New Britain herald., 1930-04-28
OKLAHOMA POLICE
 BELIEVE VICTIMS
 FRIENDS INNOCENT
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Wike arrived here at 1 o'clock Sat urday afternoon in an automobile in which they had driven from thelr Litchfield county homes. At 6:H9 they went to the office of Virgil L. Coss, Muskogce loan dealer, who for years sold farm mortgages to the New Milford company and who since the company went bankrupt h1S been handling paper on commission for the Connecticut men. The pur- pose of the conference was to dls- cuss the status of the mortgages. The conference ended in an hour and the men returned to their hotel. David and George Smith went to their room on the eighth floor which adjoined that used by Seeley anl Wike. The door between was un- locked. Seeley went to the bath room to shave. David Smith was sitting on the side of his bed writ ing in a notebook. George and Wike were also in the room.
 According to Wilkes story two well-dressed young men wearing brown suits and 1ourshing revolv- CTS entered the room and, after Da- vid Smith had asked them what they wanted. replied, By God we'll show you what we want"
 Grappled With Men David Smith then grappled with the man and his brother flung him. self upon the gunman's companion. Wike said he went to George Smith 3 assistance. The battle seems to have been a short one. George Smith was killed with bullet through the heart while his brothers life WAS snuffed out by bullet which en- tered the head under the chin and followed an upward course.
 The gunmcn then seized Wike. bound and gagged him and took his wallet which contained $S. When Seeley returned to the room he noti- fled the assistant hotel manager and the police were summoned. In the meantime Seeley liberated Wille,
 Seeley said he heard three or four shots. No other guest in the hotel could be found who heard any shots or the sound of d struggle. Men an swering Wilkes description of the assailants were not encountered by anyone in the hotel, it is said. The elevator operator was also unable 10 furnish police with any information.
 Robbery Not Motive
 Robbery apparently was not the motive for the killing for although Wike said the two men took B from him they made no real attempt to search him. A greater sum Of money loose in his pockets was not taken and there had been no at tempt to loot the baggage or the pockets of the dead men. The keys to both rooms were missing.
 Investigators at first were of the opinion that the conference which the four men held with Coss might furnish some clues but Seeley later said the discussion was harmonious return to Connecticut today with tn" bodies of the slain men but he was detained by police.
 Although there have been two other assaults in Muskogee hotel re- gently police say they find no reason for considering the Smith murders in this category. They believe that the murders or the instigator of the murders was someone who knew the two Connecticut men.
 Believe Men Martyrs
 New Milford, April 2S Belief that George R. Smith, West Corn wall, and his brother, David F. Smith, Sharon, died as martyrs was expressed yesterday by numerous Litchfield county residents who held there might be a connection between the murder of the brothers and the fact that they were in Muskosee, Okla, on a mission entailing the pos sible salvage of half million dol lars invested by Litchfield county residents, through the bankrupt New Milford Security company, in west ern farm land mortgages.
 Residents in the Upper Housaton- ic valley were unwilling to believe reports that the Smiths had been slain by ordinary robbers.
 Frank Wike, brother of John L. 1 Wike, for many years a Sharon Sc lectman, styled the murders "an ob- vious plot Lawrence Sturscs, brother-in law of the Smiths, charg- | cd that land on which Litchfield | people hold mortgages, sold in Okla i homa for taxes, has yielded oil since 1 passing from Connecticut control.
 Relatives waited until physician | had been summoned before they l broke the news of the murders to Mrs. David Smith.
 Fear that the tragedy may result | disastrously for P. G. Seeley, 72- year-old president of the bankrupt | New Milford Security company, was expressed by his son, Harry Secley. The younger Seeley had protested against his fathers plan to make the trip weet.
 Climax of Misfortune
 By many the Oklahoma double is seen as the forging of an- other link in the chain Of misfortune that has hit the section since the security company went bankrupt. Formerly one of the financial man. stays of the small town. the com pany specialized in mortgages on western farms and sold them to small investors in Litchfied county. Some years ago Edward J. Emmons was president and treasurer of the Postwar depression made the mortgages q poor investment, it is said. but rather than let his clients know he had invested unwiscly he paid high interest from the general funds at his disposal. New Milford people credit George smith sccrc- tary of the company under Emmons and since, with some knowledge of this and believe he was working with Emmons to adjust matters.
 Tn 1000 houeIcr thr hank conn !