Sharp County record., 1917-06-22
DESPERATE OUTLAWS PUT A PRICE
ON head or "PUSSYFOOT" JOHNSON
Their Activities the Indian Territory Being Seriously Hampered
by the Work of the Special Officer of the Indian Depart
ment They Resort to Assassination - Conspr-
aCy Finally Ended.
Lewis revenge results IN TWO DEATHS

has not even hailed any Of those who
have assaulted him into court. When
the word reacned him, Johnson sad
died his horse and rode into Barley
vile. and, in his own words, Il made
a little play" at Lewis stable.
He wouldn't come out" says John
son. He wasn't just ready to come
out and have the shooting match in
the street. / saw that l had taken
the sand out of him, and rode away"
At last the day Of statehood for
Oklahoma and the Territory daWned
and Johnson, who was now made chief
special officer over all the Indian res
ervations in the country, had no long
er power in Indian Territory. He had
no authority to arrest Lewis. How
ever, he got two of his men to swear
in deputies and 60 down to the saloon
that Lewis had Immediately opened,
and smash it. Oklahoma was now
prohibition state, under the terms of
her admission to the Union. One of
Johnson's deputies was Keeler, who
had helped him to raid the Monte
Carlo; the other was George Williams.
The intention was to carry out a sur.
prise attack and make mincemeat of
the furnishings and smash the bot
ties that contained the stock in
trade.
The officers duly arrived outside the
saloon, which was running in full
blast. Lewis, however, had got wind
Of their approach, and was ready for
them. AS they entered Lewis pulled
a revolver and fired. The bullet
pierced Williams through the heart,
and he fell dead across the threshold.
Before he could fire a second time,
Fred Keeler had drawn his weapon
and shot Lewis dead.
Three men had now died as the re-
suit of Johnsons raid on No Mans
Lands Monte Carlo More deaths
were to follow, though not in this i'm
mediate connection.
Johnson's activities in the terri"
tory, and his increased powers, which
took him into practically every state
west of the Mississippi, had thorough
ly alarmed the bootleggers all over
the country. They felt that, until he
was out Of the way, their traffic
would be improbable and their lives
in jeopardy. Traps were carefully
laid, and gangs sought to ambush
Johnson and his deputies.
One OF the most jealous Of these
was Harry Sanders, who lived near
Mckay, and had been specially
marked down by the bootleggers on
account Of the zeal with which he had
helped Johnson in his work. Johnson
learned that the ruffians were on
Sanders track, and specially warned
him not to show himself outside his
door. unless accompanied by others
Of the deputies But Sanders, know
ing that the gangs were too cowardly
to attack in daylight, laughed at the
warning.
"All the same, mind they don't trick
you" Johnson warned him.
A week or two went by, and Sand.
ers begn to think that the bootleg
gers had decided to let him alone, for
he was q handy man with a gun, as
they all knew, One night, just as he
was about to 20 to bed, there was a
knock ut the door. With his revolver
in his hand Sanders went to the
door, and, before opening, asked who
tho visitors were, and what they want
ed. The reply came In o voice which
sounded like that Of woman, and
Sanders thought that he recognized 1t
as that Of neighbor, lie cautiously
opened the door and peered round
having his gun ready as he was still
Suspicious. He got o glimpse Of
three men, but the outlaws were too
quick for him, and before he could
nre he fell with n bullet through his
head Tho ruillans at once made OF,
and II was not until some hours later
that Sanders was discovered, upon
the verge Of death, Although shot
right through the side Of the head, he
made n miraculous recovery, and
lived to bring many more bootleggers
TO justice, but no was never able to
discover tho Identity OF the man who
shot him.
The shooting OF Sanders was the
beginning Of n whole series OF MUIR
dorouB exploits, IN tho course OF which
eight or nlno OF Johnsons men were
either killed or badly Injured That
ho himself escaped with his life was
contrary to his expectations, for,
brave as his men were, and animated
by spirit Of reckless loyalty TO him,
Johnson went single handed into dan
ger with the odds appalllngly against
him, as will be instaneed later IN the
ease OF the murderer Harris, whom he
took Bingle.handed out OF camp Of
outlaws, He led his men in n re.
morseless chase, Stills and saloons
were raided, and bootloggers arrested
Revolver battles were constant, Prob