4-20-14
Info. from paper from:
Find A Grave contributor Kathy Leach
Link to contributor profile: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=mr&MRid=47251652
From the Indian Pioneer Papers: Wheelock Church and Cemetery, by Hazel B. Greene, page 2-3
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The grave of A. W. Welker is marked with a handsome marble monument which measures about six feet across that base; the stone proper is about five feet across, by about four feet, six inches high. It has on it only "A.W.F." The stone at the foot has his name, A. W. Felker, 1875-1922.
"Bud" Felker was sheriff of McCurtain County and on the morning of August 14, 1922, was killed by Clayton Thompson, a desperado, whom he had gone over to Wright City to arrest. Thompson was charged with killing two men the evening before and Felker had gone over there to arrest him.
Thompson was seen going down the sidewalk that was crowded with people. Mr. Felker and [a local rancher], Christian, slowed down and told Thompson that they would see him down town. As they drove off, Thompson fired, shooting Christian in the back, then fired again and killed Felker instantly.
Thompson was arrested a few minutes later in a restaurant where he had calmly walked after killing Felker, and had ordered his breakfast. He sat with his rifle across his lap guarding the front door, but Deputy Jones came in at the back door and covered him before he had time to shoot him. He attempted to shoot but a deputy gave him a fatal load of buckshot that knocked him to the floor.
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Wounds Save Slayer From Mob's Hands
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Tues, Aug 15, 1922
Idabel, Okla., Aug 15 - Only his wounds, which were expected to prove fatal, saved Clayton Thompson from the hands of a mob yesterday after a gun battle on the principal thoroughfare of Wright City near here, in which he slew Sheriff Bud Felker of McCurtain County and dangerously wounded Cleveland Christian of Mountain View, who were attempting to arrest him for killing two men near Wright City.
The series of tragedies began late Sunday when Thompson, while intoxicated, it is said, shot and killed John Anderson, foreman of a ranch 10 miles north of Wright City. Thompson then started to Wright City and overtook Clifford Pruett 18. He shot the youth to death in a quarrel.
Christian, owner of a ranch adjoining the one where Anderson was killed, joined Sheriff Felker and Deputy Sheriff Richard Jones in a search for Thompson. They trailed him to Wright City yesterday morning and met him on the main street of the town.
As they drove up to the curbing in Felker's automobile, they commanded Thompson to surrender. The latter brought a rifle into play and shot Christian between the shoulders. A second shot struck Felker in the back of the head, killing him instantly and a third bored the sheriff between the shoulders.
Thompson then sought refuge in a restaurant. Jones called upon him to surrender and when he did not obey the deputy shot him twice in the abdomen with a rifle.
Christian was taken to a hospital at Broken Bow, where it was said he is not expected to live.
Thompson was brought to jail here and is being attended by physicians who say he cannot survive the night.
All of Thompson's victims were married men with families except young Pruett. Sheriff Felker had been nominated as the Democratic choice for sheriff in the recent primary election.
Info. from paper from:
Find A Grave contributor Kathy Leach
Link to contributor profile: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=mr&MRid=47251652
From the Indian Pioneer Papers: Wheelock Church and Cemetery, by Hazel B. Greene, page 2-3
****************************
The grave of A. W. Welker is marked with a handsome marble monument which measures about six feet across that base; the stone proper is about five feet across, by about four feet, six inches high. It has on it only "A.W.F." The stone at the foot has his name, A. W. Felker, 1875-1922.
"Bud" Felker was sheriff of McCurtain County and on the morning of August 14, 1922, was killed by Clayton Thompson, a desperado, whom he had gone over to Wright City to arrest. Thompson was charged with killing two men the evening before and Felker had gone over there to arrest him.
Thompson was seen going down the sidewalk that was crowded with people. Mr. Felker and [a local rancher], Christian, slowed down and told Thompson that they would see him down town. As they drove off, Thompson fired, shooting Christian in the back, then fired again and killed Felker instantly.
