The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-10-06
HAD ALTERATION WITH
STREET CAR CONDUCTOR
Police are MysiItIed Over
Tragedy and are Seeking
a Possible Motive
Special to Daily Leader.

Speclaa TO Daily Leader.
Muskogee. Okla, Oct 6-Lookng
through the spreading curtains from
the front window Of her home, at sos
South Eeventeenth street. Mrs Rufus
Sonnella saw Benson park car
speeding Dy block away; she saw
her husband, Rufus Connella advance
towards the center of the car, the
conductor. Gilbert smalley. point a
gun at him and fire twice, and her
husband fall between the seats. NOR.
tally wounded. She saw the car speed
on and turn the curve out Of signt.
Row Started Trouble
The tragedy followed a row on the
car few minutes before between
Conductor Gilbert Smalley ana Con
nela. Connella, with his wife and
two OF his wife's sisters, were riding
fIom down town, west on the Benson
park car. II was after 10 O'Clock.
Smalley had his arm over the side rail,
and as the car moved from block to
block, called the names of the stree 5.
This semed to annoy Connella VINO
protested and is said to have made
abusive remarks about the conductor
Conella finally ordered the conductor
10 move up another seat. which he did.
As the car got closer 10 Carolina
street. the destination OF the party,
Connella, according 10 the statements
CT Smalley, Motorman Walls and John
feterman, cursed and abused The con
due or AS Connella got off the caf
be was worked up to a high pitch OF
excitement and wrath, and made
threats against Smalley, one Of which
Is said to have BEEN "Ill get you,
YOU --." Smalley is said to have
drawn gun and told Connella to be
careful what he was doing.
The Tragedy.
From Carolina street to the end Of
me car line is considerable distance.
When the car returned Connella VISA
waiting for H. He had gone home
with his wife and relatives, and grow.
ing more angry, declared he would 90
back and settle with Smalley. HIS
wife pleaded with him TO remain at
home according to the statement Of
persons who talked to her after the
tragedy, but he refused and met the
returning ear After the car stopped
on its way TO town and Connella
noun ed the running board Smalley
drew his revolver Connella adyane.
ed towards him and is said TO nave
placed his hand near his hip pocket
as If to draw a gun when Smalley I'll
ed. One shot struck conneila in the
point OF the jaw shattered the jaw
bone Tie second shot ruek Con
nella squarely in the chest
While the tragedy was enacted the
car was in motion and passed point
plainly visible from the Connella
home. where Mrs. Connella was look
ing out of the window. 1t was over
In a flash. Viyidly she saw ber hus.
band advance towards smalley: she
saw the conductor boldly level the re.
volyer and the curling smoke flom
he gun barrel.
Car Carries Dead
The car continued until 1t reached
Fourteenth street, when II was stop
ped connella. groaning In pain, lay
between the seats Motorman Waits
went % the home of A. G. Trumbo to
call up superintendent. Long Smalley
who was then the only person on the
car with the dead man saw an auto
mobile coming west on b boadway and
wqlkIng In the middle Of the street
with his gun in bis hand stopped w
r. RoWsey and ordered him to get a
doctor. Rowsey ran over to he home
OF DR.. Claude Thompson and when
they returned they lifted Connella
from tie street car TO the auto and
started for the hospital They had nc
soner lifted the man from the auto
than he expired
M Visible Motive
II there was motive for the trag
edy. frlend9 of the dead man and Gil
bert Smallev, the man who Stayed hin
are successfully keeping II covered
up. According to a statement Of r
u. Long. manager or the Muskoset
Traction company, Smalley had beer
working for The road but three days
He was an experienced street car mar
end came we'll recommended Lonl
said that he did not know Smalley car
RED revolver and that the conduct
Or explained that he always carried
pnn. Mr.. Long Is not inclined to up
hold smailey. as he believes that th'
'.agedy could have been sverted
smaIIev pleads Defense
cma1Iev eave that he killed ConnnI