Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1893-08-03
TWO ourLAws p1epoenp on.
Result of the First Brush with
Wooten's OUTFIT.


Wooten's OUTFIT.
II has been known In some circles
that for the past two or three weeks
Heck Bruner aud posse have been hav.
ing the "rustlers" "hiding out" In
spite OF their declarations Of war on
certain cowmen. Saturday evening
about sunset the outlaws and officers
came together and two Of the former
we're "bagged." One Of them. Ralph
Halleck. was so seriously shot that he
died IN short time; the other, Sam
Rogers, was severely shot In the hip
but was taken TO Fort Smith Sunday
evening, nevertheless. The scene of
the encounter was the farm OF George
Harland on White Oak, about ten
miles southwest OF this city. For a
time the officers made no headway In
their operations, presumably because
their movements we're watched and re-
ported. Finally they made the discov-
cry that the outlaws were hiding in a
clump OF timber and at certain times
went to the home Of "Hog" Brown,
father OF one OF their number, for
meals. The officers accordingly on
Friday night secreted themselves in a
stable past which their game was COM
PEELED to 20 and awaited developments.
At the hour mentioned they saw two
men riding that way and when at the
nearest point Deputy Bruner, his
brother Wood and "Dink" Doutbitt
charged them on foot, with orders to
shoot the horses only, IL possible.
The officers had reached within few
steps OF them before being seen and
gave the command "haltl we are OH
GERS" Both men dropped over to the
side OF their horses, drew their pistols
and one Of them said give 'em hell"
They had fired a shot or two when the
officers "opened out" Both men put
spurs to their horses but at about sew
enty-five yards Halleck uttered a cry
of pain, offered to surrender and fell
from his horse. Rogers then changed
horses, but gained nothing aud after
a three. quarters Of a mile chase turned
around and rode back, hands up. He
was shot as stated and IL is not unlikely
that he will die. Halleck was shot in
the shoulder, tae ball passing into the
body, and in the thigh, well up. He
was dead before medical aid arrived.
This man was probably twenty five or
thirty years Of age and is said to be
from Udall, Cowley county, kaa. He
Is a new man in this country but Rog-
ehs says vas in the Mound Valley
bank robbery and the sgent at Che!-
sea identifies him as one Of the men
who robbed the DEPOT at that place.
His body was brought 10 this town and
kept several days, awaiting identitica-
tion. Rogers is probably not over
twenty years old. His father is Frank
Rogers, of Big Greek, and he was
raised near Sloan Springs, Ark. Their
old home was the Prairie Grove battle
| field.
Just as the firing begun a woman at
the house saw two men who she recog-
nized as g. q. wooten and Willis
Brown riding come distance behind
their associates and another coming
across the prairie to Join them. All
three retreated at The first shot. The
presumption is that Wooten, the
leader, sent these two ahead to reco'
noitre. The officers were not provided
with writs for either Of the parties who
they got but by their actions in
opening the battle they removed the
necessity for any. Rogers states that
they were planning a raid. Brown
wanted to come in and try the bank al
this place, but wooien said they could
find lots Of easier jobs; thu. the bank
and town were ready for aud expected
them. lie proposed going over in the
vicinity Of Seligman and robbing the
wells-Fargo express cal on the Frisco
or trying the NJ, X. 4 t., as soon az
the marshals thinned ont little.
As starter this Is very good work
but new recruits are being secured ev
cry few days and by Monday nigh
theiI number had again reached Eve
The cashier who was robbed a
Nouns Valley came down Monday
night 70 view the remains Of HaIlecI
but failed to identify them. lie saic
the men who robbed him all had NOR,
whiskers than this one.
1t appears that the engagement
which turned out so disastrously TO
the outlaws was the second one the.
had had that day. Some hours befor,
Charley Keys and two other mel
whose horses bad been stolen CAM
across the Wooten crowd and had
fight where some men we're haying OF
Joseph Hunts place, mile or so dis
} tant. Here the outlaws carried tn
, dey, as they outnumbered their pur
} suers, and the latter we're compelled
after firing few shots. to retire.
Wednesday evening of last weel
} three Of the outlaws, Hall. Brown AM
man supposed to be Wooten, rod
, into Alton aud ordered supper for si
persons. They left without commit
ting any depTedstionH.
A dispatch was received from tn
postmaster at Udall Tuesday sayin
that information had been conveye,
TO Halleck's wife OF his death but sh
refused TO take any action. The bod
Was at once buried.
Independent Ticket. =
At called meeting Of the independ