The Oklahoma miner. [volume] (Krebs, Okla.) 1912-192?, 1913-09-04
POLITICS CAUSES
EDITORS DEATH
}. Y. sCHENCK SHOT BY JOHN
LINDSAY, FORMER COUNTY
TREASURER
EDITOR OF SuLPHER DEMOCRAT
Adverse Comment the Direct Cause
Writer Refused to Obey Stay
= er's Command to "Eat the
Offending Paper"

Sulphur,-Adverse editorial com
ment followed by the refusal of the
editor to 'eat the paper" containing
1t, when commanded to do so by the
subject of the article, resulted in the
leath Of J. Y. Schenck, editor of the
Sulphur Democrat. John Lindsay, the
'ormer county treasurer of Murray
county, is now confined in the Cleve-
land county Jail at Norman, charged
With the killing.
Lindsay was rushed to Norman on
the first train after the tragedy by
Sheriff Rawlings to avoid all danger
Of mob violence as the residents Of
Sulphur are highly incensed because
of the killing.
Lindsay shot Schenck twice with a
double barreled shotgun while the
editor was sitting in a buggy in front
of a blacksmith shop, waiting to have
the buggy repaired. The first shot
took away Schenck's hand, which he
had thrown in front Of his breast, sew
eral shot also entering his breast.
Don't shoot any more" cried
Schenck, 81 am a dead man now"
But Lindsay fired the second bar.
rel, the shot entering the right breast
OF his victim and tearing a great
hole. Schenck lived forty-fve min.
utes after the shooting, but never re-
gained consciousness.
Bitter Political Enemies
For several years Lindsay and
Schenck have been bitter political en-.
emies, and Lindsay finished on July
J., serving a term as county treasur.
er, an Office which he, had held con.
tinuously since statehood. He was a
candidate for sheriff in the primary
TO be held next year.
On July q Schenck published a
long article in the Democrat which
criticised Lindsay. 1t stated in sub
stance that Lindsay was attempting
to direct the affairs Of the board Of
county commissioners. This state.
ment referred to the action of the
board allowing the new county treas.
urer $500 for a deputy following his
declaration in the campaign that he
would conduct the office without help
If elected. The board allowed the
extra $500 because the legislature in
creased the duties of the county treas
urer, but Lindsay, according to the
Democrat, was objecting to this.
The article also stated that the
former county official had voted for
socialist candidates and worked for
the socialist ticket in the election last
fall while holding Office as a democrat.
The democrat stated that Lindsay
was a candidate for sheriff, but sup
posed he would not run on the demo
cratic ticket after his socialist rec
ord, and stated that it would oppose
his candidacy.
1t further stated that Lindsay had
been disowned by the socialists be-
cause he had failed to prosecute asuit
for libel which he brought last year
against the sheriff, who he alleged,
had accused nj 1nof voting the social
list ticket, This suit was for $20,O 900.
Had Not Met Before
Because Of the fact that Schenck
lives in east Sulphur and Lindsay in
west Sulphur, the two had never met
since the publication Of the objection
able article. Schenck went over on
the west side to have his buggy re-
paired and Lindsay saw him there.
According to the story of the kill
ing, Lindsay walked up to the buggy
where Schenck was sitting, and show
ing him a>copy Of the paper, demand
ed that he eat it. The editor said
nothing, and then Lindsay stepped
back, raised his gun and opened fire.
Lindsay formerly resided at Nor
man and has a family there.
Schenck was a middle-aged man
and was expecting the appointment as
postmaster of Sulphur.
British CbapcaIor Iar