Evening star., 1909-04-19
Rich CattIemen Taken From
Jail at Ada, Okla.
HANGED ONE AT A TIME
Work Quickly and Quietly Done in
the Early Morning.
ACCUSED OF BoBBITT MURDER
United States Marshal Was Shot
From Ambush Last February-No
Arrests Have Been Made.

ADA, Okla. April 19.-Four prominent
here early today and lynched by q mob
of 100 citizens. The victims are ]. B.
Miller Of Fort Worth. Tex; B. B. Burrell
Of DUNCAN. Okla; Jesse West of Canadian,
Tex. and Joe Allen of Canadian, Tex.
West and Allen were well-to-do Texans
and large cattle owners.
| The mob is said to have organized in
| the Commercial Club rooms and marched
to the jail At o'clock. Only one man
stood guard at the prison. and he was
quickly overpowered and the four prison
ers seized. taken to a nearby barn and
| hung from the rafters. The bodies were
| cut down about o'clock. There was lit
| tie excitement during the lynching.
| The men were held OH a charge of COM
plicity In the murder Of former United
States Marshal A. L. Bobbitt, near Ada,
last February. Bobbitt was shot from
ambush on his way home. An examining
trial was held last Thursday. but no in
dictment was ever returned. Miller, one
Of the victims. leaves a wife in Fort
Worth. He had killed six men in his
time, and was "chum" Of the late Pat
Garrett. the famous manhunter. and was
with Garrett when he was killed at Las
| Cruces.
Few Were Masked.
prominent citizens OF the city and only
few were masked.
The authorities were powerless to pre-
vent the .lynching. as the early hour
placed them at disadvantage The en-
! tire formation of the mob and the lynch
ing which followed was performed in the
most methodical manner.
| 80 intense was the feeling during the
preliminary hearing Of the men tina,
Judge Brown prohibited the publication
OF the evidence. Burrell was a nephew
OF Miller and turned states evidence
against Miller and told Of complete plans
OF West and Allen to murder Bobbitt, 9
long time enemy Of both. No arrests OF
the lynchers have been made.
Hanged One at a Time.
The mob worked rapidly and quietly
nothing being known Of the lynching unit
daylight. The victims Of the mob wer,
taken to barn within short distance O
the jail. Bring a rope" the leader shout
ed, and one by one the men were hanged
The mob effected an entrance into th
jail By dfffrins :, A .oon hifh fence whici
bers Of the vigilance party were insid
the inclosure the leader pounGAl on tn
| Jail door.
Sheriff. we mean business" he called
to the officer inside.
You might as well go home. boys.
the sheriff answered. II will never opel
tbs door. Duty IL duty. I am here I,
observe the law and protect these men,"
| For reply three OF four sturdy member
OF the mob fell against the door, breag
ing it. Inside one Of the party dealt tn,
sheriff blow with his revolver. fellini
him. The mob then completed its work.
Walter Peeler aged seventeen years. I
nephew Of Miller, confined in the jai
molested by the lynchers. He turnet
states evidence a week ago and was
being held as witness.
The electric wires were cut prior Il
the hanging and the city turned into
complete darkness.
The Murder Of Bobbitt.
Bobbitt was killed February q. 1909
Near dusk he was driving in his wagor
Ia few miles out OF Ada. The shot which
killed him was fired from ambush. TIL,
assassin mounted his horse and rode
away. Bobbitt's dead body was founc
the next day There was no evidence
| save the shoes on the murderer's horse
which had been removed q few mile:
| from the crime. Miller and his com
panions were suspected Of knowing who
committed the crime
Two weeks ago the prisoners were
placed under arrest q. Forth Worth and
| brought to Ada for trial. Miller had his
nreliminary hearing last Friday and was
| held without bail. The authorities allege
| that lien and West hired Miller to Kill
Bobbitt. Burrell paying Miller the money
Allen, West and Babbitt were neighbor
ranchmen in Seminole county, and the
| trouble IL alleged to have been due to an