Thompson was arrested a few minutes later in a restaurant where he had calmly walked after killing Felker, and had ordered his breakfast. He sat with his rifle across his lap guarding the front door, but Deputy Jones came in at the back door and covered him before he had time to shoot him. He attempted to shoot but a deputy gave him a fatal load of buckshot that knocked him to the floor.
*****************************
Wounds Save Slayer From Mob's Hands
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Tues, Aug 15, 1922
Idabel, Okla., Aug 15 - Only his wounds, which were expected to prove fatal, saved Clayton Thompson from the hands of a mob yesterday after a gun battle on the principal thoroughfare of Wright City near here, in which he slew Sheriff Bud Felker of McCurtain County and dangerously wounded Cleveland Christian of Mountain View, who were attempting to arrest him for killing two men near Wright City.
The series of tragedies began late Sunday when Thompson, while intoxicated, it is said, shot and killed John Anderson, foreman of a ranch 10 miles north of Wright City. Thompson then started to Wright City and overtook Clifford Pruett 18. He shot the youth to death in a quarrel.
Christian, owner of a ranch adjoining the one where Anderson was killed, joined Sheriff Felker and Deputy Sheriff Richard Jones in a search for Thompson. They trailed him to Wright City yesterday morning and met him on the main street of the town.
As they drove up to the curbing in Felker's automobile, they commanded Thompson to surrender. The latter brought a rifle into play and shot Christian between the shoulders. A second shot struck Felker in the back of the head, killing him instantly and a third bored the sheriff between the shoulders.
Thompson then sought refuge in a restaurant. Jones called upon him to surrender and when he did not obey the deputy shot him twice in the abdomen with a rifle.
Christian was taken to a hospital at Broken Bow, where it was said he is not expected to live.
Thompson was brought to jail here and is being attended by physicians who say he cannot survive the night.
All of Thompson's victims were married men with families except young Pruett. Sheriff Felker had been nominated as the Democratic choice for sheriff in the recent primary election.
4-20-14
Info. from paper from:
Find A Grave contributor Kathy Leach
Link to contributor profile: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=mr&MRid=47251652
From the Indian Pioneer Papers: Wheelock Church and Cemetery, by Hazel B. Greene, page 2-3
****************************
The grave of A. W. Welker is marked with a handsome marble monument which measures about six feet across that base; the stone proper is about five feet across, by about four feet, six inches high. It has on it only "A.W.F." The stone at the foot has his name, A. W. Felker, 1875-1922.
"Bud" Felker was sheriff of McCurtain County and on the morning of August 14, 1922, was killed by Clayton Thompson, a desperado, whom he had gone over to Wright City to arrest. Thompson was charged with killing two men the evening before and Felker had gone over there to arrest him.
Thompson was seen going down the sidewalk that was crowded with people. Mr. Felker and [a local rancher], Christian, slowed down and told Thompson that they would see him down town. As they drove off, Thompson fired, shooting Christian in the back, then fired again and killed Felker instantly.
Thompson was arrested a few minutes later in a restaurant where he had calmly walked after killing Felker, and had ordered his breakfast. He sat with his rifle across his lap guarding the front door, but Deputy Jones came in at the back door and covered him before he had time to shoot him. He attempted to shoot but a deputy gave him a fatal load of buckshot that knocked him to the floor.
*****************************
Wounds Save Slayer From Mob's Hands
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Tues, Aug 15, 1922
Idabel, Okla., Aug 15 - Only his wounds, which were expected to prove fatal, saved Clayton Thompson from the hands of a mob yesterday after a gun battle on the principal thoroughfare of Wright City near here, in which he slew Sheriff Bud Felker of McCurtain County and dangerously wounded Cleveland Christian of Mountain View, who were attempting to arrest him for killing two men near Wright City.
The series of tragedies began late Sunday when Thompson, while intoxicated, it is said, shot and killed John Anderson, foreman of a ranch 10 miles north of Wright City. Thompson then started to Wright City and overtook Clifford Pruett 18. He shot the youth to death in a quarrel.
