The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-05-06
VICTIM WIDELY SOUGHT
Rewards Totaling $4,000 Re-
ported Offered for Arrest
of Preston Tanning
2 MEN HELD; 2 SOUGHT
Women Also Involved in
Free-for-All Fight; Coro-
ner's Inquest Fixes Blame

By 4 STAFF CORRESPONDENT.
BRGSTOW May 5.--Loe Flournoy
In local hospital seriously wounded,
today was charged by tho coroner's
Jury with the murder OF Andy Payne
and Preston Tanning, who were
Sillcd about midnight Thursday dur
ing u gun battle two miles north
west of here near an alleged road
house. The jury also ordered that
NJ. J. Sweeney, who, too, is In the
hospital suffering from injuries he
claims to have sustained when at
tackled by several men, he held ns an
accessory. Both mon Will be tried AZ
the next criminal term OF court IN
Snpulpn.
payne. 30 years old who was a resi-
dent of Bristow,and Tanning, about
40 yenrs, said to be nationally
known police character and Tor
whose capture there are said to be
rewards totaling $4,000, were both
almost Instantly killed. Payne was
a local police character. the gun
battle, according TO officers who
conducted the invcstlRation and re-
ported TO the coroncr's jury, was
the elimination of u quarrel which
started in the alleged roadhouse.
nDtlulFu Dy IIhIh w lhbi hiA' h"'
brothers Irish and Guy Wilson.
Expect Fiournoy 10 Live.
After the shooting had been re-
ported TO local officers, posse went
TO Nhc spot, found Payne and Fan
ming dead and Flournoy n few feet
away. unable to move. Payne was
shot through the head and Tanning
through the abdomen and just be-
low the heart Flournoy Is shot In
the right shoulder and left leg. 1t
Is said that he viii recover. d.
The three Wilson's were arrested
and an hour later Sweeney was
taken into custody. About I o'clock
officers arrested Tobe Payne.
brother of the dead man. and
"Hooky" Miller. both local police
characters. Payne was accused OF
participating N tho Milfay bank
robbery, several months ago. but
was discharged at his preliminary
hearing. After the coroner's jury
had reported, the Wilson's, Payne
and Miller were released. Sweeney
and Flournoy who are In ad1oining
rooms In the hospital. are under
heavy guard.
sun Seek Two Suspects.
At least two men. both or whom
are believed to be strongly impli-
Gated in the shooting. are sttll AT
liberty, according TO the officers
These men are known as Charles
Smith and Johnny Langston. While
the coroner's jury made no report as
to these two men they Will probably
he charged with murder when ar
rested.
Early this morning two womer
who gave the names OF Fora (Jack)
Smell and May Wight we're taker
into custody by the officers. Thes'
two women, according TO the OF
ficers. will prove important STATE
witnesses at the trial.
The killing, according to the OF
ficers, resulted from an alteration
of law violaters. Tanning. Sweeney
Flournoy and Langston all cam'
here from Joplin Two days ago, &C
cording to the officers. Tho me.
are said to have been released fron
jail there last Sunday. All OF tn
men are police characters and tn
officers say that they arc all fugi
tlves from justice. Tanning. ac
cording to the officers, was wanteI
in Dallas, Texas for participation 4
bank robbery In 1920. A $1,000
reward was offered for his caputr
for this job. according to informa
tion received from the Dallas au
thorities, who said that flaming
description exactly fitted tho ma
wanted in tho Texas city. A larg
signet ring. which the Dallas OF
ficials. said he WAS wanted ther,
wore on his left hand, tailed In dc
scription with one found on Far
nings left hand. He Is also sal
to have been implicated IN tho +,
cent Edmond. okla, mall robber.
Sweeney An Ex-Convlct?
Sweeney. the officers say, hS
RN ..F - -,
In the state penltentiary for mul
der. He Is also said to be fug
tive grom justice. lie told the o
ficers that his home was al Sout
Harvey. Oklahoma City, and thu
he has Just recently arrived In Okla
homa from Los Angeles
Flournoy Is said TO bo wanted
Carthage. Mo, for jail breaking
His wife is said 10 be serving sci
tence in the Missouri penitentiar
for assisting in n jail deliver
Fanning. was implicated In the ban
robbery at Pressland, Kan. sever
weeks ago. He told the officers TIM
his wife was in Hayes Springs, Net
and that he lived in Cardin, OKLA.
l.angston is so far "a myster
Flournoy is said 10 have told n
officers that Langston was fug
i've from justice, nut ne refused
give any more information. Charl,
Smith is also an unknown Quantit
Nothing is known about him 9th,
than the fact that he was at n
roadhouse at the time OF the shoe
ing, the officers say.
Lying on his cot in the hosplta
Sweeney denied that he W;
either an eN-convlct nor a fugiti,
from Justice. He said that he wei
10 the alleged roadhouse about
o'clock, Several men and women, /
said, were dancing inside. Aho
midnight Flournoy and Payne star
ed quarreling, lie says that he an
Fann'ng followed them outsid
Sweeney said that one OF the fnt
stuck a gun In his ribs but Payl
knocked it aside. A minute later Il
shooting started. Sweeney claims !
hurried to town, told an officer
the shooting and then got I'm a taS
cab and drove bacH to the wills,
house.
Near the house. he claims. Sc
eral men attacked him aud severe
beat him about the head. Later,
says, he was picked up and broug
20 town. II IL the theory OF I