This and That Newsletter

Okmulgee Oklahoma Police Department - 1908
Henry Klaber, Assistant Chief. Killed in the line of duty
Okmulgee Police Department

On Sunday, November 15, 1908, Jimmy Grayson had filed a complaint against a black gunsmith named Newt Decker over an argument about a day’s catch of fish. Chief Klaber and Grayson went to Decker’s house at Second and Creek Street. As the men approached the house, Decker, an expert shot, ran out shooting with guns in both hands. The Chief was shot in the throat and died soon after. Two brothers, Ralph and Felix Chapman, ran to Chief Klaber’s aid, firing at Decker with the fallen officer’s gun. Decker shot and killed both brothers then ran back in his house. Other officers responded and the gunfight lasted over an hour with over 500 shots being fired. Okmulgee County Deputy Sheriff Edgar Robinson was also killed with two other officers wounded as well as three bystanders. The officers finally set the house next to Decker’s on fire. The fire spread to Decker’s house. As Decker came to the door he was shot and fell back inside the house to burn to death. Chief Klaber, 39, was survived by his wife and four children.

William Edgar Robinson, Sheriff, Killed in the line of duty
Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office

Newt Decker, a black man, and Jimmy Grayson, a Creek Freedman, got into an argument over a day’s catch of fish on Sunday, November 15, 1908. Both men had been drinking. Grayson made a complaint with the Assistant Chief of Police Henry Klaber. Grayson and Klaber made a search for Decker and found him in a shack at 2nd and Creek streets in Okmulgee.
Decker was a gunsmith by trade and a crack shot with a rifle and pistol. Decker, on seeing the police approach, burst out the front door with a pistol in each hand. Decker shot Assistant Chief Klaber in the throat without warning. Grayson ran for help. Two brothers, Felix and Ralph Chapman, were deputized by Assistant Chief Klaber to assist him. When they saw Chief Klaber shot and dying, they picked up his gun and fired at Decker. Decker returned fire and killed both brothers. Police Chief Dick Farr road up and tried to assist the fallen Klaber. Decker shot Farr in the right shoulder. Chief Farr took a shot at Decker with his left hand and felt he struck Decker because he saw him whirl around as he fired.
Undaunted, Decker wounded Chief Farr again in the arm. Edgar Robinson, the first elected Sheriff of Okmulgee County, arrived on the scene and was shortly shot dead by Decker. The battle lasted more than an hour with an excess of 500 shots being fired. As they couldn’t get too close to Decker’s house, they set fire to the house next door with coal oil. After Decker’s house caught on fire, Decker came to the door. He was hit by gunfire and fell back into the flames.
Five men died: Decker, Assistant Chief Klaber, the two Chapman brothers and Sheriff Robinson. Chief Farr and a deputy sheriff were wounded along with six bystanders.
Sheriff Robinson was survived by his wife and two young children.

March 1934
Ford Bradshaw, wild shooting smart aleck who fancies himself as outlaw king of the Cookson Hills died today in a stream of lead. "He thought he was a bad man," said Deputy Bill Harper.

March 1958
The Oklahoma Highway commission announced the last obstacle has been cleared for construction of a four-lane highway 4 miles east and 4 miles west of Lone Grove on U.S. 70. Original plans called for a "limited access." That was changed to a "free road."

Last week I posted a digital recording of a record in the display case at the Michelin Plant. Last week's played to slow (33rpm?), and it sounds better at 45rpm. Michelin (Uniroyal back in 1981) gave all the employees the record for Christmas. The songwriter/singer's name is not on the lable. Maybe someone out there will remember who sang the song???

A couple of bricks I sandblasted last week. The first one I got some rain water on it just before I snapped the picture.

Q. This one small Oklahoma town has more outdoor attractions than any other place in the state. Where is the town?
A. Davis, Oklahoma

Q. Where in Oklahoma is a Kayak Park hiding?
A. Answer in next week's newsletter

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