The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-10

the floor. He was smiling and in perfect
good humor.
Swinney instantly caught Mattox,
who in weight was not half his size, ard
threw him against the wall of the sa-
loon- I've mind to crush the life out
OF you right here he said as he held
him fast, while Mattox's face COM
menced to redden with rage and his eff
forts to free himself. But moment Ia
ter Swinney loosened his hold as he
said: L guess L won't now; come on
and have drink with me-
I'll do that" said MattOx, shaking
himself and smoothing his crumpled
clothing, and then he walked to the
bar where Swinney had already ordered
the drinks.
Both men were about to pick up their
glasses when Swinney withdrew his
hand, and turning to Mattox suddenly,
said: IN be damned if I'll drink with
you after all, you little --- - -
--. You stepped over my coat,
didn't you?"
Yes said Mattox, his face again
reddening, L stepped over your coat
and I can step over your carcass, too
Thise were the last words Mattox ut
tered until after he had mortally
wounded Swinney- The minute he got
them out of his month the big ranch
mans fist shot out and caught him on
the side of the neck, sending him
sprawling in the middle of the bar
room floor. Before he had time to rise
Swinney was upon him and viciOusly
kicked him in the side. AS he did so he
lost his balance and fell beside Mattox
on the floor. Both men then grappled,
and graphing staggered to their feet.
As MattOX reached a standing pos
ture he succeeded in getting his right
arm free and instantly jerked a dirk
knife from his belt Retaining the free
dom of his arm he commenced to slash
at Swinney'S face and neck while the
bully rained a shower of blows on the
smaller mans neck and shoulders. Mat
tox made sudden turn, which almost
effected his escape from SWinney's arms
but the latter was quick enough to pre-
vent it. The turn, however, placed him
at Swinney'S side with his right arm
entirely free, and as the ranchman
grabbed for new hold he buried the
knife in his side just above and behind
the hip.
most instantly, and he staggered to the
bar and caught at it for support Mat
toX started out of the saloon, but as he
reached the door turned and asked for
his hat. 1t was given him and then he
quickly walked out, followed by Shock
ey.
When Mattox left the saloon, Swim
ney was still standing at the bar, sway
ing to and fro as he gradually grew
weaker. Blood was gushing from the
wound in his side and he was bleeding
from slashes on his face and hands. He
let go his hold on the bar, staggered for
moment or two and then fell. In a
few minutes he was dead. BY this
time MattOx had crawled into the bed
team hitched in the alley in the rear of
Ponca'S main street Here, it is
supposed he received word of Swinney's
death through Shockey. At least the
officers believe he did. Then he started
for the Taylor farm.
Oscar Taylor is one of the best known
men in and around Ponca City. Years
ago he was in the livery business at
Arkansas City, and when the strip
opened he took valuable claim a mile
and a half southwest of Ponca. He is a
native of South Carolina, and brought
to Oklahoma the hospitality which is so
thoroughly characteristic of southern
people. No one ever asked for a lodg-
ing a meal at the Taylor farm who
was not taken in. He is a bachelor, and
last November when he started a
trip to his old home, he engaged Mrs
Hatch, who had but recently located in
Ponca City with her son. Clyde MattOX
to take care of his house while he was
away.
Mrs Hatch proved such an excellent
hOusekeeper during his absence, that
when he returned last January, bring
ing his sister from South Carolina with
him, he engaged her to remain. Clyde
MattOX was in the habit of visiting his
mother there, while herding cattle in
the Indian country, and it was not an
unusual thing for him to stay at the
Taylor home at night.
With the death of Swinney ended the
first chapter in the latest Oklahoma
tragedy with which Clyde Mattox is
connected The second opened when
Deputy Sheriff Jennings of Ponca City
telephoned the news of the murder to
Sheriff Pierce at Newkirk. The feature
of this part of the story is the wonder
full GOODNESS manifested by MattoX.
Mr.. Taylor says he retired about 9
O'Clock and it was about 80 minutes
later when he heard Clyde come in.
Mattox said nothing to. him of the trou-
BILE in POnca, and when Taylor went to
sleep he was sitting in his mothers
room reading paper. About that time
he fF1rr H.
at White Eagle, the first station south
of POnca, where he met Deputy Sheriff
Jennings. In going into POrca the two
officers passed not far from the TayIOr
farm. Both knew that Mrs Hatch was
living there and that Mattox was in
the habit of visiting her but they rea-
soned that if he had gone there after
the murder, he had made his escape by
that time and it would be a waste of
time to search for him at the farm.
Some time after Taylor dropped off
to sleep, Mattox went to bed, sleeping
that night with Frank Donnelley, the
hired man. He was one of the first up
in the morning, strolled about the yard,
helped DOnrelley with the chores and
talked to his mother in the house Not
once did he mention the trouble of the
night before or appear the slightest con-
cerned. After breakfast Taylor said
he was going to the ranch of Charles
Clark in the Kaw reservation to GET
two horse collars he had loaned him
MattOX spoke up and asked if he could
T1Qe WITH MIN, saying ne was gong to
Oklahoma City. He was told that he
could, and went out to the barn to help
Taylor hitch up.
Among Taylor's possessions are sew
eral good horses. One, the best of the
lot, is thoroughbred Morgan mare
This was the animal Taylor happened
to pick for his journey. She is one of
the fastest driving mares in Kay coun-
ty, and on her back in the great rush
of September. 1893, Taylor was enabled
to secure a town lot in Ponca besides