Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1914-04-17

II. d. Davidson to be notified. who
sumoned J. r. Wood. county attor-
ney, and empanelled coroners
jury and proceeded to the place
where the body was discovered and
began the inquiry. A thorough
search was made for the head but
without avail
Circumstances pointed to the body
being that Ella Dunlap, daughter
of Bob Dunlap, who had been liv-
ing with several families In that vi
cinity, and who had mysteriously
disappeared several weeks before
the gruesome find was made and as
the physicians gave II as their opin-
ion that the body had been in the
water for a considerable length Of
time, the jury, considered that there
was a possibility that the Dunlap
girl was the victim.
They accordingly summoned
number of witnesses and 1t develop
ed that Miss Dunlap had been seen
in suspicious company and her
1 whereabouts were unknown, it de-
veloped that the marks on the body
found did not fit herr description
On october IL. Judge Davidson
again called the jury together TO
investigate other clues and several
parties who had been seen in the
vicinity where the corpse was found
in company with women, we're inves-
tigated. but nothing definite was dis
covered, and the jury finally return
ed a<verdict to the effect that the
woman whose name was unknown
came to her death by parties un.
known.
But the activities of the local au-
thorities did not cease with the dis
charge OF the jury. A number Of
PARTIES who had missed female rel
atives reading Of the occurrence,
came to the city to make Inquiries.
but nothing was developed. The
latest was lady who appeared a
short time since and gave a descrip-
tion of her mother who had left with
Jim Bledsoe some time before the
body was found The remains
were exhumed and IL was found that
the daughters description of he;
missing mother tailed with that OF
the corpse. One of the most con-
vincing identifications was an arm
I which had been broken several
years ago.
She stated that Bledsoe and hel
mother'who are supposed to have
been married. started off on jour
ney. After some length Of tim;
Bledsoe returned home alone ant
informed the two daughters of the
lost woman. who are his step-daugh
ters. that their mother had die,
while they were travelling. and h,
had buried her near the spot wher,
she met her death. With this evi
dence the authorities felt justified
in causing Bledsoe's arrest.
Robert Lee Bledsoe sat in Judg
Davidson's court Tuesday mornini
and in the calmest, coolest and mos
. dispassionate manner related tn
full details of his murder of his par
amour. Lucie Wade at Thompso
! Spring last October. He answere
the questions put to him by Prose
cutor Wood and the court prompt,
and without hesitation or equiyoca
tion.
He related that he and the deal
woman left Ardmore and drov
through the country with a on
horse wagon, passing through Tish
omlngo. Wapanucka, Olney, Coal
/ gate and eamped at Thompson
! lSpring The woman made the sub
sistence for both of them by sellin
prescription for the preventio
! Of conception to the gullible an
' criminally inclined women alon
I the road whom she could induce I
buy.
, About the last of August or tn
first of September they camped a
1 the spot where the woman met he
death. The. evening" before the tral
I edy they had quarrel and man
; hard words were passed and som
= blows were struck The next morr
A ing he arose, secured an old ma