Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-11-24
THE SHEFFIELD MURDER.
Confession of William Farris
Made at CoffeyviIIe.

occupied the attention of the COM
missioner's court again today.
Much interest is being manifested
in the case. The Coffeyville Daily
Journal of yesterday has the fol.
lowing:
The confession of VIM. Farris,
the negro arrested Tuesday for
completely in the Sheffield mur-
der, seems to have been confirmed
in every detail. Farris is middle
aged negro, well known in Coffey-
VILE and in the northern part of
the territory. He formerly worked
for the late Charley Brooks and
lived here many years. About
four years ago he moved to the
Ryder ford, twelve miles southeast
of Coffeyville, and has lived there
ever since.
Farrls made his confession only
after learning that Lowry was in
the clutches of the law. The con-
fession implicated himself only
indirectly, but enough to warrant
his arrest, and he was taken to
Vinita Wednesday with the other
prisoners.
Farris says, in substance, that
Lowry murdered Sheffield at mis-
(Sheffield's) cattle ranch at Ryder's
ford Sunday night between Z and 5
o'clock. Sheffield owned cattle
there and was no doubt looking
after them when he met his death.
After Sheffield had been left for
dead, Farris says Lowry came to
his house, between s and 9
o'clock and told him that Shelf
field had been killed by him.
self and Charley Keys. Lowrv
wanted Farris to hitch up his
team and haul the body to the
Hickory creek crossing rf the Iron
Mountain tracks, agre eing to paw
him s2 90 for his work. The dis
tance from the Scene of the muir
der to Farris' house is probably
three quarters of a mile, and from
there wes's to the railroad probably
two ard a half miles. Farris
hltcSed up his team and did as
Lowry directed. They got Shef-
fields body and hauled it, bleed
ing and bruised, to the railroad
tracks. Farris says that when
they lifted it over the fence into
the right of way that life was not
yet extinct, but that Sheffield was
unconscious. The body was placed
on the track some little distance
south of the wagon road crossing,
but about half way between where
the body was found and the cross
ing were the dead mans false
teeth and a great deal Of blood.
This is explained by the fact that
the body was first laid down on
the tracks directly opposite where
the wagon road turns north on the
east side of the right of way to
cross the tracks. Then, thinking
to throw off suspicion. they carried
1T farther south down the tracks
and left it quite a distance from
the wagon road. Then- Farris
says he returned home and Lowry
came TO Cofleyville.
The confession seems to he true
in almost every particular The
fence. where he says the body was
lifted over, was covered with b-ood
the next morning. SO was the
wagon box, in which ne said the
body ives hauled. Lowry came
to Cofityyilie late Sunday night or
early Monday morning, having
given different reports regarding
his actions.
Keys whereabouts Immediately
after the murder are not known.
He is II bad man and although he
has been a de putty United States
marshal he has constan ly been in
some kind of trouble. His home
is near the Ryder ford, about
mile north of Farris' home. Both
negroes are engaged in farming
1t is pr obable that the murdered
mans body was placed on the
tracks just after the north bound
train had passed. That
train struck no obstruction and
the men could hardly have had
time to drive the distance necessary
and finish their work before it
came along.
Motives for the murder are begin
ming to appear. Less than a week |
ago Lowry stole one of Sheffield's
horses and sold it to L. c. Kivett |
Of this city. Sheffield had intend
I'd to begin prosecution. Lowry |
had also forged checks with Shef. |
fields name and this, too, was Just !
about to cause him trouble. By |
getting Sheffield out of the way
,owrv exDected TO Gain Dossession /