The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-11-16
BLOODY FIGHT
WITH NEGRO
IN OKLAHOMA
Four Men Killed by Desperate
Before He Was Shot
by Posse.
TEN OTHERS WOUNDED
DURING THE CONFLICT
RUMOR OF RACE WAR INDUCED
THE GOVERNOR TO ORDER
TROOPS TO SCENE.

Oknuleee. Okla. Nov 15-FIve persons
were killed ana ten others wounded this
afternoon in a fight between Jim Deckard.
"a negro desperate. and local officers.
The Dead.
Edgar Robinson. sheriff OF okmulges
county.
Henry KIaber. assistant chief Of police
of Okmulgee.
Two negroes naced Cha pman, brother,
Jim Deckard negro.
The Wounded.
Steve Grayson. Indian boy, fatally
Vie FAIR. chief OF police. shot through
shoulder.
Deputy sheriff name not learned. arm
broken
Seven others. slightly wounded
Policeman Killed.
The disturbance began at the 81 Louis
( San Francisco railroad station, when
Jim Deckard engaged in a fight with
Indian boy, steve Grayson, and beat him
into insensibIlity with a rock. Friends OF
Grayson notified the police and when Pc
liceman Klaber went TO the station Deck
ard fled to his house near by. b2rricadec
himself in and when I<laber approached,
Deckard shot and killed him. Sheriff
Robinson gathered q posse in a few min
utes and hurried TO the scene. Part OF
this posse was made mp % group OF
negroes. whom the sheriff commissioned
as deputies. As the posse approached the
house, Deckard opened fire with a rife.
I firing as rapidly as he could load his
weapon.
Sheriff Shot Down.
Sheriff Robinson fell first Instantly
killed. Then the two ChaPmans. brothers.
negro deputies. We're slain Deckard's
house was surrounded by a frenZiej
mob Of armed men Fire was SET
TO 4 house Just north OF that OF
Deokard, vOlleys were poured into Deck
ards house. and he was shot down. He
was seen 10 roll over on the floor, strike
| a match and set fire to his own house.
which was soon a roaring furnace. in
I which his body WAS baked Deckard evl-
IDENTIFY had large quantity OF ammuul-
ton stored in his house. for many cart
! Militia Not Needed
Governor Haskell at Guthrie was noti-
! fled of the battle and Of the bad feeling
J between the whites and negroes that had
| grown out Of il AMI threaten &c RIO
! riot The governor AT once ordered the
militia company IT MuSkOSec 10 prepare
/ TO go to Okmulgee. and special train
was made ready TO carry me troops; the
governor remaining at MS office 10 keep
! in touch with the situation. News of th2
preparation TO send miliua here had a
good effect Oh the disOrderly element "
both races, and at o'clock tonight the
crowd has dispersed and further trouble
Z was not expected
When il became known that no other ne
gro had assisted Deckard against the OF
ficers che tal< Of reprisals subsided.
The Town Patroiled.
\ telephone message from Governor
Haskell at 10 o'clock tonight says he viii
not order the MuskOgee company 10
Okmulgee unless he receives fu ,ther in
formation. The local officials have sd-
Vised him that the town is quiet, still
there Is much feeling over the events of
this afternoon. The streets OF Okmul-
gee are being patrolled by armed men
and ii is thought morning Will find the
town restored TO its usual quiet
During the past week district court
has been in session at Okmulgee and
there has been wholesale conviction OF
negro bootIeggers Yesterday a protest
was made because the white jury cor
victed the negroes as fast as they came
up for trial \ negro woman was to be
tried Saturday and Judge Alexander had
a special jury composed of negroes To
try her. She was acquitted. This has
caused bitter race feeling and tomorrow
an effort Will be made to quash the
panel of negro jurors.