Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-20
MOB RAIDS JAIL
AND AND LYNCHES A
WHITE PRISONERS
MEN ACCUSED OF MURDER OF
WEALTHY CATTLEMAN
ADA, OKLA, SCENE OF EARLY
MORNING VIOLENCE
Sheriff Tried to Make Stand Against
Raiders, but He Was overpowered.
AccompIice, Who confesses,
Not Harmed
tRv Associated Press.l

ADA, Okla, April 19.-At O'Clock
this morning a mob of 200 men stormed
the county Jail here and after over
towering the sheriff lynched four white
men. The lynched men are;
T. r. Miller of Fort Worth, Texas,
charged with the murder of A. A. Bob
bitt a wealthy eattleman Of this sec
tion. and d. b. Burrell, Jesse West and
Joseph Allen, alleged accomphces OF
Miller.
The mob worked rapidly and quietly,
nothing being known Of the lynchlng
until daylight The victims of the
mob were taken to barn Wllhln
short distance of the jail.
"Rring a rope" the leader shouted,
and one by one the men were hanged.
The mob effected an entrance to the
iail by tearing down high fence
which inclosed 1t. .,
The leader then pounded on the JAN
door.
"Sheriff, we mean business" he called
to the officer inside.
"You might as we'll go home, boys,
the sheriff answered. Il will never
omen this door. Duty is duty. I'm here
to observe the law and protect these
men,"
Break in Door
For reply three or four sturdy MEM
hers of the mob fell against the door,
breaking it down. One of the party
dealt the sheriff blow with his re-
volyer telling him. The mob then CONF
pleted its work.
Walter Peeter, II years old, nephew
of Miller, confined in the jail for COM
plicity in the murder, was not molest-
ed by the lynchers. He turned state
evidence a week ago and is held as
witness.
The electric wires were cut by the
mob prior to the hanging, and the city
thrown into complete darkness.
Bobbitt was killed February 27, 1909.
He was driving his wagon few miles
out of Ada. The shot which killed MN
was fired from ambush. The assassin
mounted his horse and rode away.
Bobbitt's body was found the next
day. There was no evidence save the
shoes on the murderer's horse, which
had been removed a few miles from
the scene of the crime. Miller and ms
conpanions were suspected of knowing
who committed the crime.
Arrested Two Weeks Ago
Two weeks ago the prisoners We're
placed under arrest at Forth Worth
and brought to Ada for trial. Miller
had his preliminary hearing last FIJI
day and was held for trial and helu
without bail.
The authorities allege Allen and
West, who were wealthy cattlemen OF
Canadian, Texas, hired Miller to kill
Bobbitt, Burrell paying Miller the
money Allen, West and Bobb1tt were
neighboring ranchmen in Seminole
county. and the trouble is alleged TO
have been due to an old disagreement
West was the only prisoner who re-
sisted effectively and he fought des-
perately. Later it was learned there
were two guards at the jail and both
were knocked into insensibility. They
will recover.
When the mob removed the men from
the jail it did not molest Walter Peeter,
a 17-year-old boy who was implicated
in the murder, but had turned state
evidence.
The boy confessed this afternoon. He
and that Jesse West paid Miller to
commit the murder.
The coroner's jury returned the fol-
lowing verdict: I'VE find that Jim
Miller. D. B. Burrell, Joe Allen and
Jesse West met their death by being
hung by a rope, and that the death of
each man was caused by strangulation
produced by the rope placed about
his neck by parties whose names are
to the jury unknown"
The jury makes no recommendation
that the lynching be investigated;
The county attorney declared he
would investigate but admitted there
was no evidence, and that there proba-
bly, would be no prosecution.
Some of the leading business men
talked today Of holding a mass meet
ing of protest tonight, but their idea
was abandoned.