The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-09-23
Evidence Shows Defendant
Attacked By Four Men
and Ford Was Shot
During the Fight
CROWD FILLS JUDGE
WINFREY'S COURT
FORD DECLARED BEFORE DEATH
LIFE WAS STOLEN AND THE
SHOOTING WAS NOT FAIR,
WITNESS TESTIFIES.

against Rex s. Baxter in district
court within the next few days, fol-
lowing preliminary hearing in coun.
ty court before Judge Millard +. Win
frey this morning. The case has al
ready been placed on the docket and
the time Of trial set for October l9.
James Mathers represented the
state and II. II. Brown represented
the defendant at the hearing.
Baxter Is held for the killing of Ace
c. Ford, young white man, at the
grounds on Thursday night, Sept. is.
The shooting occurred at between
IL and l2 o'clock and created CON
siderable interest.
The court room was filled with
spectators, friends and relatives of the
defendant and the dead man. before
court opened at 10 o'clock this morn
| ing. During the trial. there was
considerable coming and going of
| the spectators. No disorders were re-
/ ported
FOrd's Clothes on Fire
Tom Fuller, second witness called
| by the state, testified that Ford and
/
when the shot was fired. Don't
shoot" he declared Ford said. Bax.
ter did not heed the plea and shot.
he further declared.
Following the shot. Ford's clothing
took fire. and Ford asked those stand
ing nearby to put out the flame, Full
Ter testified. 1t is his belief that
FORD bit off a piece of Baxter's
right ear.
Tells of Biting Ear
j. T.. Gait. who was standing near
the scene of the shooting, testified
that he had noticed men scuffling
about the water tank before the fight
between Ford and Baxter started.
After the fight started. he heard some
one cry out, Don't do that; you're
biting my ear" but he was unable TO
say who made the remark.
According TO his statements, the
men We're in u stopping position when
the shot was fired and were at close
range Ford fell soon after he was
shot. while Baxter walked n short
piece and holding the gun close 10
his side warned the spectators to
4, I Sltllu nuth anu Ilpl lOutn MIN. lntrt
were no women present. he said.
He said some man attempted to
part the men and another man inter.
o fered. but stepped aside when the
first man said he was an officer.
Witness Was at Hospital
Oscar Vaughn was one of the men
who helped put Ford In the car that
brought him TO the Hardy sanitarum.
He said Baxter also went to the SAM.
{ tarium and was put in an adjoining
|. room.
= When questioned at the hospital
i. Baxter told those present he didn't
4 know much about the shooting.
= Vaughn testified, but Ford interrupts
4 ed with the remark Don't let him
q put that over you; he does know
about H." Vaughn was with Ford
!. when he died. At the hospital Bax-
y ter was bloody. but Vaughn did not
o know whether he had been shot or
4 was bleeding from the injured ear.
. "Stolc My liie"-Ford
n He stole my life. he didn't kill mo
; fair" is the statement made by Ford
before he died at the hospital. accord
ing to Earl Greathouse, who was at
the hospital. Greathouse testified
!, that Baxter said at the sanitarium he
had been attacked by four men and
-, that he didn't know any Of them.
4, Othei witnesses for the state m
r.. cluded G.. Y. Brown who lives nine
,r miles north OF Hewitt and was near
h, the scene ot the shooting. Buck Tay-
"A lor. a young white man, and man
i, named Miller who acted as guard
n at the fair grounds.
10 Mrs. Baxter on Stand
When called 10 the stand. Mrs
Myrtle Baxter. 90 years old. wife OF
the defendant. carried In her arms a
-. six months old child. She testified
that she had another child five years
Of aye.
u with the children and her husband
: : she had visited the fair during the
" day. and after going home fer sup
= !, per the family returned. with Buster
Hobby 1G years old lad. who was
60 living with them.
Late In the evening the little party
~ approached the water tank where
'" Baxter went TO get o drink. With this
children she remained near the ex
" hibition building.
" She asserted that she saw one man
run out and trip her husband and
several more men followed suit.
crowd gathered around. She did mo-
sh hear any words because OF the cryir.
10 baby, she said. she then heard I
~ shot. but could not tell who had beer
'e' hit. She thought II was her husband
a. and with the children she went 4
n their buggy.
en- She was joined at buggy by he
husband. who told her he had no
al been shot. but his ear had been bltteI
IT. off. Together they went to the Hard
ne sanitarium. Later ~ Went HON
with The children end Buster Hobby.