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1LFIVE MEET DEATHNewt, Decker, a Bad Negro, Full of Mean Whiskey, Responsible For His Own Death and That, of Five OtherCitizens, One of Them Sheriff Robinson.NO FURTHER TROUBLE EXPECTED^ V* 9 ~ItTHK !)KAI.WILLIAM KDGAft ROBINSON, HHKIUFKHKXIIV KRAMER, ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE.FELIX IT!.-UNMAN, NKdlM), DEPUTIZE!) BY HHEKIFF TO ASSIST IN DKCKKK’S ARREST.RALPH CHAPMAN, BROTHER OF FKMX, ALSO ASSISTING THK SHERIFF. (NKWT. DECKER, THK N KG’HO WHO STARTED THE TROUBLE.THE WOUNDED.DICK FARR. UHIEF OF POLICE, SHOT IN SHOULDER, NOT SERIOUS.STEVE GRAYSON, NEGRO. HOT THROUGH THE SHOULDERAND NECK, CONDITION CRITICAL.HENRY HCHATT, NOT SERIOUS.HENRY (TlAPMAN, SHOT IN SHOULDER, NOT SERIOUS.ARNOLD RAMSEY, JAILER. SLIGHT WOUND IN SHOULDER.JIM GRAYSON, INDIAN, STRUC K ON HEAD WITH BRICK BY DECKER AT BEGINNING OF TROUBLE.1)00 COON, SHOT THROUGH THE LEG.CHAM. AKERS. SHOT IN HIP.DAVE WALLACE, HEAD.OKMULGEE. OK.. NOV. Hi.—(STAFF SPECIAL)—OKMULGEEIS IN GREIF AND MOURNING.FLAGS ARE AT HALF MAST ON THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS, AND BUSINESS OF ALL KINDS * SUSPENDED. IN FOUR HOMES AS MANY BRAVE MEN ARE LYING DEAD. FOUR WIVES HAVE BEN BEREFT OF THEIR HELP-MATES AND SIX CHILDREN ARE MOURNING FOR THEIR FATHER. THE OFFICERS OF THE LAW DIED LIKE BRAVE MEN. DOING THEJU DUTY.r.V ADDITION TO THE DEAD THERE ARE SEVEN MORE WOUNDED. NONE SERIOUSLY. AND A MANTLE OF GLOOM HAS SETTLED OVER THIS CITY THAT IT WILL TAKE DAYS TO REMOVE.IT WAS NOT A RACE RIOT THAT BROUGHT ABOUT THIS TRAGEDY. FOR IS THE ATTEMPT TO UPHOLD HHE LAW, BLACKS AND WHITES CAME TO THEIR DEATH. AND THE WIDOWS REPRESENTING THE RACES ARE EQUAL IN NUMBER-TWO WHITE. TWO COLORED.DECKER CAUSE OF TRAGEDY.The man directly responsible (or the tragedy was Decker, an Okmulgee negro, whose occupation wag that of a gunsmith, and who was considered the best shot in Eastern Oklahoma. He spent all of Sunday in Muskogee «nd upon his return to this city at 3:30, he was partially intoxicated, and ready for a fight.. .Ho was soon accommodated, for at the depot he met Jim Grayson, a Creek negro, Who is addicted to strong drink, and who on six different occasion** has been responsible forbloodshed in Okmulgee county. two clashed, and after a few minutes Decker pulled his gun, and struck Grayson over the head with it.A few* minutes later at the cotton platform, the fight was .renewed, and Grayson made his escape and rushed to a telephone and notified the police station that he had been assaulted by Decker.iKlaber on Scene.It was tbe duty of Assistant Marshal Klaber to be at the depot when the trains come in. and immediately after the fight he was notified wbat had taken place. He located Grayson and placed him In his buggy, with his little boy, Frank, and droveto the vicinity of the Decker residence. Several times he passed in front of the house trying to locate the man he was after, and eventually Decker was seen emerging from the old grave yard, and out. in the roadway in front of his house. Klaber, who was in the buggy, called upon Decker to halt, and Decker asked what was wanted.“I want you/' was the officer's answer.Dave Wallace, a young married negro, with whom Decker was living, came out of the house at this time, and advised Decker to surrender peaceably. Decker turned on him with a flash and told him he would kill him, at the same time pulling a .