The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-16
FLEEING NEGRO HIDES
 IN HOUSE AND SHOOTS
 ID KILL UNDER COVER
After Four Men Are Killed the Des- perado is Wounded and He Sets Fire To House and
 Burns Up With
 the Structure.

Okmulgee, Okla, November 15.-Five persons were killed and ten others wounded this afternoon in a fight be- tween Jim Deckard, a negro desperado, and officers of the law. The dead:
 Edgar Robinson, sheriff of Okmulgee 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 disturbances began at the St. Louis and San Francisco railroad station, where Jim Deckard engaged in fight with an Indian boy, Steve Grayson, and beat him into insensibility with a rock Friends of Grayson notified the police and when Po- liceman Klaber went to the station Deck ard fled to his house nearby barricaded himself in, and when Klaber approached, Deckard shot and instantly killed him. Sheriff Robinson gathered a posse in 8 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 rife, firing as rapidly as he could load. ids weapon. 7<es shnT Il first, instantly killed. Then two ofetis negro deputies were slain. Declzards house was soon surrounded by a frenzied mob of armed men. Fire was set to house just north of Deckards. Volleys 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 q roaring furnace in which his body was baked. Deckard evidently had a large quantity of ammunition stored in his house, for many cartridges exploded while the house was burning.
 Governor Haskell at, Guthrie was noti- fled of the battle and of the bad feeling between whites ard negroes that had grown out of it, which threatened a race riot The K Sernor at once or dered the military cN oany at Muskogee to prepare to go to OR ulgee and spec ia train was made ready to carry the troops, the governor remaining at his of flee to keep in touch with the situation
  here had good effect on the disorderly elements of both races. and at o'clock tonight the crowd had dispersed and further trouble was not expected. When it became known that no other negro had assisted Deckard against the officers the talk of reprsals subsided. A telephone message from Governor Haskell at Il o'clock tonight says that he will not order the Muskogee com pany to Okmugee unless developments necessitate such action The officials have advised him that the town is quiet though there is still much feeling over the events of this afternoon
 The streets of Okmulgee are being pa trolled by armed men and 1t is thought morning will find the town restored to it's usual quiet.
 During the past week district court has been in session at Okmulgee and whole sale conviction of negro bootleggers oc- cured. A negro woman was to be tried Saturday and Judge Alexander had a special jury composed of negroes try her She was acquitted. This has caused a bitter race feeling and tomorrow an ef- fort will be made to quash the panel of negro jurors.