The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1909-02-02

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stretched upon the sidewalk with
bullet through his brain; Joe Earl, his
brother-inIaw, pierced by three bull
let's, and Bill Thomas, night chief,
prisoner, charged with murder-these
we're the results Of a shooting melee
occurring about o'clock last night,
the whole tragedy occupying but few
seconds.
Goodwin was killed instantly, one
bullet. apparently the first fired, enter
ing his temple, and two penetrating
HE right cheek.
Earl was hit by bullets in the side,
the arm and thigh, all being flesh
wounds and not necessarily Of a dan
gerous character.
Thomas walked at once to police
headquarters, sitting down in the room
and waiting till Sheriff Louthan came
and took him to the county Jail.
The dead chief was taken in an am
buIance to claycomb 4 Anderson's un.
dertakins parlors, while Earl was con-
veyed to the Goodwin home, Sixth and
Kansas.
There we're but few immediate wit
nesses 10 the tragedy, although a
crowd gathered quickly after the first
shot was fired The chief had fallen
then and what the spectators saw was
two men. Earl and Thomas firing at
each other in quick succession.
Chief Goodwin. Joe Earl and Jude
Askew had been at the Palace drug
store. chatting and smoking shortly be-
fore the tragedy They left the store,
walking west on Chickasha avenue
when in front OF the Peoples Store
they met Thomas According 10 the
testimony of one who was within a
few feet of where the trouble started
Goodwin spoke TO Thomas. saying in
substance. bill. why did you tell
Yearta that the town is running wide
open? You have as much authority
as have to close it up and / have
told you to make raids as often as
you like. / can't see everything that
goes on"
Some say that the lie was passed
but the person quoted above says that
Thomas at once pulled his gun and
showed It at the chiefs face and began
firing, the chief falling. The chief was
standing holding his overcoat which
was thrown over his shoulder. AS
Goodwin fell. Earl pulled his gun and
began firing at Thomas. who quickly
returned the fire. Earl then walked to
where the fallen chief was lying
and began as if to raise his head when
Thomas opened fire again.
According to some accounts, Earl
struck Thomas with his gun Thomas
will plead self-defense. it is under
stood, claiming that Earl began the
fight by striking him. The whole
took place in a few sec
onds and IT will require sworn testi-
mony to decide exactly how il started.
t. B. Hobgood who was standing in
front Of the 0. X. Transfer office and
says he saw the whole affair, told the
county attorney that he heard the lie
passed, he wasn't certain who spoke,
and saw Thomas instantly pull his
gun and begin to shoot, Goodwin fall
ing at the first shot. He said the
chief never fired, that as Earl began to
shoot, Thomas walked three or four
feet into the street and began to re-
turn the fire. He says Thomas fired
Two shots at Earl as the latter was
to lift up the chief
When Goodwin's gun was brought to
he county attorney every chamber
was loaded. Thomas used sS-caliber
gun.
I'll feeling had existed between Good
win and Thomas for some time, dating
back to two years ago, when Thomas
was partisan of one OF Coodwin's
rivals for the nomination for chief It
was understood that Thomas was 60