*58-calibre six-shooter from his hip pocket. The assistant city marshal t this time jumped from the buggy and told Decker he was •going to arrest him. Decker said that if he did heWould Kill Him, at the same time raising his revolver with both hands, pointing directly at the city marshal. The marshal ran around the rear of the buggy, when Decker dropped down between the wheels and shot at him from this position. The marshal then passed to the rear of the buggy and Felix Chapman, a negro, rushed up at this time to his assistance; just as lie got in the rear of the assistant marshal. Decker began shpoting. The first bullet struck Klaber in the body. Klaber only then fired two shots, and Decker immediately returned with another, the bullet passing through the assistant marshal's neck, and striking Felix Chapman, a negro, over the eye. Bobh men fell dead in their tracks, killed by the same bullet. When the assistant marshal fell, his boy jumped from the buggy and grabbed him around the neck and tried to support his body on his knee. At this point Rafe Chapman came up, picked up the assistant marshal’s revolver, retreated a few steps back and lay in the roadway, expecting to shoot at the first Opportunity. Just as he arose on his knees, Decker sighted him. The negro’s revolver spoke out again and abullet went flashing through Chapman’s brain.Attempted To Escape. 4AH this time Grayson was in the assistant marshal's buggy, and after seeing the three men shot, he at-.tempted to get away. Decker sight-) ed him. pulled his gun and shot. The ball missed Grayson, but struck the hors© he was driving in the head.The fcorfee died this morning. -Sheriff toThe news of the shooting soon at-tihctha attrition from uptowntthd Stistiff Robinson and his assistants; Ramsey; Vance, and McCune, and Chief of Police Dick Farr rushed tothe scene. They were accompanied by hundreds of citizens, some eft them armed with shotguns and others with rifles and revolvers.Decker, after shooting at Grayson, returned to his house, securedtwo 45's and came jut into the street. He started west and got as far as the residence of John Fuqua, a negro blacksmith, whose horse was hitched in front of the house. Decker jumped on the horse and started toward the depot, when he was met with a volley of shots, firedby citizens who had congregated in the graveyard, In the rear of a house in the Immediate vicinity. Decker jumped from his horse, and pulling both guns, began firing indiscriminately, and fled back to his house. At this point Sheriff Robinson and his deputies and .Chief of Police Farr arrived on the scene, coming from the west. Farr and Decker met in the roadway, andBoth Began Firing.The bullet from Decker’s gun struck: Farr in the shoulder and his gun dropped to the ground. He at once returned to the police station to secure more weapons. While this was going on. Sheriff Robinson and Deputies Vance and McCune passed to the south of the shack which stood west of Decker’s house, while Ramsey went to the north.Sheriff 4s Killed.Decker was on the north hide off his house, and seeing Ramsey, he shot at the brother of the Muskogee county sheriff, the ball striking him on the left shoulder. Decker then ran in the house and -tbok a position at the southwest window.. Robinson, Vance and McCune Were making a rush for the house at the time, gad Decker's gun again spoke out and the bullet went crashing through the sheriff’s brain. He fell to the ground and was dragged back of the shack by his two deputies.At this point, Steve Grayson, a negro, and an ex-deputy U. S. marshal, cam© onto the house from the north. He and Decker began firing, but the outlaw’s shot took effect, one passing through Grayson’s back lodging in his neck, and •»another through the stomach, passing out between his ribs. Both of the bullets were steel jackets fired from * 45 gun.Oowd Surrounds House/All Okmulgee was attracted b? this time, and hundreds had su*r rounded the house, the bullets flying in the ail*, from every direction* Henry Schatt, who was among those trying to capture Decker, was shot in the leg, Chas. Akers was shot In* the head, and Doc. Worthy was shpt j through both legs.After the shooting of the assist* ant marshal and the two Chapmans*(Continued on page six.)
Newspaper Details
New State Tribune
Muskogee, Oklahoma, US
Thu, Nov 19, 1908
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Sharon P.
USA 06 Jan 2021
Other Publications Near Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee Democrat
Muskogee Phoenix
Muskogee County Democrat
Baptist Informer
Creek Baptist Herald
