The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-03-20
ASHCRAFT BREAKS DOWN
AND TELLS OFFICERS HE
STRUCK FATAL BLOW
tc@tinued From page One,

STRUCK FATAL BLOW
Continued From Page One)
NewtaAshcraft confessed in the pres
enca Of Sheriff Garrett and several
of-his deputies that IL was ne vino
had. killed. Charles Dixon on the Ber-
wyn road "Wednesday night, Of last
week. Ashcraft emphaticany denied
that Mrs. Dixon or any other woman
had been In the car prior to or at
tho time of the munder. According
to- hao Statement-ns made TO the Off
GERS during tho confession. 1t is be-
licved that Ashcraft may enter a plea
Of sen-defnnso when .he is brought to
trial.
Ashcraft made his confession In his
cell at the county prison. His state
mcnt, according to the officers. was
TO tho effect that on the night Of the
tragedy. Dixon and Ashcraft motored
In tho car belonging to the latter
to Berwyn. where they had intended
to make an automobile trade with a
garage man there. However. upon their
arrival they found that the Berwyn
man had no car to trade, 50 after
u puncture had been repaired, they
started back to Ardmore; that as
they neared Ardmore, in the vicinity
OF the oolored cemetery, the carbure-
tor did not function properly and Ash
craft stopped the car and commenced
to make necessary adjustments; that
Dixon also got out of the car, and
lacked up one Of the left wheels to re-
pair loose lug; that he got hammer
out of the tool box to make the re-
pairs; that while they were both
working. Dixon suggested to Ashcraft
that the latter close deal with a
garage man in Ardmore named Hunt
whereby Dixon and AShcraft were to
trade their automobile plus cash
bonus Of $500 for car which Hunt
had; that Ashcraft did not favor the
trade; that Dixon suggested that Ash
craft pay $500 note which the Ex-
was past due; that the note belonged
to Dixon; that defendant asked why
should l pay your note?"; that Dixon
replied. you know why. You've been
carrying on immoral relations with
my wife. Pay the note and III get
away from here, and you can marry
her.; that defendant resented this
assertion and tussle ensued in which
Ashchraft knocked Dixon to the road;
that he. Ashcraft, then took the jack
from under the car and placing it on
the seat beside him, started the car;
that he ran over Dixon, and believing
then that Dixon was seriously hurt,
stopped and picked him up and placed
him in the rear of the car. intending
to bring him to Ardmore; that he
started the car again, and while driv-
ing Dixon rose and leaning forward
grasped AShcraft about the neck; that
he, Ashcraft, threw him off; that again
Dixon grasped him about the neck,
and Ashcraft, fearing that Dixon
was about to use a knife which he
had on him, picked up the jack off
the seat, and struck Dixon with it;
that Ashcraft then laid Dixon in the
rear OF the car, and started again for
Ardmore intending to take the in
jured man TO the sanitariup here; that
a short time later the car went over
an embankment and 1t was then that
Dixon fell against the hard surfaces
OF the car and the holes which appear
in his head resulted.
Ashcraft then mounted on foot to
the top OF the bank and signalled
several passing cars which picked up
the wounded man and rushed him to
the Hardy sanitarium where he died
few hours later, never regainina
consciousness.
Ashcraft had originally maintained
that Dixon had died as result of
the alleged accident when the car went
over the bank. rhe officers believe
that the auton, never upset after
1t went over the bank, and that under
such conditions on one in the car
would have been scratched.
Little Credence to Story
Little credence is placed in Ash
crafts statement by the officers, as to
the reason for the killing which the
defendant attempted to advance.
Excitement is alleged to be runnina
high In the ranks of the railroad men
of this vicinity concerning the case.
The murdered man had been brake.
man on the Rock Island railroad.
Shrieking Whistle Calls Meeting
1t is believed that the shrieking
tones Of the engine whistle which
were heard in all parts of Ardmore
near the hour Of midnight last Thurs.
day night, We're sounded for the pur.
pose of assembling the men.
II Is general belief that after they
had assembled last Thursday night
they contemplated going to the county
jail 10 seize Ashcraft by force and try
him In the court OF Judge Lynch"
However, the sheriffs office had re-
ceived advanced information OF the
intended raid, and extra guards had
been placed on duty at the county
Jail. These guards were also on duty
Friday and Saturday nights.
Hundreds OF railroad men and friends
of the deceased have visited the funcr-
al parlors of Harvey Brothers to view
the body since the night of the kill
ing.
Men Deny Contemplated Violence
When questioned about the alleged
abortivc lynching. some members of
the railroad brotherhood denied that
they had ever intended an attempted
raid, aud maintained that all they
desire TX "A severe prosecution of tho
defendant. Other railroad men decline
to commit themselves On the subject
and maintain an austcre silence.
The Brotherhood OF Railroad Train.
men have engaged the services Of
Brown and Brown, local attorneys. to