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The Murder of William B. Gray
Return to County Stories
Return to County Stories
Ada Evening News Monday, Aug 7, 1911
The nude and decomposed body of William Gray, 59, of Moller, was found Saturday a mile west of Hart by boys hunting for plums. It was one of the foulest crimes ever committed in Pontotoc County.
Frank Edwards was arrested late Saturday at Pauls Valley and is lodged at the Ada Jail. A preliminary hearing has been set for Thursday morning in Justice Brown's court with County Attorney Wimbish, prosecutor, and R. G. Roland, Attorney for defense (court appointed).
Gray's body was found near the road in a thicket about a mile west of Hart. In another place was found a trunk, and another a tent with blood on it. A posse led by Deputy Eli Morris, Bill Eaves, W. C. Blackburn, Frank B. Arnett, and one other man tracked Edwards toward Pauls Valley. The sheriff at Pauls Valley had been notified by telephone and had Edwards in custody when the posse arrived. Edwards had sold Gray's wagon and team of mules to Gibson Bros., mule dealers, for $175, and was buying a saddle and having Gray's black horse shod when he was arrested. At first Edwards gave the name of Fred Smith, but later confessed it was Frank Edwards. When arrested Edwards had about $20 in his pockets.
Edwards had little to say until Sunday morning when he called for Deputy Morris and told this story: He said that he met up with Gray at Owens Ferry on the Red River and had been traveling with him. He said they camped Wednesday night between Hickory and Roff. He said that on Thursday morning a man named Fred McFarland rode up with a Winchester, ordered him out of the wagon and shot Gray in the back of the head. He said the man then commanded him to go and sell Gray's belongings and be prepared to divide the money and said there were three more men hidden in the brush. Nevertheless, Edwards hauled the body around all day just going around in circles.
He drove into Hart late Thursday night and dumped the body early Friday morning. He said Gray's clothes came off as he was being dragged.
William Gray had been living in Sterling City, Tex, for three or four years although he had been back to visit and attend the funeral of his brother about two years ago. He was moving back to Moller to stay. Gray was a man who tended strictly to his own business and his reputation was the best. He never married. Edwards is well known in Pontotoc County. His family lived at Center at one time. He is 31 years old.
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At his preliminary hearing, Edwards was bound over for trial set for Aug 14. Defense asked for, and was granted, a change of venue to Wewoka, Judge McKeown presiding. On the 14th Edwards said he was too sick to appear. Trial began on the 15th with the courtroom packed to suffocation and spectators crowding the doors and windows. the jury went out at 7:00 PM and returned at 2:30 OM the next day with a guilty verdict and asked for the death penalty. The Ada news headline read "Edwards Must Hang"
He was sentenced to life imprisonment. the defense asked for a new trial on the grounds that new evidence had turned up. It said that Edwards had once.........
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(and as soon as I find the last page of this I will let you all know what happened!) I thought it was interested that they "Headed him off at the Pass", or "Pauls Valley" in this case.. using a telephone, which must have been a novelty in that time. Also note that he got a court appointed attorney ("you have the right to an attorney....")
William was buried at Hart Cemetery. His people were in Allen, and several are buried there. They were a family that had come to Pontotoc from Stone County Arkansas around the century mark, and are cousins of mine through my Arkansas grandpa, not my Okie granny.
Updated on 09/24/11
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