917 the case finally came to trial and a jury found Baber guilty two counts of manslaughter and the court sentenced him to four years in prison.
Deputy Plank was survived by his wife and three daughters. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Claremore.
Edward Ploughman, Deputy Sheriff
Caddo County Sheriffs Office
During the summer of 1905, Thurston Renfrow was the clerk of the local school board in Binger. Although he contended that his term was not up for another two years, another election was held and a new clerk was elected. Renfrow refused to turn over any records to the new clerk and a warrant was issued for his arrest. On Thursday, July 13, 1905, Deputy Sheriff Ed Ploughman went to serve the warrant accompanied by Michael Reddington, Renfrow’s successor.
The two men found Renfrow near the post office in Cogar, east of Binger. Thomas Gibbons was with Renfrow. Ploughman told Renfrow he was under arrest and Renfrow did not protest. Ploughman then told Renfrow he was going to search the house for the missing records and at that time Renfrow advised them not to come in without a search warrant. That’s when the shooting began and stories vary as to whom shot whom. When the shooting was over, however, Renfrow and Ploughman were both dead. Gibbons and Reddington surrendered to the sheriff in Anadarko. Gibbons was charged with murder. Ploughman was survived by a wife and three children.
Herbert G. Poe, Police
Officer
Ardmore Police Department
On Monday, March 23, 1970, Officer Herbert Poe ended his shift at the Ardmore Airpark at 4 a.m. Parking his police car, he got on his Honda motorcycle and started home. He drove a block and a half before a Frisco Railroad switch engine and a flatcar loomed up ahead of him. Poe’s cycle left 12 feet of skid marks and then he apparently laid the cycle on its side for 65 feet. Poe was attempting to get the cycle back on its wheels when he smashed into the steps at the rear of the switch engine. Poe, 26, was killed instantly. Officer Herbert Poe was survived by his wife, a daughter, Shana; two sons, Chad and a new son born two hours after Poe was killed.
John Poe, Deputy U.S. Marshal
U.S. Marshals
John Poe was appointed a deputy U.S. Marshal by U.S. Marshal John Hammer of the Southern District of Indian Territory. On Wednesday, September 25, 1901, Poe and his posse, J.H. Neely boarded the northbound Frisco train in Denison, TX. The trip was peaceful until the train was approaching Ravia, a small town three miles of Tishomingo. Poe walked toward the rear of the train. As he entered he noticed B.W. Taylor causing a disturbance. Poe identified himself and then advised Taylor to settle down or he would arrest him. An argument started and Poe told Taylor he was under arrest for disturbing the peace. As Poe tried to handcuff him, Taylor jumped him and a fight started.
Another passenger told Neely of the fight. As Neely entered the rear of the train, he saw Poe trying to handcuff Taylor. Dave Bruner got up and headed toward Poe. Neely charged Bruner and knocked him to the floor with the butt of his gun. George Yargee was headed toward Poe and was also knocked to the floor by Neely. Taylor broke away from Poe and then knocked Neely to the ground, at the same time grabbing the posse’s gun. Poe tackled Taylor and all three men began a desperate fight for control of the gun. As the fight continued a shot rang out and Deputy Poe dropped to the floor. A bullet had entered the right side of his chest, traveled through the chest and exited out of the left side.
Neely was able to gain control of Taylor, his son Ben, Dave Bruner and George Yargee at gunpoint. Neely turned the prisoners over to Deputy U.S. Marshal Bridges at Mill Creek. Bridges took the prisoners to Ardmore where they were jailed to await trial. When the trial was over, the judge released Bruner, Ben Taylor and George Yarhee due to a determination that they were not involved in the actual shooting. The judge further stated that the evidence was inconclusive as to who had control of the gun when it went off and therefore, he had no choice but to release B.W. Taylor with no charges.
John Poorbear, City Marshal
City of Fort Gibson
Tom and Jim French, Dave Andrews and John Buchanan, all Cherokee Indians, were on a drinking spree on Sunday, September 14, 1890, in Ft. Gibson. City Marshal Poorbear and a deputy tried to arrest them and, as Poorbear was struggling with Andrews, the marshal was shot in the neck. Andrews fired one shot at the marshal and then threw his gun away. Paralyzed Poorbear died on Tuesday, September 23, 1890. Dave Andrews was convicted and sentenced to hang on December 10th, but was pardoned by Cherokee Chief Mayes.
