The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-17
PIONEER LAWYER
HIT BY MACHINE
DRIVEN BY FRIEND
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE
primary, Rutherford was made
chairman of the important commit
tee on resolutions, which drew up
the declaration OF principles upon
which the democratic state ticket
made the successful race in the
general election.
Rutherford came TO the Indian
Territory when the only law was
that enforced by the man with the
quickest draw. In 1895, when he
was appointed United States NOR
shal for the northern federal dis
trlct, with headquarters at Musko-
gee. there we're a dozen outlaw bands
operating in various portions of the
territory.
within the first six months OF his
term, 65 outlays of the type which
passed with the deaths of Henry
Starr and Tom Slaughter were cap
tured by Rutherford's deputies and
II more were killed resisting arrest.
over a dozen of those captured were
hanged at the federal court at Fort
Smith. In those days the federal
courts were all that functioned IN
the territory, and all crimes from
minor misdemeanOr to murder were
tried in the federal court.
Four Of the II outlaws killed dur
ing Rutherford's term as marshal
fell before the deadly gun Of Uncle
Bud Ledbetter, who will take office
as county sheriff January l, at the
uge Of 76.
Train robberies had been the fav-
or.te occupation OF all the territory
outlaws in tho early days, but Ruth
orford's~vigor IN following the BAN
dts into their mountain Businesses
soon iessened their ardor, In the
last year OF his lncumbency, only one
train robbery occurred within his
district.
That one was staged by Al lem
nings and his gang down in the
IhoCtaw nation. A few years later
Bud Ledbetter followed thelJennings
gang to its lair and broke its back
bone.
When Mckinley became president,
Rutherford entered into the practice
Of criminal law I'm the same federal
courts which he had once served as
marshal. He formed n partnership
with Judge c. b. Stewart, now one
ot the most prominent corporation
lawyers Of the state, YanCy Lewis,
former federal Judge. and ]. II. Cor
don OF McAlester.
The partnership was dissolved
after two years and Rutherford
formed another with Col. w. NJ
Cravens in whose office he had
studied law in Fort Smith years be-
fore
j. ", Cosgrove. his present part
ner has been with him 10 years
rutherford was mayor of the city
IN the year l904-05 and II was dur
Ing his administration that the street
car charter was granted, and tht
WaterwOrks system was developed sc
that IL gpTya1 tho pufira CitV
He was one OF the delegates g
that famous democratic convention
N the little red church house" a
MoAlester at which the first active
political machine OF the party was
formed. or the little handful O'
men who gathered at that little
voluntary meeting. some Of the great
\ est leaders OF the party have come
rutherford Was born In Louisville
ARK February 16, 1859, and reare'
IN Fort Smith. He attended tn
public schools there and left hig!
school to attend Cane Hin college a
Zane Hin, Ark. He took up law a
Emory and Henry college at Emory
va, ana was a graduate Of the clas
OF SO.
From the cOurtly manOrs OF Nir
Snla, where he had lived for thre
years while studying law, Ruther
kiotd returned 10 the then fronue
sountry al Fort Smith and impedi
5leIy went into the law offices o
Duvall & Cravens.
rutherford was member OF tn
Eplscopalian church and a Maso
ana a Shriner. He IS a member o
lne Muskogee Town and Countr
club, and director OF the First Ma
uonal bank here.
ne Is survived by his widow. whC
neIore her marriage in Fort Smit
IN loys was Miss Sallie Dillard, an
our children-Morton jr, deput
,Suurt clerk here; Helen, John Di
'ard and Jane,