The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1908-11-16
FIVE ARE DEAD
At OkMU[GEE
Negro Desperate Resists Arrest
and Stays Sheriff and
Police Officer.
STREETS ARE PATROLLED
Governor Haskell Prepares to Send
Soldiers to Oklahoma Town, but
the News Serves to Sober
DisorderIy Elements.

Okmulgee, Ok, Nov. 16.-Five
persons were killed and ten others
wounded yesterday afternoon in
fight between Jim Deckard, negro
desperate, and law officers. The
dead:
Edgar Robinson, sheriff of Okmul-
gee county.
Henry Klaber, assistant chief of
police of Okmulgee.
Two negroes named Chapman
(brothers).
Jim Deckard, negro.
The wounded:
Steve Grayson, Indian boy, fatally
/ beaten.
Vic Farr, chief of police, shot
through shoulder.
Deputy sheriff name not learned,
arm broken
Seven others slightly wounded.
The disturbance began at the St.
Louis and San Francisco railroad
station. where Jim Deckard engaged
in a fight with an Indian boy, Steve
Grayson, and beat him into insensi
bility with rock
Friends of Grayson notified the
police, and when Policeman Klaber
went to the station, Deckard fled to
/ his houee- .-1!o oq4 sa~piJlded him
self in, and Nnen K7aber' aI..soached 4
Deckard shot and instantly Silled
/ him. Sheriff Robinson gathered a
posse in a few minutes and hurried
TO the scene. Part of this posse was
made up OF a group of negroes whom
the sheriff commissioned As deputies.
As the posse approached the house
Deckard opened fire with rifle. fir
ing as rapidly as he could, then re-
loading his weapon, The sheriff fell
first, instantly killed Then the two
/ Chapman brothers, negroes, were
slain. Deckard's house was soon sur
rounded by frenzied mob of armed
men. Fire was set to house just
north of Deckard's. Volleys We're
poured into Deckard's house and he
was shot down. He was seen to roll
over on the floor, strike match and
set fire to his own house, which was
soon a roaring furnace in which his
body was baked. Deckard evidently
had a large quantity of ammunition
stored in his house, for many car
tridges exploded while the house
was burning.
Gov Haskell at Guthrie was noti-
fed of the battle and Of the bad
1 feeling between the whites and ne
groes that had grown out Of 1t and
threatened race riot. The governor
at once ordered the militia company
at Muskogee to prepare to go to Ok
mulgee, and a special train was made
ready to carry the troops, the COVER
snor remaining at his once to kAep
+ g
good sRscs so ths 1eni ele-
ment of both races, ana ats oseaE
last night the crowd had dispersed
and further trouble was not expect
ed.
A telephone message from Gov.
Haskell at II o'clock last night said
he would not order 4he Muskogee
company to Okmulgee unless he re-
ceived further information. The ON
cials have advised him that the town
is quiet. though there Is still much
feeling over the event. The streets
of Okmrlgee are being patroiied by
armed men and 1t 10 thought the
town will soon be restored to- its
usual qulet
During the past week district
court has been In session at Oknul-
geo and there has been Wholesale
conviction Of negro bootleggers. Sat
urday a protest was made because Z
white Jury convicted the negroes az
fast as they came up for trial. A ne.
gro woman was to be tried Saturday
and Judge Alexander. had . special
jury composed Of negroes to try her
She was acquitted. This has caused I
bitter race feeling and tomorrow ar
effort will be made to Quash the pan
el Of negro jurors.