Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-09-14
WITNESSES SWEAR
ROBINS UNARMED
Braugh Tried to Frame De-
fense by Giving Victim Gun
to Defend Life.
TRY TO BAR NEWSPAPER MEN
Evidence Causes Attorneys to
Change Plea, But Judges
Talk Changes 1t.
World Creek County Bureau,
llgla East Nobhon.

World Creek County Bureau,
1l9h East Hobson.
SAPULPA, Sept 13.-While Ote
Robins, the innocent victim of shot
Tired into his body with murderous
intent by 7. II. Braueht, former deputy
sheriff. lay groveling IN death strug-
gle at his slayers feet on the floor of
an Oilton garage on the morning OF
July l the three men who had seen
this crime committed were forced by
the former deputy sheriff to swear at
the point of two revolvers under
penalty of death, that the killing had
been in self-defense.
1t was this undisputed evidence in
troduced by the state on this, the first
day OF the trial. that caused the de-
fendent's counsel to change the plea
Of not guilty 10 the charge of murder
to guilty and then when the court
mentioned the electric chair to re-
verse the plea to not guilty again.
Witnesses Tell Same Story.
Three state witnesses mounted the
witness stand in the district court this
morning and told identical stories of
the abuse and finally the killing OF
Robins by Braught. They were J. NJ.
Brown, former Tulsa police officer;
II. 2. Hinkle, railroad detective. and
Perry Wade. an employe in the ga
rage, where the shooting took place.
According to the witnesses
Eraught. Robins and Eliza Messenger.
drove into the garage in an automo-
bile on the day of the shooting about
s o'clock In the morning after visit
inc notorious roadhouse near Oilton.
Braught was cursing and threatening
Fobins continuously. they said. and
finally pulled "A gun from his pocket
t,ttnchtpr him In the ribs
with it,
Robins, who remained seated in
the machine. begged Braught not TO
harm him and told him time and
again he was his friend. All of the
witnesses said that each reiteration
of the statement, II am your friend
Parught," appeared to make the for
mer officer more furious than ever.
Finally, so all Of the witnesses
agreed. Braught whipped another re-
volver from his pocket and tossed IL
into the automobile. while Robins sat
and told him to pick 1t up and de-
fcnd himself. "Ill even give you Two
shots at me-" they declared he said.
Wouldn't Defend Self.
It was when Robins refused to
cuch the weapon TIN own TO him and
began his protestations of friend
ship anew that Braught, with n NC
ious oath. rammed lis gun into the
victims body and sent "a bullet crash
ing thru his side.
Hinkle alone saw the actual pulling
of the trigger that closed ROBINS
life. Brown and Wade had walked
away when they saw they could not
dissuade -faeaught from killing Robins,
they said, but they heard the snot
and shortly afterwards Braught
Ii IL
peared at the door and ordered them
back inside. He lined up Brown,
Hinkle and Wade and then while his
guns PLAYED on first one of their faces
and then another he told them that
II meant death for them not to swear
that he had shot Robins in self-de-
fense. While he was talking the wit
nesses said the dying gasps of the vic
tim could be heard as he writhed in
pain.
Braught demanded that Brown in
spect the body and show the others
Just where he had shot him. When
Brown complied Braught snapped ms
gun at his head but the bullet failed
10 fire and Brown jumped up and
faced him.
Tried TO Stay All.
II was about TO do something
should have been sorry for all the rest
of my life" Brown said Braught told
him. "Only you men here know how
this thing happened and ! intended to
kill all OF you and then l knew
wouldn't have to fear the electric
chair" Braught then shook hands
with Brown.
Constable Joe Ryan. who arrested
Braught, declared the former Off
calls first words when he arrived to
take him in charge were, I've just
bumped off -"
C. B. Allison. roustabout living at
Oilton. and the first witness to be put
CONTINUED on PAGE FOUR