Josiah Poorboy, Deputy U.S. Marshal
U.S. Marshals
On Tuesday, December 8, 1891, Marshal Whitehead and his posseman, Josiah Poorboy, were staying at Cherokee Nation Judge L. W. Shirley’s home in order to keep watch on the house of Annie Hitchcock. Annie was the daughter of Judge Shirley. A charge of adultery was filed against Jim Craig in federal court in Ft. Smith, Arkansas. The indictment alleged Craig had been sexually involved with Annie Hitchcock. Craig has been arrested by Deputy U.S. Marshal Charles Lamb but had escaped from custody. Lamb planned a way to capture Craig by sending in an undercover operative to locate him. Thomas Whitehead agreed to infiltrate the area, locate Craig and make the arrest. He was appointed a Deputy U.S. Marshal. Whitehead appointed Josiah Poorboy, a young Cherokee, his posse. Annie Hitchcock asked Waco Hampton, an escapee who had been convicted of manslaughter, John Brown, a white man living with Hampton’s step-father, and John Roach, another young man who was friends with Hampton and Brown, to kill Poorboy and Whitehead. The three men went to the home of Judge Shirley and Hampton called for Whitehead to come outside. The two lawmen came out carrying rifles. Hampton leveled a rifle at Poorboy and fired, while Brown fired at Whitehead who went down and died within minutes. Poorboy kept firing until he was shot and fell to the ground dead. Roach had been wounded and lay moaning on the ground. Hampton and Brown fled and were not found until January 30, 1892, by Deputy U.S. Marshal C.A. Bruner. Hampton fired on Bruner when ordered to surrender. Bruner had a double barrel shotgun and opened fire on Hampton killing him and his horse. John Roach recovered from his wounds and testified against Brown. Brown was tried and sentenced to hang by Judge Isaac C. Parker. After several appeals, on December 24, 1896, John Brown pled guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to one year in the Columbus, Ohio prison.
Harry Leslie Potter, Deputy Sheriff
Beaver County Sheriffs Office
On Tuesday, November 30, 1971, Deputy Harry Potter was investigating a traffic accident the icy bridge over the Beaver River. Carl Taylor, 64, was approaching the accident site and had not noticed the accident. When he tried to stop, his vehicle began sliding on the icy bridge and struck Deputy Potter, pinning him against the bridge abutment. The officer was taken to the hospital with a broken right leg.
Deputy Potter died of complications from his injuries on Tuesday, December 7, 1971. He was survived by his wife, four children and eighteen grandchildren.
Albert Pike "Al" Powell, Deputy Sheriff
Rogers County Sheriffs Office
About 1:30 A.M. Sunday February 4, 1934, Deputy Powell and Chelsea Night Marshal Bud Roberts saw two men walk away from the side of a hardware store. The officers turned their car around and stopped in the street. The two men started walking toward the car. When near the front of the car the two men opened fire on the officers setting in the car, killing Powell. His wife and seven children survived Deputy Powell.
Charles D. Powell, Foreman
Oklahoma State Penitentiary
At noon on Wednesday, May 13, 1936, fourteen convicts in the Oklahoma State Penitentiary at McAlester, surrounded the guards who were eating lunch in the office. The convicts, led by Julius Bohannon, Claud Beavers and William Anderson, were brandishing prison-made dirks. Threatening to kill the guards, they forced them to throw down their keys and weapons, then piled into a commandeered automobile and drove through the gate with half a dozen prisoners hanging on to the running boards. During the attempted escape, Charles D. Powell, brickyard foreman, was shot in the head and his body dumped nearly a mile away on a McAlester thoroughfare. Julius Bohannon was finally captured after two and a half months of freedom. He was tried before Judge R.E. Higgins, Pittsburg County, for the death of foreman Powell. Although there was some question whether, during the escape, it was his shot or one from the guards that killed Powell, Bohannon pled guilty to the charge of murder. A second life term was added to the 99-year and life sentences he was already serving and cost him four and a half years in solitary.
J. T. Pratt, City Marshal
City of Madill
Just after noon on Sunday, November 6, 1910, Madill City Marshal J.T. Pratt was called to a disturbance at the home of W. A. Thompson. Thompson’s son, Jim Thompson was the cause of the disturbance. When Marshal Pratt arrived Jim Thompson, who had hidden himself behind a fence, opened fire with a Winchester rifle. After shooting Marshal Pratt to death, Thompson made his get-away on a nearby horse and buggy. A posse of officers and armed citizens scoured the area for Thompson. On July 3, 1911, Thompson was convicted of murder and given a ten year sentence.
