The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-05-13
long tlme IN Osage Clty. Kanaaa.

long time in Usage City, Kansas. AT
that place they had restaurant
John Witt, the negro who apparently
won the white woman's love. had been
acquainted with Mrs. strain since be-
fore Reuben Strain married her. Peo-
pie at Usage City kept informing
Strain of his wifes doubtful actions
but he would not believe them. In
fact, he frequently got into trouble
when disputing what the people told
him about her He would fight for
her, declaring that he would not have
any man talk about his wife.
The negro. John Witt. was nothing
but common laborer and always Wis
tied the Strain home at Usage City.
This was not approved Of by the citi-
2ens Of that town, but her husband
seemed to have no objections and It is
believed that it was there and then
that the runaway was planned.
After the woman's coming to Guthrie
1t is not positively known whether the
negro came here or not. but it is
known that Mrs. Strain had white
girl who lives with her parents. three
miles southeast of Guthrie correspond
with the negro. The white girl did not
know, however. that Witt was a negro.
Mrs. Strain told her that she loved
Witt and wanted her to do the writ
ing because she could neither write nor
read.
Last Tuesday Strain. who had been
living in Usage City for the past few
months, after leaving his wife here.
came to this city and Mrs. Strain
could not be found Through various
sources it was ascertained that she had
gone TO Muskogee
He, apparently frenzied. tried in
every possible way to locate his wife
at Muskogee. He telephoned the Of
hcers there 60 arrest them. The Of
hcers answered that Mrs. Strain and
John Witt, the negro. were i'm Musko-
gee, but that they could not be arrest
ed without warrant. Upon receiving
this reply the poor man broke down
and began crying.
Those who talked with him say that
he was worried about his wife's where
lbouts and yet he knew positively that
she was with a negro
Mrs. Strain is a woman about IS
Tears old, not good looking, but big.
stout and healthy. Weighing about 15O
pounds. She was not attractive nor
lid she appear bright.
Strain says that he has been a hard
working man all his life. that he made ,
good living for his wife and that they I
rad comfortable home at Usage City.
John Witt is a yellow negro and
weighs about 100 pounds It IS said
hat he simply followed the woman and
lept after her every day he saw her
n Usage City until finally a runaway ,
vas the result.
Today Strain left for Kansas. say. ,
ng that he never wanted to be seen Z
gain.
Strain called on Governor Ferguson
or assistance in his plight The gov
rnor told him that he could not do e
nything for him as it was not within
lis power. It is said that Strain broke
own again and wept pitifully.
1t is also said that the wife OF the
egro sent a photograph of her hus-
and, John Witt. to the owner OF the q
ouse on East Cleveland, in which Mr.. ,
nd Mrs. Strain had lived and wrote o
hat Mrs, Strain was the woman who
ad been trying to break up her home
pr years. The negro wonap stated .
q her letter that she had nine child n
en- and was practically without sup y
ort. The letter was in the form of
plea, begging the people Of Guthrie q
DO something to get her husband to g
ONE back TO her ga Kansas "a