This information is offered FREE and taken from http://www.okgenweb.net/~okcaddo/ If you have arrived here using a pay site please know that this information has been donated by volunteers in a joint effort to provide FREE genealogy material online. Caddo County Newspapers - 1904 Anadarko Evening Tribune Submitted By Sandy Miller ======================================================================= Sept. 9, 1904 DIED Andrew C. Wheatley was shot Saturday morning and died (03-Sep-1904) in a few seconds. He was 44 years old and leaves a heart broken wife and four grief striken children to mourn the tragical death of a father. Funeral services were held Tuesday (06-Sep-1904) morning at the family residence in this city under the auspices of the Odd Fellows Lodge, the sermon being preached by Rev. Lillie of the Methodist Church, after which his remains were laid to rest in the city cemetery. ======================================================================= Sept. 30, 1904 BILLINGSLEY PRELININARY The preliminary hearing in the case of Ter. vs. Logan and W.R. Billingsley, for the murder of A.C. Wheatley, on the morning of September 3rd, was held Monday and Tuesday of this week and resulted in both the defendents being bound over to await action of the next grand jury. Great interest has manifested in the outcome of this case ever since the murder. This promises to be one of the hardest fought contests in the history of Caddo County. Eminent counsel has been retained on either side and it is evident that every inch of ground will be closely contested. The trial came up before Justice of Peace, W.H. Starkweather, beginning shortly afternoon Monday and was not concluded until Tuesday evening. The first witness examined was Dr. Tonge, who stated that he examined the body shortly after the shooting and found a bullet wound beneath the right shoulder blade and discoloration above the left nipple where the bullet had apparently lodged. He also stated that there were large bruises on the face and discoloration of the right eye, and other bruises about on the right side of the neck. He stated that the gunshot wound was made by either a 32 or 38 caliber gun. The witness was again questioned in regard to the marks of disfigurement on the murdered man's face and neck, and the counsel for defense objected in regard to wounds being made with a blunt instrument. Objections overuled, and witness stated that two of the wounds appeared to have been made with a blunt instrument and that others were merely bruises and discolorations. Trov Morris, living fourteen miles northwest of the city, was the next witness and on being called to the stand stated that on the morning of the murder he was sitting in front of Robinson's Saloon and was a witness to the trouble which led to the killing of Wheatley. His attention was first attracted by Wheatley's cries for help, the combatants were at this time half way between Robinson's Saloon and the Rock Island Hotel on the north side of the crossing. He stated that Wheatley was not fighting but was trying to escape from Logan, who was holding his arms while the elder Billingsley was striking him. Morris stated that he and another man separated the combatants and thinking the trouble was over released the man and the fighting was resumed. With the assistance of another party who came from the Lumber yard, the combatants were again separated and the Billingsleys started away. Logan being about twenty five yards away when the senior Billingsley turned and made a remark to Wheatley, who immediately started toward him. Logan than turned and started toward the scene of action, while his father was going from Wheatley, It was at this time that Logan shot Wheatley. When cross examined witness stated Billingsley said, "Maybe you'll behave yourself now." Wheatley answered " I don't have to when I have a little protection." He stated that he did not see anything in Wheatley's hands but did see him pull off his gloves and put them into his pocket and also saw him fall. Stated that he turned after he was shot before falling. The testimony of the third witness, L.M. Morris, was exactly the same as that of his son with the addition of the following speech by Logan when he turned back, "You old s-- of a b----, I'll show you how to run my father with a knife." He also stated that he saw no knife during the encounter, and also stated that the little son of Wheatley's then ran up and piteously begged his father to speak to him. During the cross examination Mr. Morris stated that Logan hit Wheatley before catching his arms. Fourth and fifth witnesses were H.J. Harbour and Wyatt S. Brown, both of who affirmed what had been said by the preceding witnesses. In fact each witness had about the same story to tell until T.H. Brook, the undertaker took the stand and he testified that he removed purse, gloves and knives from the pocket of the dead man and that the knives were under other things. Some testimony was taken in regard to threats recently made by Billingsley after which J.G. Gallaher was called. He repeated a conversation held with Billingsley a few weeks ago in which Billingsley intimated that unless the trouble between the two families was shortly settled, adding that Wheatley would find a Billingsley in every corner. Wyatt Brown was recalled to the stand and contradicted the Morrises in regard to their being present at the time of the beginning of the trouble. Mr. Brown states that both of these men were in the camp house at the time of the beginning of the trouble eating breakfast, and that he ran out of the lumber yard when he first heard the cries for help and then returned and got these men to help him separate the combatants. Henry Miller stated that Wheatley drew a knife and that he caught Wheatley by the arm and attempted to hold him but on being told very emphatically to turn him loose he did so and that Wheatley then ran after Billingsley and was a few feet of him when Logan fired the fatal shot. Chas. Cooper affirmed testimony of Miller and stated that he saw the knife but did not know what became of it after the shooting. He also stated that Wheatley was chasing the elder Billingsley at the time Logan fired the shot. Ural Wheatley was the last witness called. He recognized his father's knife. On being asked what his father used the knife for, objection to the question was sustained. Both prisoners were committed without bail to await the action of the grand jury. The defendant attorneys intend to make another effort to secure bail. ======================================================================= Oct. 07, 1904 Judge Gillett Saturday examined the evidence in the Billingsley case and heard the argument of the attorneys for the release of the defendants on bond. The judge released the father on $5,000 bond and took the case of Logan Billingsley under advisement. ======================================================================= Nov. 25, 1904 R.W. Billingsley is enjoying God's beneficent sun light and blessed freedom. He furnished bail in the sum of $5,000 and returned Monday to his farm at Gracemont.