Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-04-13
FIRST ATTEMPT ON Dec. 26
THEY DREW STRAWS TO SEE
WHO SHOULD STAY OUTSIDE
AND WHO ENTERED.
FRUSTRATED BY TOWNSMEN
After lie Had Mounted Horse with
$1,000 in Pocket, the Animal Re.
fused 10 Carry Him Away.

Telling a story that er-shadowed
the most thrilling tales told of the
bold outlaw gangs that operated in the
Territory, that was even more thrilling
than the famous Diamond DclT nov
els, Otis, Lee, alias Brock, charged
with robbing the bank of BiXby on
January 3, took the stand in the dis
trict court yesterday in the trial of
Sam owen, who is also charged with
the robbery, and made clean confess
sion of every detail of the affair.
Beginning with the first plan when
he, Sam owen and man named Ben
Hart, discussed robbing the bank,
down to his sensational capture as he
fled from the bank with $4,000 IN his
pocket, he told every move they made,
and was only stopped when court ad-
journed for the day at G30 o'clock
last night.
Lee toJk the stand at o'clock in
the afternoon, having been the first
witness called.
The trial was started Thursday af-
tsrnoon. but aside from disposinE
of preliminary motions, no progress
was made The attorneys for Lee ap-
piled for n separate trial which was
granted, owen being tried first. At
3 o'clock yesterday morning the work
Of selecting a jury was started. Each
side was allowed five challenges, and
4 II NJ. al
Of twenty-four iurymen was exhausted,
and an extra vcnire of fourteen was
called before twelve men agreeable to
both sides were in the jury box. The
first witness was Otis lee. 1t was un-
derstood he took the stand under a
promise of immunity, he having been
one Of the principals I'm the robbery.
How They Planned Robbery.
Lee Immediately launched into his
remarkable story Of how the plans to
rob the bank were made by himself,
Sam owen and Ben Hart. Hart has
not been captured. For two hours and
half he talked In almost an under
tone, and several times had to repeat
answers so that the jury could hear
He was skillfully questioned by Coun-
ty Attorney Malloy.
He apparently was laborlng under a
severe strain. smany times he paused
TO wipe the perspiration from his face.
Sam owen, the defendant, sitting al
most directly under the witness box,
seldom took his eyes from the witness,
and followed closely every word. His
wife. two grown daughters and one
small daughter and a boy sat directly
behind him, but had nothing to say.
Conferred on December -.
Lee, who is only boy. apparently
about 22 years old, related how he
hame to BiXby from his home in Cow
eta. and worked in n restaurant as a
dishwasher. He met owen, who lived
a few miles from BiXby and later
met Hart. on December % they held
a conference at ovens home and de-
cided to rob the bank of Bixby. They
set no date at this conference, but
during the days that followed, planned
further details Of the crime.
on December "a, according to Lee,
owen came home and said that he
learned that the bank would have S5,-
600 on hand on December 26. so they
decided to make the attempt that day.
Lee, who was then staying at the
owen home and owen. got mp before
daylight on the morning Of December
2G. and met Hart in a field near the
house.
Then They Drew Straws
Here they planned to do the Job"
owen was to furnish the horses and
the guns and Lee and Hart were to
do the real work
Hart and Lee could not decide who
should go in the bank and who should
stand outside. They finally drew
straws Lee drawing the long one and
the Job of going into the bank.
They went to Bixby about Il o'clock /
In the morning. Hart was stationed
directly across the street from the
front Of the bank. to see If the coast /
was clear and to keep any one from .
entering the bank. while Lee. who I
had his horse tied back OF the bank. /
was to enter from the rear and get the /
money.
Ice Also Beat II.
According to the remarkable story.
lee, when he was about ready to go
INTO the bank. noticed Hart galloplng
iown the street away from the bank.
and a crowd of people on the street.
lie decided something was wrong and
rode away himself.
Later all three met at ovens home
md decided to put off the attempt un-
III the town had quleted down. II hav-
ng been said the town had learned
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