The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-12-25
When Pal Murdered Slaughter
West Was Rid of Worst Badnan
Especial 10 The Ardmorei,,)

Especial 10 The Ardmoreite)
LITTLE ROCK, Dec. GA prison
grudge, ending with bullet from the
night, brought TO close the long
career Of crime by which Tom Slaugh-
ter was known throughout the south
west as "the killer"
The target Of one OF six men he
had liberated, a few hours before,
from the Arkansas penitentiary at Lit
lie Rock, the desperate died as he
had lived, crouching defiantly in wait
for pursuing officers. In the fastness
or the Ozark hills, he was shot from
behind as a posse approached the
place where he lay in hiding.
J. c. Howard. who fired the fatal
shot, was the only white man among
the six liberated by Slaughter in a
spectacular escape from the prison.
Il left the prison with the inten-
ton Of getting him the first chance |
got" was Howard's only explanation
Tom Slaughter left behind him
crime record that dates back to his
early youth. He was born twenty-sev-
en- years ago at Dallas, Texas, and
was reared in southern Arkansas.
When fourteen years old he was con-
victed Of grand larceny and sentenced
to the Arkansas reform school.
Began First Prison Term at IL
Slaughter served his term, then
drifted into Oklahoma. His operations
for the next few years consisted larg.
ely Of q series OF motor car thefts
throughout Texas, Oklahoma and Ark
ansas. In 1916 he escaped from the
Dallas, Texas, county jail one Of the
largest and most strongly built in
the southwest, liberating seven other
prisoners at the same time. He was
arrested later in Oklahoma and sent
10 the Texas penitentiary, but escaped
soon after. He was arrested the sec
ond time and escaped again.
One CT Slaughter's most spectacular
esc>oes was in March, 1918. With his
brother. Dave Slaughter, he was ar
rested in Oklahoma and was being
taken TO Dallas by two detectives in
a motor car. Stopping at little town
for oil for the car, the detectives goI
out Slaughter leaped from the rear
seat to a position behind the whee
and sped away, taking his brother
with him.
Numerous bank robbories in Texas
Oklahoma, Arkansas, southern Mis-
souri, and southern Kansas in th'
next two or three years were laid q
Slaughter. In 1917. while a prisoner a
Nowata, Okla, Slaughter held up th'
jailer and escaped. He was recap
tured and placed in Bartlesville, Okla.
prison where he escaped three day
later.
Still another escape was made from
county jail near Louisville. Ky,
where Slaughter was being held on
bank robbery charge.
Slaughter often boasted that h
never would 20 TO the electric chair
with Fulton (Kid) Green he was al
rested October 80. 1920, near Cedar
vale, Kan, where It was charge
the two were preparing 10 rob
bank. He was placed in 4 Jail at Seda
Kansas, for safe keeping. and late
was turned over 10 the Tuthoritie
at Hot Springs, Ark, where he was a
legged to have killed Row Browo.
deputy sheriff, Ia n gun battle Octobe
10.
Gets Arkansas Iifc Term
After a trial lasting ieveral day
Slaughter was convicted and sentence
TO life term. While u prisoner at lie
Springs n constant guard, includin
company of national guardsme
had kept watch over the. Jail. Afte
the jurys verdict was announce
Slaughter turned over 10 the guard
handful OF hacksaws, remarking n;
If the sentence had been death h
never would have remained in ia
over night.
Last September Slaughter added al
other chapter 10 his long list {
crimes when. in n sensational n
tempt 10 escape from the Arkanss
prison farm. he killed one man ar
shot stwo others. all 'trusty" guard
with a rifle smuggled TO him fro
some one on the outside. Only u
loyalty Of small band Of TRUSTEES
prevented tho escape OF two hundr,
or more prisoners.
II was said his plan for the whol
sale delivery provided that other co
vlcts should rush 10 the guards
he shot them down. obtain the guard
weapons and Join him in the figf