The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1894-11-10

interior is now considering a propo- /
sitiou to offer governmeu ra-
ward of ~ 600 apiece on the hea IS Of /
Outlaw Bin Cook and gang of Ban
dits now terrorizing the indian terri
tory. makes This man Cook q peculiar
lv interesting subject at the present
tiu.c.
Cook is the legitimate successor OF
Eul Dalton. When that worthy died
he gathered about him the remnants
of that band Of outlaws, adding To D.
some OF his own associates. lie has
now band Of outlaws that Is more
lavless and daring thnu any ever OPP
Grated in the southwest since the days
days of the James brothers. Cook
himself. who is only 2i years old,
is more daring than tie naitops ever
dared to be, has committed in his
brief career deeds whi-h Dalton
would never have dreamed
A peculiarly Interesting story is told
abont Cook before he entered into the
business uf ouilawry. 10 WAS ease
of disappointed love The young
leader is a mixed blood Cherokee AID
was born and raised in the territory.
His parents died carly and left him to
the tender Inercies Of foster mother
who treated Cook and his brother well
and in whose house they still find ref
uge when hard pressed by deputy
marshals.
During his early days Cook met a
pretty black-eyed girl named Martha
Pittman, living near Sapulpa, in the
Creek nation. She was then in short
dresses and Cook himself a mere lad
1t was case of love at first sight.
The two youngsters agreed 10 macry
when the fixed time came, although
they kept the secret tc themselves
A year or two later Cook was arrested
for introducing liquor into the Indian
country, taken before the Fort Smith
court and given a siX-months sentence
in Jail there During his Incarceration
he experienced desire for reform and
released ne was make a posseman un-
Deputy W. C..Smith. While riding as
posscman in the Indian country Cook
rendered Invaluable service to the gov
erpmont, as he knew every foot of the
territory and the haunts of different
criminals and for deeds Of reckless
bravery he left his leaders behiud.
About this time he went 10 the pa.
rents Of the girl to whom he was en-
gagged and told them that he and Mar
tha wanted TO get married. The old
man swore that he would never have
for a son-in-law man who mad been
jailed and told Cook to go about his
business. The girl stood by him and
offered TO marry him secretly, but
Cooks proud Cherokee blood was up
and he swore he would never marry
until he could do it openly and above
board.
lie became desperate and eut loose
from civilization aud shortly after
Dalton's death organized the new
band that is now terroriz.ng the In
dian country and driving express
comnanies from dong money order
business in that country. The queer
est part OF it is that the girl still
sticks to Cook and seems e. think
worc of hin than ever. The Old man
has become impressed with his sou-in-
laws nerve and gave his consent g.
the marriage about a m 1nth agp. The
marriage license was actually pro
cured at Muskogee and the marriage
was to have occurred ,he latte~ part
of last month, but n party OF Creek
Indians who were on Cooks trail
crowded him so close that he had to
keep on the move and the marriage
had TO be postponed. Since then he
has been more reckless than ever.
a posse is IN hot pursuit now and
IL IS believed they will bag their game.