The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-12-01
AGED hEGRESS WAS
DRUTAlLY MURDERED
CiTcumsianlIaI Evidence Leads
TO Arrest Of "Jim" Owens
Another Mystery

On account of the intense feeling
among the neighbors OF Jim Owens,
well 10 do negro farmer in Spring.
vale township. twelve miles south
east of this city and who was placed
behind the bars Of the county Jail
late Tuesday evening by Sheriff Ma
honey charged by a coroner's jury
with the murder of Maria Simmons, a
feeble negress So ears OF age. who
was killed Sunday evening in or near
her shaniy on the Owens farm where
she had resided the past ten years,
With the development Of another
mystery today In the sudden and
mysterious death of Charles Davis.
negro SO years Of age, who resided
So 5lS West Oklahoma avenue late
Tuesday afternoon, Sheriff Mahoney
has issued strict orders to County
Jailer Langfitt and MS deputies not
TO admit any caller at the county Jail
and to keep themselves In readiness
in case OF an emergency.
There being no direct evidence
connecting Owens with the killing of
Maria simmons, County Attorney
Hepburn left early this morning to
inspect the scene of the murder. ae-
companied by Doctors Barker and
Cotteral. who will make an examiua.
tion of the murdered wOmans body
10 ascertain II the aged negress had
been assaulted.
Claim circumstantlal Evidence.
Sheriff Mahoney and the coroner's
jury which was empanelled by Justice
s. r. Rusby and composed of viii
Irwin and h. j Campbell. whites.
and Sam Able. w jennings. Richard
Oldham and A C. Hamil. colored.
found complete chain Of circum-
stantial evidence against owens, II is
alleged
The murder was committed some.
time between Sunday afternoon ane
Monday, presumably Sunday night,
The negress was last seen at the
neishbothoOd church late Sunday
afternoon attired in her best clothes.
The murderer used blunt axe
belonging to the victim in committing
his brutal aud cold blooded deed. The
axe. covered with blood and parts Of
the woman's brains, was found on the
premises. Examination of the body
showed that the negress was felled
from a blow of the axe In the back
Of the head. Not content with kill.
ing her, the murderer struck the
aged negress on the head several
times apparently, there being evi-
aoroa ~ t,.t.x lsfts..o ..ttth tho f.n,,+ ~
the axe, which was driven into her
brain, Other blows were evidenced
on the cheek and across the nose
Whefe the axe had been driven into
the face of the victim.
Motive for the Crime.
The only motive OF the murder AS
signed BY the sheriff and nelghbors
is that Owens. who ha dbeen com
planning OF being bothered with The
Simmons woman concerning her prop
erty for the past yea. committed the
brutal crime 10 get rid of her.
Owens several years ago gave Mrs.
Simmons and her husband. who died
suddenly about year ago. being
found dead In his yard. supposedly
from natural causes, permission to
build small shack on his farm. a
half mile from his home place. with
the understanding that they could
always live there and till a portion OF
his land In cotton on shares. They
owned an old black mare, a mule and
COW. which were taken away from
the negress II Is alleged. by Owens
since her husbands death The
sheriff reports havins been visited by
Maria Simmons once or twice during
the past six months. complaining
about Ovens taking her property
away from her and causing her trou'
BILE. The sheriff says she was hys-
terical and that the county attorney
did not think that the facts warrant
ed the arrest Of Owens Some OF the
neighbors now advance The theory
that Owens also took part OF the six
dollars monthly warrant she was al
lowed by the county for her support
since the death OF her husband and
diverted II TO his own use and thai
the woman had threatened 10 fepor'
him 10 the officers, hence motive Il
silence her lips forever.
Neiohbors Suspected Owens.
The neighbors suspected Owens
owing to bis recent troubles with ths
woman and the fact that Il was hs
-. a,c~tes ttse Hnafrg ~ tho daaf
BODY Monday night about 7 o'clock
which led 10 the notification 10 IN:
officers OF the crime Owens says h
was called to that part OF his farm
~ h{a horcne arfin4 f1lfppfiv and fHa