R.H. Pratt, City Marshal
City of Gore
The body of Marshal Pratt was found early Saturday morning March 12, 1927, under a street light on the main road through Gore. He had been shot in the heart with a .38 and in the head with a .44 caliber pistol. Witnesses in the area heard two shots just after midnight. The marshal’s gun had not been fired. It is believed that bootleggers in the area killed him as they had threatened him in the past.
Marion Prickett, Deputy U.S. Marshal
U.S. Marshals
Deputy U.S. Marshal Anderson Keen and his posse, Marion Pricket, had a warrant to arrest a man named Brown. They learned that Brown had fled into Indian Territory around Tahlequah, the Capitol of the Cherokee Nation.
On Monday, December 15, 1890, Keen and Prickett knocked on the door of a house and were met by a man fitting the description of Brown. The two men in the house identified themselves as A.B. Smith and Tom Smith. Both men cooperated with the deputies but maintained that they did not know Brown. Keen and Prickett took both men into custody. They took the two men to a neighbor’s house, where the neighbor identified the older man as A.B. Smith, stating he was a mason and a good man. Smith then told the deputies he was also a U.S. marshal and suggested they return to his house where he would produce his oath of office. Upon arrival back at the house, Smith produced a deputy’s commission issued by Marshal Jacob Yoes. The commission read that is was only for the purpose of arresting Ned Christie, whom Smith told Yoes he knew. Although Keen still believed the suspect was Brown, there was now doubt in his mind and he asked Prickett to join him outside for a conversation. Both lawmen exited the house leaving the Smith’s inside.
After a short conversation, Keen and Prickett went back into the house and were met by A.B. Smith, who was holding a double barrel shotgun. Smith fired, missing Keen but striking Prickett in the head killing him instantly. Keen grabbed Smith fighting for control of the shotgun. During the scuffle, Smith drew a knife and stabbed Keen repeatedly in the body and the head, breaking the knife. Keen was knocked onto a bed, breaking it. Smith yelled to the other man, “Shoot him Tommy” to which Keen replied, “Don’t shoot, I’m already killed” and then Keen passed out. When Keen regained consciousness, the Smiths were gone. Keen checked Prickett and found him dead, and then went for help. Keen and several deputies returned to the Smith house to search for anything that would identify these two men. Numerous items were discovered but the most compelling was a cabinet card (photo) found in the house with the inscription “Wesley and Guy Woodson to Tommy D. Shepler” written on the back. On April 4, 1892, alias warrants were issued for the arrests of James Shepler and Thomas Shepler. Both men were arrested in Illinois the following month and extradited to Ft. Smith, Arkansas where they were held on charges of murder.
Charlie Proctor, Deputy Sheriff
Tahlequah District, Cherokee Nation
On Monday, August 10, 1896, Charlie Proctor and Eli Wofford, a Cherokee Indian policeman, were shot and killed during the Cherokee National Convention. Wofford had been drinking. Sheriff Leonard told Wofford’s brother to take his whiskey away from him. Willams and Wofford got into a fist fight until former Cherokee Sheriff Charlie Proctor broke it up. As the men were walking away someone made a provocative remark and a gunfight started between the two men and their allies. Proctor was struck in the breast, side and thigh. Proctor and Wofford were both killed. Sheriff Williams was wounded. Charlie Proctor, nephew of Zeke Proctor, was buried at his home in the Flint District.
Moses Edgar Pruitt, Constable
City of Berwyn
Late the night of Saturday October 11, 1930, Constable Pruitt and another constable raided a Negro dice game in the hills near Berwyn. During the raid one of the participants, Semi Roberts shot Constable Pruitt in the lower body. Pruitt returned fire, hitting Roberts in the right lung. Constable Pruitt died the next day about 1:30 P.M the afternoon of Sunday October 12, 1930. Roberts was shot and killed by Pruitt’s brother shortly afterwards. His wife, two sons and an adopted daughter survived Constable Pruitt.
Charles Owen Purdin, Captain
Muskogee Police Department
About 11 A.M. on Wednesday July 31, 1957,Captain Purdin was escorting a funeral procession on his 1956 Harley-Davidson Police motorcycle when he collided with the last car in the procession as it slowed to enter the cemetery. His compound fractured right leg was more serious than first thought and the first week of September his right leg was amputated. He appeared to rally after the operation but developed a blood clot and died the afternoon of Tuesday September 17, 1957. His wife and four children survived Captain Purdin.
