MEN HELD FOR GUS BOBBITT ASSASSINATION HANGED THIS MORNING Jim Miller, Jesse West, Joe Allen and B. B. Burwell, Held for Assassination of Gus Bobbitt are Hanged at 2:30 O’clock This Morning by Unknown Mob
April 19, 1909—The Evening News-- About 2:30 this morning a disguised mob of about 50 men swooped down upon the jailer at the Pontotoc County Jail, overpowered him, secured the keys to the Jail, took out J. B. Miller, Jesse West, Joe Allen and B. B. Burwell, held for the assassination of Gus Bobbitt, marched them to the old Frisco barn, just north of the Jail and hung them by their necks till did. At this writing, the citizens of the town are so completely stunned over the affair that it is difficult to get an expression from any one as to the facts of detail, relative to the affair. This is the most noted? Of the kind in Oklahoma, and probably in the whole South, and people speak of it and whisper tones, so tight and taut with excitement. The news of the incident spread throughout the city, and when the dawn revealed the specter of four Phantom-like, and gruesome human forms dangling at the ends of ropes, suspended from the joist of this deserted barn, every citizen shuddered and expressed sentiments. Justices of the peace and other officials were immediately notified of what had happened and hastened to the scene. The bodies were cut down and brought to the undertaking parlor of L. T. Walters, where was assembled an immense crowd, whose curiosity prompted them to take a last look at the remains of men, about whom so much has been said and written. Cause of Hanging February 26, Gus Bobbitt, a prominent farmer and extensive handler of cattle was returning to his home from Ada when and unknown man riding a horse discharge the contents of a double-barreled shotgun in his body, the tragedy occurring at about 7:30 at night and a half hour later life was extinct in the body of Gus Bobbitt. Bobbitt was riding in a wagon loaded with cottonseed meal, and the force of the two shots knocked him from the wagon. Bob Ferguson, who worked for Mr. Bobbitt was behind in another wagon and saw the assassinator discharge the gun. The noise of the gun scared to Bobbitt's team and they ran down the road. Ferguson leaped from his wagon on the side opposite side on which the assassinator rode by and whipped his horse into a run until he arrived at the spot where Bobbitt fell from his wagon. The assassinate her disappeared in the darkness and Ferguson speed Lee went to the Bobbitt home and informed Mrs. Bobbitt, who immediately went to the relief of her husband. Bobbitt was removed to his home and medical aid summoned by Ferguson, but the end came before the arrival of the doctor. Bobbitt was a prominent man in this locality and was a deputy U. S. marshal under President Cleveland, and was instrumental in discharge of his duty, in meeting out justice to numerous criminals and outlaws in this part of what was then Indian Territory. In his official capacity at that time, Mr. Bobbitt was fearless and courageous in the discharge of his duty, and for this reason, gained many enemies among the law violators, and it is assumed that the inception of the spirit resulting in the assassination of Bobbitt was back to that time, and emanates from a grudge engendered by law violators, whom he was instrumental in bringing to justice, and which accumulated in the arrest of the quartet, who were summarily dealt with early this morning. The killing of Bobbitt, who was 46 years old, left four children fatherless, the youngest being five years old and the oldest 20, who with their mother were extended all the sympathy of the community. Great excitement prevailed after the report of the killing of Bobbitt and immense throngs of people discussed the tragedy and deplored the fact that one of our most prominent citizens had been shot from ambush, murdered in cold blood while going peacefully from Ada to his home southwest of here. The community became more and more enraged that on reflecting that the assassinator had disappeared in the darkness, and probably might again appear to take away the life of some other citizen, whose like Bobbitt, may have had a duty to perform for his country in unofficial capacity. The feeling of the community and the sympathy, which prevailed, can better be estimated when we say that on Thursday, March 1, when the remains of Bobbitt were laid to rest. The funeral cortege was the longest and largest and Pontotoc County, which ever accompanied the remains of the deceased citizen to the final resting place. A few days after the murder of Bobbitt officers began to work up a clue to the murder. The horse which the assassin rode was traced to the home of one Williamson, near Francis, who is a nephew of Miller, and owner of the horse, and who testified in the pulmonary hearing last Thursday that Miller did ride this horse and, in fact, acknowledge to hum (Williamson) that he killed Bobbitt. On March 19 Burwell, was placed in Jail, also Oscar Peeler, both of whom were evidently connected with the plot. On March 31, Miller was arrested in a farmhouse near Hicks, Texas, a few miles west of Fort Worth, and was brought to Ada and lodged in Jail. Following their clue closely the officers, on the night of April 6th, arrested of West and Allen and Oklahoma City, brought them to Ada on the seventh instant and placed them in Jail also. Burrell and Peeler, Wade, preliminary hearing, while Miller had a hearing on Thursday and Friday of last week. The trial of West and Allen would have occurred tomorrow had the lynching not taken place. Miller's Diamonds Miller wore a diamond range and diamond shirt stud and before he was taken from the jail he presented James McCarty, one of the guards at the Jail, with the stud and requested that the ring be delivered to his wife in Fort Worth. The diamond ring was still on his finger when the quartet was cut down, it and being impossible to remove on account of the finger swelling. Coroners Jury Verdict This morning, Justice of the peace, H. J. Brown, acting coroner, empanelled a jury, the personnel of which follows the verdict, the verdict being at: "Said jurors upon their oaths say that the said Jim Miller, B. B. Burwell, Joe Allen and Jesse West met their death on the morning on the 19th day of April, 1909, at about two or three a clock a.m. in the city of Ada, State of Oklahoma, by and being hanged by the neck with the rope, and that the death of each of the said parties was caused by strangulation produced by the ropes placed about their necks as aforesaid by parties whose names are unknown to the jurors. In testimony, where all the said jurors have hereinto set their hands the day and year aforesaid.
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