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