The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-02-21

'V' "h ihVestlgatlOn OF the
shooting affray in the court house
AZ Ardmore yesterday by the state
attorney generals department Il
seen BY George +. Short, attorney
general, he said today. He termed
II purely local affair"
whether charges will be filed
against any of the participants in the
shooting affray at the office OF tin
county attorney Monday afternoon.
when four men were slightly injured
had not been decided by Assistant
County Attorney John L. Hodge this
afternoon. He said that he would
know definitely after he had talked
over the matter with Sheriff Ewing
c. London.
All OF the wounded men have been
returned to their homes and are re-
ported resting well today.
Hodge is taking the case in hand
and has been busy all morning cues.
tioning witnesses. At noon he said
he had nothing to give out, that he
was still seeking a motive or cause
OF the shooting.
Mr.. Hodge intimated later In the
afternoon that charges would be filed
Out could not say as yet who the
parties would be. At the time lrs
made the statement, he was about TO
begin q conference with Sheriff Lon
don and County Attorney James II.
Mathers.
Where Did Shooting Starts
The biz question In the minds OF
the several hundred people that have
visited the scene of the shooting this
morning and late yesterday Is, Where
did the shooting start, and who fired
the first shot?"
Those on the inside say II started on
the outside. while those on the out.
side say it started inside.
Blood spots make q shaky path
from the front OF the door into the
big outer room OF the county attor.
ney's office. and many persons have
been following up this to hedge u
possible conclusion. The officers are
disregarding the blood spots on the
floor.
Bullet Holes Are Inside.
Five defined bullet holes have been
located thus far. and four OF them
are in the door Of the office, ranging
from the inside.
One bullet hole Is through the glass
facing on the right side OF the door.
about Il or II inches from the floor.
Two are In the right facing. about
three and half feet up. going
straight through, and the other glanc.
Ing in the side. A fourth bullet hole
is found almost In the center Of the
door. few inches below the glass.
while the fifth is in the left wall Of
the room, and apparently glanced.
What Happened In Room?
Just what actually occurred in the
locked room is hard to determine be-
cause when shots began. everything
turned to turmoil. Sheriff London.
according TO his own version walked
into the county attorneys office with
former deputies. Bud Ballew. Whit.
son and Earl Young and began con.
versation that was entirely friendly.
Shortly afterwards Martin walked
in. He Immediately centered his re-
marks TO London and finally asked II
London were armed, according to in
formation coming to the Ardmoreite.
When London answered In the mega.
tive he advanced toward him, and the
fight began.
All witnesses up to this point are
agreed.
Somehow or other the door leading
into the county attorneys office was
locked about this time. Just who did
IL or why Is not known.
Bud Ballew jumped In between Lon.
don and Martin attempting TO end the
fight. II was said. sheriff LonddA
bears this out.
At this point somebody tried 70
open the door into the county attor-
ney's office. Deputy Sheriffs Cowles
and Short were among those who tried
the door.
Then two shots were fired. II
could not be learned who began fir.
Ing. When the first shots were fired.
the glass In the locked door was
smashed and the firing became gsn.
eral.