Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-01-14
WITNESSES SWEAR
BOY WAS UNARMED
Charges by Police That They
Fired in Self Defense VIII
Be Challenged.
WHOLE CITY IS INDIGNANT
Reeves Says He VIII Prosecute
to Fullest Extent if
Facts Warrant.

The statements made by police Of
nccrs who late Friday night ahot 10
death Vernon Hatfield. n young taxl-
cab driver TO the effect that the man
was KILLED because he WIS alleged 10
Dee hauling whisky. had opened flre
upon thom. will not 20 unchalenged.
according 10 County Attorney George
l.ccycs
Jack Miller. an oifeld worker now
living near jerks. declared Yesterday
to coroner Lee Daniel aud Constable
oherst that he was an eyewitness 70
the shooting by the officers which
ended tho lifo OF young Hatfield. and
that mo- shots were fired by the boy be-
Tore or after the command 10 halt had
been given or before or after tho
police themselves had opened fire on
tho man driving tho automobile sus-
Pe'ied or having liquor within II
Wants Ia Testify
Miller who came to tho courthouse
on his own Initiative declared that hs
would gladly appear at the Inquest on
Monday and at that time swear that
there were no shots fired by either
! party In tho car This statement by
Miller verifics the statement made by
Roy Hatfield. the i2-ycar.o old brother
OF the slain man.
Prosecution Likely
County Attorney George Reeves de-
clared last night that every effort
would be made to develop every cir
cumstance surrounding the death OF
Vernon Hatfield
~ will make n thoro investigation
l OF tnp uffQiTf ho gnt1 La niwhf ere
find that no shots were fired by per
| sons In the automobile In which Yer
non Hatfield was killed. then ! viii
prosecute to tho fullest degree OF my
ability the men who killed him II Il
is shown, by the witnesses to be In
troduccd. that the police officers killed
the taxicab driver. ovou tho he had
liquor IN his car. after he had been
commanded to halt and he had not
fired at them. then | viii prosecute
them 10 the fullest extent OF my au-
thority."
Police Stories agree.
County Attorney Reeves declared
lnst night that he had taken deposit
tons I'm the case from all of the OF
ilcers implicated I'm the killing aud
that In each instance II was reclted
thnt two shots had been fired from tho
auto. The county attorney also stated
that he had secured n deposition from
one eye witness who said that Hat
field had not fired a shot from tho
car
More Witnesses Found.
Other witnesses. Reeves said had
been made known to him. Some OF
these will appear to swear that the
officers were at no time fired upon
by parties in the automobile
Tho subject OF the Staying Of Hat
field was uppermost In the minds OF
attaches OF the county offices and clty
police department YESTERDAY In 10th
the general subject Of conl lersution
Was the killing. Members OF the rail-
ing squad responsible for the deatL
uf the 'aNlcaf driver were In confer
'ncc IN the chief OF policies office for
the greater part Of the afternoon
Nothing Ncw"-Chlcf.
Following the conference at tho Do.
lice station Chief Lucas declared that
nothing had developed which would
warrant the suspension OF tho officers
connected with the killing from tho
force
II have not communicated with Po.
lice Commissioner Funk" the chief
declared following the conference re
Gardlns that subject and until ! d.
| would rather not make any state
ment about the matter"
Was Not Party
The chief reiterated his former
statement that hc had not orte erod
the raid by II. II. Townsend and other
members OF the force. ~ knew moth
inG Of tho affair until | returned to
the office" he said Il went home
without Investigating tho facts thoroly
and have not completed my investiga-
ton even now"
Commissioner Funk. In absolute
{ charge OF the police and fire depart
mcuts. declared yesterday that he had
no statement TO make relative 20 the
killing OF young Hatfield.
"ls II a practice for the police Of
fcers to telephone for liquor and then
wait I'm hiding for the messengers that
an arrest may be made" the cor,mis-
sioncr was asked.
Was Not Informed
81 do not know about that. he an
swcrod. am not familiar with their
procedure In these cases. but | ann Of
tho opinion that 1t Is not the custom
OF tho officers TO do such things.
, che commissioner stated that he had
, not completed his iuvostgatiou OF tho
Staying by policemen of young Hat
, field. The men will not Dee sus-
pended" he said. until after the pre-
limlnary hearing ana uhGl facts are
brought out wartauting such suspen-
. sion"
40 comprehensive statement was 10
, be- obtained from Mayor John n SIM
, mons. who returned only late iu tho
evening from oklahoma city.
{ Mayor Washes Hands.
"All know Of the case" tho mayor
/ said. IN explaining his meager knowl-
edge of the killing, lis what ] hats
been able 70 gather since Wy return
to Tulsa. !, NJ times. try 10 X vp
hnuH4 nff a nAIItU InDnF mt
affuirs leaving them entirely with
Commissioner Funk. | have no DOUBT
that he will investigate tho matter
- FUZZY, and take the action he sees lt'
While the sentiment OF the city OFF,
, cials the county officials and even tha
I mon responsible for the death OF tho
r boy were able TO find expression In
words. that Of the city presented a
+, different aspect
, Everywhere seemed 90 be born
, =, orGs of bitterness at the methods
/ and actions of tho police In Turing tho