The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-07-25
BELIEVED THAT DEAD
MAN WAS INSANE
Father is Said to Have BrOOded
Over Daughters Love Affair
Officers Get More Light
On the Affair

Following an investigation at the
scene Of the Thomas killing near Alex
by Sheriff John G. Lewis and County
Attorney Simpson, Clarence McLemore
and w L Walker, hired hands who
were arrested with young Thomas on
the night Of Ii killing, were released
as il was thoroughly established that
they were not connected with the
shooting Upon the return Of the Of
flcers last night the mer we're releas-
ed from The Jail
II Is believed to be more thoroughly
established than was at first suspic.
ioned that tie elder Thomas mind was
unbalanced and had been for smoe
weeks II is thought this state Of az
fairs had been brought about by the
attentions TO his l7.year-old daughter
by an Indian named Cray. The man
had been calling upon Miss Thomas
for some time and il is said that her
father developed a fear that she would
marry him The father tried to break
up Tie match aud eventually the IN
dian left the country The girl stated
repeatedly, as she did to the officers
yesterday, that she had no intention
Of becoming Gray's wife. but a letter
which one Of the family had taken
from a secret mail box, It is said,
pointed 70 the possibility Of a mar.
riage Tie letter was turned over to
the father and worry over it is sup
posed to have kept the fathers mind
III secs a state Of agitation as to have
developed into insanity
During the past few days the de-
ceased became more agitated and stat
ed that he was going tc kill the entire
family and then kin himself adding
that be would then know what became
Of them before he left the earth.
According to stories from the family
they we're IN constant fear during the
past few days o. his life and many
aleepless nights were spent BY them
on account OF his threats He had
sholrun. a Winchester rifle and six
shooter. an OF which weapons he kept
loaded and the latter OF which he car
ried with him a great deal According
Is reports, some weeks ago he told his
daughter that Il she did not break her
acquaintance with Cray and forbid him
10 cali, ne would kill them both
On the morning Of the killing. it is
claimed, tho father went to the COW
lot where his daughter was milking
and told her that If she had anything
10 say to her brothers or mother, she
must sag It that day, as # was her
last Ray on earth Mrs Thomas stat
ed that on sunday be told her he was
going to kill the entire family before
five days and that on the morning Of
the killing, he stated he would kill
them all before the next morning
After being told BY her father that II
was her last day on earth, Miss Thorn
as went to the field with the other
members Of the family and hoed cot
ton all day, crying the entire time, yet
keeping up with the fast pace set by
the stronger men
After supper on The fatal night ]
A Thomas and one Of the hired mer
q went to the front porch to smoke
Later they were joined by the son
Willie. After a few minutes Mr. Thom
as told Willie to go to the lot and turn
the horses into the pasture for thl
night This, as stated by the family
was unusual, as the father always al
tended TO this work himself Fearinl
thai his father was seeking the oppoi
tunity to kill his sister, While told on
Of the hired hands to turn the horse
out and he stayed with his father
Mr. Thomas went into the kitchen
where his wife and daughter wer
washing the dishes. There he remo'
ed his shoes and went onto the bac
porch TO battle his feet Willie cam
into the house and sat down In a roo
adjoining the back porch After mi
ment he went TO the back porch wheI
his father was sitting That is as "a
as at this time facts have been esta