Bud Pursley, Deputy U.S. Marshal
U.S. Marshals
In early November 1884, Deputy U.S. Marshal James Mershon and his posse went in search of Jonas Layson and Salone George, wanted for murder. Mershon had information they might be in the area of Tishomingo. Mershon set up camp near Tishomingo and his posse went into the field in search of information on the two men. The posse returned with information that Layson and George were living with Jonas Layson’s father near Tishomingo. Because they were dealing with two murder suspects, Mershon assigned four posse, George Pound, Bud Pursley, Wit Blankenship and Bruce McKee to make the arrest.
On the early morning of Monday, November 3rd, the posse rode up to the Layson house and announced their presence and indicating they were federal officers. They ordered the occupants to surrender. Before the posse could take any further action, Jonas Layson fired on the posse with a Winchester rifle. One of the shots struck Pursley in the left arm, totally disabling him. The other officers returned fire as Layson and George ran from the house. One of the posse managed to hit Layson, who feel dead in the bushes. George managed to escape unharmed.
Pursley’s wound was extremely serious and turned into gangrene. His arm was amputated but Pursley lay in agony for two days and finally passed away on Sunday, November 9, 1884.
C. Pushmataha, City Marshal
Nowata, Cherokee Nation
During the mid-1890’s racial prejudice was rampant and tensions were high in Oklahoma and Indian Territories. The Cherokees appointed a town marshal named Pushmataha, also known as John Fulsom, Johnson Fulsom, Johnson Push and Push Johnson. His half-brother, known as William Fulsom and Willie Hickey, acted as his deputy. The white citizens hired their own marshal, a renowned gunfighter named George Goodell. No amateur, he had served alongside of men like Wyatt Earp, Bill Tilghman, the Masterson brothers, Ben Thompson and Doc Holliday. Goodell was also commissioned as a Deputy U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Indian Territory.
The Fulsoms openly made threats against Goodell and threatened to ambush him if he ever crossed them. In early November of 1897, Goodell arrested Johnson Fulsom for being drunk. His half-brother and other Indians soon broke him out of jail. On November 13, Goodell arrested Willie Hickey and, when he tried to escape, shot him mortally. The dying man was taken to a local store. When Marshal Pushmataha (Johnson Fulsom) heard about it, he rushed to the store to confront Goodell. When he arrived at the store, Goodell killed him also. The whites said Goodell had killed the men to prevent them from ambushing him and the Indians said he had murdered both in cold blood.
Goodell surrendered, unknowing of the depth of the political morass he was entering. Promising a light sentence, a U.S. Attorney convinced Goodell to plead guilty to manslaughter. The judge, however, sentenced him to 20 years. A year after the killings, Goodell went to prison in Columbus, Ohio. After serving three and one-half years of his sentence, Goodell was pardoned by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1902.
E.M. “Zeke” Putnam, City Marshal
City of Allen
Saturday evening, January 16, 1909, about 8 p.m. while standing in Whitehead and Ashford’s general store at Allen, Marshal Zeke Putnam received a full charge of buckshot, fired at him through the window. He was killed instantly.
Bloodhounds were sent for in order to track down the suspects but they didn’t arrive for 30 hours. They were able to follow a trail for a short distance where two men had mounted horses but they lost the trail after a short distance.
The suspect was eventually identified as Dan Scribner. He was arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced to death but the Court of Criminal Appeals overturned the verdict and ordered a new trial. His lawyer was able to get a change of venue to Seminole. On August 22, 1911, Scribner was convicted a second time and sentenced to life imprisonment.
William Pytchlyn, Officer
Ada Police Department
William “Bill” Pytchlyn joined the Ada Police Department on October 1, 1934. An Ada businessman had been robbed by two black men and he requested that Bill Pytchlyn receive a “special commission as a colored officer” because he thought he would have a better chance of solving the crime than white officers. The commission was issued.
Officer Pytchlyn had been commissioned slightly over a month when he was accosted by two suspects, Oliver Jackson and Cruce Moses, in the black area of North Broadway on Sunday evening, November 11, 1934. Both suspects were armed and the officer attempted to disarm them. In the process, he was shot in one arm and the chest. Jackson was arrested and later released on bond. Moses escaped with the weapons that had been used in the shooting.
Officer Bill Pytchlyn, 30, died from his wounds on Tuesday, November 27, 1934.