Christian, owner of a ranch adjoining the one where Anderson was killed, joined Sheriff Felker and Deputy Sheriff Richard Jones in a search for Thompson. They trailed him to Wright City yesterday morning and met him on the main street of the town.
As they drove up to the curbing in Felker's automobile, they commanded Thompson to surrender. The latter brought a rifle into play and shot Christian between the shoulders. A second shot struck Felker in the back of the head, killing him instantly and a third bored the sheriff between the shoulders.
Thompson then sought refuge in a restaurant. Jones called upon him to surrender and when he did not obey the deputy shot him twice in the abdomen with a rifle.
Christian was taken to a hospital at Broken Bow, where it was said he is not expected to live.
Thompson was brought to jail here and is being attended by physicians who say he cannot survive the night.
All of Thompson's victims were married men with families except young Pruett. Sheriff Felker had been nominated as the Democratic choice for sheriff in the recent primary election.
Info. from paper from:
Find A Grave contributor Kathy Leach
Link to contributor profile: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=mr&MRid=47251652
From the Indian Pioneer Papers: Wheelock Church and Cemetery, by Hazel B. Greene, page 2-3
****************************
The grave of A. W. Welker is marked with a handsome marble monument which measures about six feet across that base; the stone proper is about five feet across, by about four feet, six inches high. It has on it only "A.W.F." The stone at the foot has his name, A. W. Felker, 1875-1922.
"Bud" Felker was sheriff of McCurtain County and on the morning of August 14, 1922, was killed by Clayton Thompson, a desperado, whom he had gone over to Wright City to arrest. Thompson was charged with killing two men the evening before and Felker had gone over there to arrest him.
Thompson was seen going down the sidewalk that was crowded with people. Mr. Felker and [a local rancher], Christian, slowed down and told Thompson that they would see him down town. As they drove off, Thompson fired, shooting Christian in the back, then fired again and killed Felker instantly.
Thompson was arrested a few minutes later in a restaurant where he had calmly walked after killing Felker, and had ordered his breakfast. He sat with his rifle across his lap guarding the front door, but Deputy Jones came in at the back door and covered him before he had time to shoot him. He attempted to shoot but a deputy gave him a fatal load of buckshot that knocked him to the floor.
*****************************
Wounds Save Slayer From Mob's Hands
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Tues, Aug 15, 1922
Idabel, Okla., Aug 15 - Only his wounds, which were expected to prove fatal, saved Clayton Thompson from the hands of a mob yesterday after a gun battle on the principal thoroughfare of Wright City near here, in which he slew Sheriff Bud Felker of McCurtain County and dangerously wounded Cleveland Christian of Mountain View, who were attempting to arrest him for killing two men near Wright City.
The series of tragedies began late Sunday when Thompson, while intoxicated, it is said, shot and killed John Anderson, foreman of a ranch 10 miles north of Wright City. Thompson then started to Wright City and overtook Clifford Pruett 18. He shot the youth to death in a quarrel.
Christian, owner of a ranch adjoining the one where Anderson was killed, joined Sheriff Felker and Deputy Sheriff Richard Jones in a search for Thompson. They trailed him to Wright City yesterday morning and met him on the main street of the town.
As they drove up to the curbing in Felker's automobile, they commanded Thompson to surrender. The latter brought a rifle into play and shot Christian between the shoulders. A second shot struck Felker in the back of the head, killing him instantly and a third bored the sheriff between the shoulders.
Thompson then sought refuge in a restaurant. Jones called upon him to surrender and when he did not obey the deputy shot him twice in the abdomen with a rifle.
Christian was taken to a hospital at Broken Bow, where it was said he is not expected to live.
Thompson was brought to jail here and is being attended by physicians who say he cannot survive the night.
All of Thompson's victims were married men with families except young Pruett. Sheriff Felker had been nominated as the Democratic choice for sheriff in the recent primary election.
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