The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1919-07-02
COMBINATION RING
MEMBERS TELL OF
HANDING OUT CASH

Jim McRel and Jim Greek to oper
ate two gambling houses and to split
the profits. Later the witness Stat
ed. the combination was enlarged tc
take in John Gragg, Paul Edgar and
Bill Estes,
The witness then told of an agree
ment that he said was entered into
whereby l.. Larson was to pay $3.50
per month to the county attorney
and Jim McRea was to pay $50 pei
month to the sheriff for the combna
tioa, these amounts to come out OF
the general fund of the two houses.
Is Hard Fight
Every inch of the road covering
Ccaks testimony was the scene Of a
hard legal battle, each side contesting
every phase cf the testimony An
swering questions by the attorneys
Cook told of his place being closed
by an injunction procured by Oscar
Simpson and the defense introduced
an agreement signed by Cook and
Simpson, whereby Cooks place at the
corner Of Second and Chickasha was
closed
The witness told Of raid in which
the officers searched his place and
CT a fine that was subsequently paid
by him
isn't it fact that the money that
was used in paying that fine, was the
money taken by the officers in that
raid?" he was asked.
YES"
How much money was taken?"
a don't know was the answer
Every time they counted it, it came
up short"
Opens Business Again.
The witness testified that after his
place was cloged, he opened again
across the street in few days
isn't it a fact that you opened
again, using the same gambling para
rhelnalia that was ,ahen in the
raid?" he was asked by counsel.
yes he answered "They brought
the gambling paraphernalia back to
the place from the court house
"Who took it away?"
"The officer3.'
"Who brought it back?'
q don't know. 1t was brought
back at might"
Had an Hours Notice.
The &.tness was asked if his place
was ever raided. He replied that #
was.
Did the officers ever find any
thing?"
mo. we always had an hours no
tice," lie answered
Answering other questions he stat
ed that these notices came to him
from l.. Larson Subsequent ques-
tioning concerned his operations and
dated back to the time B. B. Bare
foot was county attorney. The vie
ness stated that he never sold drop
of whiskey in his life, but adm!tte
that he was convicted twice under
the Barefoot administration for al
lowing liquor to be sold in his place
He said that his place was. raided
sometimes three times day under
the Barefoot administration.
Did you ever have any notice OF
these raids?"
mo. They just raided us" was the
answer.
The witness declared that after his
place was closed up by Simpson. 9th
er places were allowed to run. He
said, in substance that he got busy
and found where some white slavery
charges might he brought to high
against Simpson, that he made thi'
fact known and was assured that
things might be fixed up.
Before the cross examination wa
concluded, the witness had admitte,
that he had never paid Oscar Simp
son any money for protection or an
other purpose. and had had no conver
gatlon with the former county attor
ney about protection.
On redirect examination, the wit
ness was asked in effect how HI
knew the money raised hy the CON
bination for the sheriff and count
attorney, was paid to those officials
Well he said, at got results"
FORMER CHIEF HERE
Ben Phillips former chief of pc