The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-09-23
HOW WARREN BENNITT
ENDED MARTIN GANG
He Was the Last Oklahoma otieIai
TO Engage In Open Conflict With
outiaws-Farmer Boy Joined

deputy marshal and chief OF the In
dian police of the Usage nation, who
died at Pawhuska. Usage nation, re-
Gently was the last Oklahoma official
TO engage in an open conflict with out
laws.
The killing of ".Bim' and Sam
Martin. says the Kansas City Journal,
in a secluded opening surrounded by
a thickly wooded region In the Usage
nation nea Pawhuska, has been re-
corded by the officials who knew the
circumstances as one of the bravest
acts known among the United States
officials of Oklahoma.
Arthur Simmons. a companion of
the notorious Martin boys, escaped
and for lack OF other information It
was said that Simmons had shown
up" his companions to the United
States officials to avoid capture and
prosecution. What really saved Sim
mons was the wounding Of Wiley
Haines, an Indian policeman, who &C
companied Bennett. After killing the
Martin brothers Bennett gave up pur-
suit of Simmons to care for the
wounded officer. Simmons is still at
large.
The Martin brothers had been want
ed in five States for five years. Start
ing on their career as chicken thieves
in Kansas, they became desperate
horse thieves, changing their stopping
places from Kansas to Colorado, Okla.
homa, Texas and Indian Territory,
and GLIDING the officers in this way.
In the year 1908 they became blood
thirsty and on March 9 murdered the
Rock Island station agent at Hennes-
sey in cold blood. They robbed the
station house. but were pursued the
next day, and the stolen property re-
covered. A few days later they muir
dered City Marshal Cross, Of Geary,
seemingly for the purpose Of taking
his star. After shooting him the star
and a small pocket pistol were all they
took from his body. Both were taken
from the bodies Of the desperadoes
atter they been killed.
A few weeks later occurred one of
the boldest hold-ups that ever took
place in the history of the Territory.
1t happened n Sunday morning a
few miles from Pawhuska at a lodge
picnic. The picnic took place in a
wood to which led a narrow lane. Be-
fore the picnickers began to arrive
the Martin boys and Simmons took
their places beside the lane. When
the first wagonload of persons arrived
the outlaws drew their guns and made
the occupants climb out. Two kept
them covered while a third inspected
the hcrses. The horses did not suit,
and the picnickers we're commanded
to drive on. In this way more than
100 persons were held up as they came
to the picnic. The outlaws finally
found three horses that suited their
fancy and rode away.
A United States officer gave the fol-
lowing as the version of the fight
which followed a few days later as
Bennett had told it to him a few weeks
before he died:
After the picnic hold-up a cowboy
rode into Pawhuska one evening and
informed Bennett that the men who
had robbed the p%icnickers we're camp
ed in an opening about five miles from
the town. Bennett ordered his horse
Immediately, and, with Wiley Haines,
started after the outlaws. Hitching
their horses about a mile from where
the camp was supposed to be. they
crept cautiously UP to the glade.
Sitting around their saddles the
Martin brothers were shaving, n
holding a mirror for the other. Fifty
yards beyond Simmons was ~patrolIing
back and forth with a Winchester
over his shoulder. Bennett easily
recognized the horses that had been
stolen, as a man in a cattle country
learns to do with a 8 They were at
a distance Of 400 yards and were just
planning a method OF attack when
Sam" Martin jumped TO his feet and
shouted to Simmons:
That looks like a'man over there"
Almost at the same instant Sim
mons rifle cracked and a bullet wills
tied through the trees close by. The
battle was on and a fusilade of shots
was kept up for half an hour. The
Martins crouched behind their saddles
and Simmons fortified himself behind
a clump of bushes. The officers were
fairly well protected.
bill" Martin was the first to be
struck. A bullet penetrated his body