The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-10-23
TON IAYLOR'S DEATH
Story of Deloss, Who Shot
and Killed the Deputy.
SELF : DEFENSE CLAIMED
Alleges That Taylor Stood in
With BootIeggers.

der of Deputy United States Marshal Ton
Taylor in Pawnee by Orville DeLoss,
prisoner, many rumors have been. afloa
in regard 10 the cause of the killing
Taylor had arrested DeLoss for bootleg
ging whisky in the Usage reservation anC
while guarding him in saloon, DeLosi
pulled gun and killed the officer.
De Loss was interviewed in regard t.
the killing by a representative of the
Pawnee Courier:
Where do your parents live?" he wa:
asked and replied:
In Codaz, Nebraska"
How long since you left homer"
About the middle of last April"
did you ever have any trouble with
Mr.. Taylor prior to the shooting?"
mo. He arrested me once before, but
we never had any trouble"
isn't it a fact that you stated that
Mr.. Taylor did you dirt?"
IT do not care to answer that question -
"Why did you shoot TayIor?"
| Because when he asked me for my
! gun and reached in my pocket TO get
it, he drew his gun on me, and I thought
he was going to shoot me and shot him
in self defense"
Did you have the gun when first ar
rested?"
Yes, SIR
Have you ever been troubled with in
sanity?"
II do not care to answer"
What will be your plea to the charge
against you?"
mot guilty.
Later DeLoss gave the Courier represen-
tative the following statement
while incarcerated in the United
States Jail at Guthrie on the charge of
selling whisky to the Indians, a PROPOSE
ton was made to me by NJ. NJ. Wilson, TO
this effect: That as soon as my term Of
imprisonment expired 1 should go back to
Ralsston and engage in the unlawful dis
position of whisky, and he said that I
would have protection. He said that
Marshal Taylor was a friend Of his, and
that 1 would have nothing to fear from
the law; that if any of the United States
marshals had warrant issued for me,
that it would have to go to Guthrie to be
0. KID. and Taylor would hear of it in
time to let we know. So the day we left
the JAIL we met Marshal Taylor and he
told me to do just as Mat Williams want
ed NE TO do, and everything would be all
right; that ne CTaylor) would see 1 was
not molested. He said there was really
no harm in it; that it was only little
clause in the law that made it criminal;
so 1 went from Guthrie to Ralston and
commenced selling whisky with compare
lively a clear conscience. 1 thought so
long as the officers of the law considered
it so small an offense, that it didn't
amount to much. Well, for this protec-
ton of the law 1 was to divide equally
every dollar made with Matt Williams
It was understood that Williams was to
act as Taylor's collector. aoS every even
ing the proceeds of the day was divided.
A short time afterwards Taylor came to
Ralston, and be asked me how was get
ting along, and I told him all right, and
he told me that everything was all right,
for me to go on, that 1 wouldn't be both
cred. She next day Taylor came to me
and said that r. ]. Jones, city marshal of
Ralston, had told him that 1 was ped
ding whisky and he also told me that
ought to keep on the good side of Jones.
But he said to go ahead and do business,
that Jones didn't amount to anything,
anyway; the only way Jones could harm
me was TO put another marshal next.
That was the last interview I had with
Taylor he last trip to Ralston. a few
weeks after was told that Taylor had
warrant for me and was coming down in
a few days to get me; that Taylor and
Matt Williams had turned against me.
Then I left Ralston and was gone a week,
and while I was gone I got to thinking
the matter over, and came to the conclus-
ion that 1t must be a mistake for it was
gainst their intrest. SO I came back to
Ralston and met Matt Williams, and he
said not 10 believe word against Tay-
lor for ne was my friend, and not to pay
any attention to what other people said
that they were just trying to scare me
out of the country. So the next day
went to work for Joe Roberts, Sheriff
Grants deputy holding some cattle fo-
taxes, in the Usage country. I stayed in
Usage five days and got sick and came
hac kto Ralston to get some medicine.
arrived in town about noon and jus; be
fore l got to town Matt Williams started |
70 Ponca City. That same afternoon |
Taylor came 10 town I met him ana !
shook hands and asked him how every |
thing was, and he told me everything was |
all right; that there was nothing against !
me: That day at dinner a friend told !
me that Taylor had a warrant for me I
and intended 10 take me with him when !
he went TO Pawnee again. I met Taylor /
that evening and asked him about 1t. ] /
told him that I understood that Mat {