The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-16
Bloody Battle in Okmulgee
Okla, Between Negro Des-
peradO and Officers.
MURDERER KILLS FOITR
BEFORE BEING SLAIN
After Being Wounded, Negro
Sets Fire to Own House and
Is Burned to Crisp.

OKMULGEE, Okla, Nov. l5.-Five
persons were killed and ten others
wounded this afternoon in a fight be-
tween Jim Deckard, negro desparado,
and local officers.
The Dead.
EDGAR ROBINSON, sheriff of Ok.
mulgee county.
HENRY KLABER, assistant chief of
police Of Okmulgee.
Two negroes, named Chapman,
brothers.
JIM DECKARD, negro.
The Wounded.
steve Grayson, Indian boy, fatally.
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 & San Francisco railroad station
when Jim Deckard engaged in a fight
with an Indian boy. Steve Gravson, and
beat him into insensibility with a rock.
Friends Of Grayson notified the police,
and when Policeman Klaber went TO the
station, DecRard fled to his house near
by, barricaded himself In, and, when
klaber approached, Deckard shot and
killed him.
Kills Another Officer.
Sheriff Robinson gathered posse in
few minutes and hurried to the scene.
Part of this posse was made up of a
group of negroes. whom the sheriff COM
missioned as deputies. AS the posse ap-
preached the house Deckard opened fire
with a rifle. firing as rapidly as he
could load his weapon. Sheriff Robin
son fell first, instantly killed Then the
two Chapman brothers. negro deputies,
were slain. Deckard S house was
surrounded by a frenzied mob of
armed men. Fire was set TO a
house just north of Deckard's, vol
leys were poured into Deckard s
house and he was shot down. He was
seen TO roll over on the floor, strike
"A match and set fire to his own house,
which was soon roaring furnace in
evidently had large quantity OF am
munition stored in his house, for many
cartridges exploded while the house was
burning.
Militia Held in Readiness.
Governor Haskell. at Guthrie, was
notified of the battle and of the bad
that had grown out of it and threatened
race riot. The governor at once or
dered the militia company at Musko.
gee to prepare TO go 10 Okmulgee, and
d special train was made ready to carry
the troops, the governor remaining at has
office TO keep in touch with the situa-
ton News OF the preparation to send
militia here had good effect on the
disorderly element of both races, and at
clock tonight the crowd had dis
persed and further trouble IS not ex-
pected
When it became known that no other
negro had assisted Deckard against the
Officers, the talk of rcprisnls subsded.
Town Is Quiet Now.
A telephone message from Governor
Haskell az 10 clock tonight says he
will not order the Muskogee company 10
Okmulgee unless he receives further in
formation. The local officials have ad.
vised him that the town is quiet. still
there is much feeling over the events
of this afternoon. The streets OF Ok.
mulgee arc being patrolled by armed
men, and il is thought morning Will 1lnd
the town restored 10 its usual quiet.
During the past week the district
court has been in session at Okmulgee
and there has been o wholesale conyIc-
fion Of negro bootleggcrs. Yesterday
a protest was made because the white
Jury convicted the negroes as fast as
they came up for trial. y negro WON
an was 10 be tried Saturday and Judge
Alexander had special jury composed
of negroes 30 try her. She was ac-
uIitted. This has cansed a bitter race
feeling. and tomorrow an effort VIII be
made 10 auash the panel OF negro
JUrers.