The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-05-31
FACTIONS ARE GATHERING
IN LITTLE TOWN OF 800
Practically Every Man Carrying
a Sk-ShoOter, with Rifle
and Shotgun Handy

lnola, Okla, May 3l.-Inola is
town Of about 500 people, and for
the past week practically every man
in II has been carrying a six-shooter
on his hip and a rifle or shotgun
within easy reach, SO complete was
the arming that the available supply
OF firea ms was cleaned UP and rush
orders sent to wholesalers at Musko.
gee for more.
Night and day every moment Is
filled with dread that an outbreak will
occur between two factions there and
that many men will be killed. The
situation grows out of the assassina-
tion of Roy Crutchfleld two weeks
ago.
The feud exists between the Crutch
fields and their friends on one side
and Ed Mallen and his friends on,
the other Mallen and two other men
are charged with the murder Of
Crutchfield and are in jail at Clar>
more, the county seat OF Rogers coun-
ty. 1t Is understood they have sent
word that as soon as they a. e released
II they can get bond, they will make
those responsible for the charges
against them bite the dust Their
friends have taken up the feud and
are going armed.
On the other hand, the friends OF
the Crutchfields are determined that
someone shall pay the penalty OF
death for his assassination and they
equally as yigilant as the Mallens
Both sides admit there is likely to-
be trouble the moment El Mallen ap-
pears in Inola,
Girl Said in Case.
There Is said to be a woman in the
case, a girl. who came from Joplin
Mo-, several months ago. 1t is also
said that Roy Crutchfeld was lured
to the place where he was assassinat-
ed by decoy note supposed to have
been written by the girl. but in real.
lty wlitten by the assassins to lure
Crutchfied' to his death, instead OF
tryst.
The murler Of Roy CrutchIield y
only the eliminating event of the
feud He was a young man, 23 years
old, with strain OF Indian blood and
wealthy, owning a big ranch and lots
OF stock. His home Is in Claremore,
but his big ranch is near lnola ana
there he .pent most OF his fine. Just
a year befo e he was killed, his uncle,
w. Fl. Crutchfield another wealthy
cattleman, was assassinated at the
same place and in the same manner
The two assassinations led to the
present hair-trigger situation at In
ola. And while the officers of Rog-
ers county and the leyel-headed cit-
Zens of lnOla are doing all in their
power to prevent an outbreak, the
slightest move on the 1t of any
man of either faction that looks like
drawing a gun will be tae Signal for
deadly feud fish BON sides are
resting on their arms, with eve oPeA
and fingers on triggers. II Is ex
pected Mallen will be released on
appearance in Inola viii probably be
the signal for trouble.
Money is Stolen.
Roy Crutohfield had been In Inola
the day Of the murder transacting
business. 1t is understood that when
he left for his ranch he had 500 IN
currency with him. If so, this was
stolen by the assassins. The first
info nation of the murder came when
the team that Crutchfield was driv
ing came back to Inola with the bug
gy partially wrecked. Evidently they
had been running most of the waS
They reached Inola shortly after \
o'clock at night.
II was Immediately surmised that
something had happened to Crutch-
field A searching party found his
body lying by the roadside several
miles ON town. A bullet from
Winchester had torn its way through
the back of his head, apparently kill
ing him instantly. He either fell
eut OF his buggy or was thrown out
when the team started to run. There
VA another bullet hole through ~.
back of the seat of the buggy, showing
more than one shot had been fired
and that the assassin came up be-
hind
II was lonely road and so far as
known there is no direct evidence as
TO who committed the crime, and the
arrests that have been made were on
circumstantial evidence.