The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-11-21
Widely Known Oklahoma
Enforcement Officer Fa-
tally Wounded by an
Alleged Mo0nshiner
MAN WHO FIRED THE
SHOT STILL AT LARGE
POSSES ARE SECURING HILLS IN
SEARCH FOR GEORGE WILLS,
CHARGED WITH MURDER OF
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

Oklahoma City, Nov. 20-Klrby
Frans, federal prohibition enforcement
officer in this district, died in hos
shot wound received while he was
raiding an alleged moonshine still at
the home Of George Wills at Perry,
in Noble County last night.
A posse OF Oklahoma county Off
GERS and federal enforcement Off
c. Binion, enforcement officer of the
district. left for Perry at $50 o'clock
this morning. Members of the posse
were heavily armed.
1t Is alleged that Wills fired the
shot that resulted in Frans' death.
the sheriff at Perry shortly before
leaving early today. stated the be-
lief that Wills was hiding in the hills
near Perry and that with the arrival
OF officers from Oklahoma county he
could be found and captured.
Frans and Joel c. Bates another
enforcement officer, who have worked
together in this district for several
months, left here several days ago
for work in the Perry neighborhood
They visited the Wills home about
$3.50 last night, according to the
story told by Bates. and as Wills
was not at home, waited until his re-
turn before searching the house.
As Wills did not return. Frans
searched the cellar and found there
q 20 gallon still, complete but not
In operation, and also five 81 gallon
portions of mash, according to Bates.
Later Frans. Bates and Wills brother
ln-law, Dan Dexter, made a second trip
TO the cellar and Frans and Bates
began tearing the still from its con-
crete base.
AS we were working a shot was
steps without warning" said Bates
in relating the story of the affair.
'"The shot went through Frans' alb
domen and he fell TO the floor Of the
cellar"
After warning from Wills that
HOllt III liltill NOulA 'OiiAN O1N
unless they turned over their guns
10 Dexter, Bates did so and carried
the body OF Frans from the cellar
while Wills covered him with rille'
according to Bates story. Frans was
taken to drug store and medica!
aid summoned and Bates, accompanies
BY officers and men OF Perry. re-
turned to the Wills home to search
for Wills. Wills, however, had flee
and a search for him was at once be-
gun. continuing throughout the night
The death OF Frans brings the to-
tai number of deaths from raids on
stills to three this year. Homer Adrian
deputy sheriff ana Stantan /" Weiss
federal prohibition officer. were killed
in a raid on still at Arcadia In
September.
Frans came 10 Oklahoma 25 years
ago from Missouri. He was printer
and newspaper man at kingiisher,
and later at Taloga, Dewey county,
He was candidate for the demo-
cratic nomination for secretary OF
state in 1914, being defeated by j.
I
l.. Lyons.
Posses OF federal and county au-
thorities and citizens this afternoon
continued their search in Noble coun.
ty for George c. Wills, operator OF
an Illicit still, who Is alleged to have
shot and killed Kirby Frans. federal
prohibition enforcement officer of this
district. when Frans and Joel Bates,
another enforcement officer. raided tho
Wills home near Perry, OKLA. early
Friday evening.
Possibility that the search for wills
may lead toward the Mexican bor-
der. appeared when W II. johnson,
mayor OF Perry. expressed the belief
that wills and his l9-year-old brother
in-law, Dan Dexter, were fleeing IN
a motor car toward the Mexican
border. He said It had been reported
that Wills had disposed Of his prop
erty recently and was preparing 10
move to southern Texas.