New-York tribune., 1921-05-12
Abducted Judge
Is Found Dying; !;
2 Women Held
Former Oklahoma Supreme
Court Member Discovered
Wounded Inn Room and
Bonds Reported Missing
Drugged or Mesmerized
Pair of ''Nurses'' Alleged TO
Have Taken Him From
Tulsa Home While iii
spccia, Dispa.cA to The rribans

TULSA, Okla, May 11.--Was John
Devereux, seventy years old. formerly
justice in the Supreme Court of
Oklahoma, mesmerized or "doped" into
signing away large sums of money by
two women who posed as trained nurses
and attended him during illness?
The police say that he was, and they
are investigating one of the most mys-
terious cases in the history of Okla
homa
Judge Devereux, an invalid, was res
cued from rooming house, where he
had been taken by the women, Monday
night. He was suffering from severe
wound in the head and now is fighting
for his life. The physicians hold out
little hope for his recovery.
The police have learned that access
TO Judge Devereux's safe deposit box
in one of the banks here was obtained
by persons involved in the case. It was
reported that $4,000 in Liberty bonds
was gone from the box, but the police
would not confirm this.
Semi Conscious When Rescued
When rescued from the "care" of
the two women posing as nurses Judge
Deyereux was only semi-conscious, the
wound in his head only crudely ban
daged and the women, who were in the
same room, apparently indifferent to
his suffering.
The women, it is said, have cashed
several checks signed by Devereux.
They assert they were in payment for
services as nurses, but the police are
not satisfied with that explanation.
The two women are being held pend
ing the outcome of Judge Devercux's
condition.
Judge Devereux was Ill several weeks
ago, his friends say, and a profess
sional nurse was obtained at that time,
but discharged shortly afterward when
the judges condition improved. About
ten days ago, however, there was o re-
currence of the ailment and it was
then that the TWO women, representing
themselves as nurses, appeared at the
judges apartment and took charge OF
the case.
The women said they were sent by
J. NJ McKellop, said to be an Indian
lawyer, who was q frequent visitor at
the Devereux apartment and was with
the two women when the Judge was
taken from the rooming house by the
police. McKellop has not been ar
rested, but his connection with the
case is under scrutiny
Women Drove Him Away
According to friends of the judge, he
recovered to the extent Tuesday morn
ing that he felt equal to visit to
his Office, and was bundled into a motor
car by the two women and driven down
town.
About noon Tuesday friends and
neighbors of Judge Devereux, alarmed
because he had not returned home, in
quired at his office, but were Informed
the judge had not been seen. The
police were notified, and when the judge
was located in the downtown rooming
house he was in an unconscious con-
dition. blood streaming from a wound
in his head and, according to examin-
ing physicians, under the influence oi
drugs. Judge Devereux's wound hac
been crudely dressed and he was lyins
neglected in bed while the two woner
and the unnamed man were arguing al
to his disposition. Judge Devereux wa,
rushed to his apartment and the womel
were taken into custody.