The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-12-21
MEN
WERE IN DEATH
FIELD-MATHERS


First intimation of the trend Of evi.
dence by which the state will attempt
to prove thirteen citizens of Carter
county guilty of the murder Of Joe
Carroll at his Wilson home on the
ht of December Is, at their pre-
liminary hearing tomorrow in justice
court on charges Of murder, was made
public today in signed statement
ny County Attorney James H. Math.
ers.
Referring to the investigation start.
I'd two months ago by the attorney
generals department OF alleged lax
law enforcement in Carter county, and
mentioning specifically, the arrests of
sixteen prominent carter county men
in connection with the death. of Car
roll, in which also. is involved the
killings of John Smith, an alleged
member of the masked band which at
tackled Carroll, and c. G. Sims, Ard.
more police detective. Mr.. Mathers
said:
The people are fair and when they
hear of the testimony, regardless of
the prominence of these men, they
will have to say the officers did their
duty"
Minister Knew OF Murder
Answering the criticism of a com
mttee of Ardmore citizens who called
upon the Governor yesterday con ,ern.
ing the triple killings, Mr.. Mathers
said that although he had been Sc.
verely condemned for his action in or.
dering the arrest of Rev Leon julius,
Baptist minister of Healdton, the
proof shows that the preacher knew
that three men had been murdered,
conceded the crime and the partici
pants 3nd procured medical aid for
one of the men doing the killing.
Referring to the statement last
night of ]. A. Gillian. stock raiser, OF
Ardmore, who is now held under bond
on a charge OF murder in connection
with the affair, the county attorney
declared that, according 10 this state
ment. which vas duly signed and wit.
messed before as assistant county at
torney, every prominent man" that
was arrested was in the death pas.
ture."
In this pasture was found the life.
less body of Sims. and it was there,
authorities say, that the band OF
masked men gathered before making
tack upon Carroll, after he had
been warned to cease his "nefarious
liquor traffic"
Mathers' Statement in Full
The county attorneys statement iol-
lows:
From the beginning OF this proceed
ing nearly 90 days ago until how.
have made no statement, either public
or private.
Severe criticism was heaped upon
me because Of the arrest of Bap.
tist preacher at Healdton. Now the
full knowledge that three men had
been murdered and another man, wh1
participated in that murder had been
shot, concealed the crime and the par
ticipants and procured medical aid
and other services for one Of the men
doing the killing.
Nov as | understand the law. who.
over CunctalS luc CIlIlic Oh NluTueT
and aids the murdered is an acces.
sorry after the fact and may be tried
and convicted as such.
Thinks He Is Right
II think we were clearly within our
rights and did our duty.
From Mr.. Gillam's statement. every
prominent man that was arrested was
in the death pasture Had these
prominent men remained in their
homes in Ardmore instead OF going
In the night time 80 miles from home
and meeting in n lonely and secluded
pasture with buckets OF tar and pill.
lows OF feathers, and from that crowd
OF 100 men. selecting eight men TO go
TO Carroll's home 10 bring him there.
say If these prominent men had
not done that, then there would have
been less widows and ten fewer or.
phans in Carter county today and the
prominent men would not have been
arrested.
"The law is that where two or more
parties combine and agree together TO