Banker arrested when refused to dip

— Sequoyah County Democrat, June 8, 1923

From the files of Your Sequoyah County Times

25 Years Ago

(From the June 11, 1998, issue of the Sequoyah County Times) —An Indian theme park in Sequoyah County is being considered for the 1,100 plus acres the U.S. Corps of Engineers turned over the Cherokee Nation recently.

Buddy Holt of Muldrow, a special assistant with the Cherokee Nation, has suggested a theme park project to tribal and community leaders and is receiving positive feedback.

The land Holt is suggesting for theme park development is the 1,100 acres on Kerr Lake, including Sallisaw Creek Landing, southwest of Sallisaw and at the southern end of Dwight Mission Road.

He said Cherokee deputy chief Garland Eagle “is sold on it.”

Holt also discussed the idea with Sallisaw Mayor George Glenn, who responded favorable, and with Fort Smith, Ark., officials who envision a tourist attraction which ties in with plans for river-front development in that city.

He also hopes to set up a meeting with the state tourism committee and is in the process of devising a map of the property as he envisions it as a theme park.

50 Years Ago

(From the June 7, 1973, issue of the Sequoyah County Times) —A Cessna 182 airplane piloted by Oliver Francisco of San Paulo, Brazil, crashed into the southern boundary of the Sallisaw City Cemetery early Wednesday morning completely destroying the craft. Francisco is a “ferry pilot” for Cessna and flies planes from the factory in Wichita to areas in South America.

The plane had only six air hours registered.

A spokesman for the airport said that Francisco had trouble starting the plane after he had landed at the local airport and needed the assistance of airport personnel to get it started.

Shortly prior to takeoff, a spokesman said the plane was “cutting out” and after the craft was airborne the engine died and the plane crashed at the Cemetery.

The Brazilian pilot was not injured in the incident.

75 Years Ago

(From the June 11, 1948, issue of the Sequoyah County Times) —Officials of Sallisaw Canning Company are praying for rain this week. If their prayers are answered, the largest crop of beans ever to be harvested and canned in Sequoyah County will be a reality instead of a fervent hope.

However, with the ground dry, the sky as clear as shiny crystal and temperature readings tiptoeing up toward the 100 mark, the bean growers and the canners aren’t doing “too bad.”

Since the harvest really got under “full steam” almost a week ago, tons and tons of the little green slivers have been tossed in baskets by the sun-burned harvest hands, loaded into trucks and brought to the Sallisaw canning factory.

According to manager Glen Emley, about 48 tons of the beans are being received daily and at seven and one-half to eight cents a pound, the price the canners are paying, that’s more than pin money to the growers.

100 years ago

(From the June 8, 1923, issue of the Sequoyah County Democrat) —E.C. Gilbert, cashier of Citizens Bank at Gans was arrested by deputies Fred Bradley and Roy Cheek Friday, when he refused to dip his cow, according to the tick eradication regulations and was released under a $500 bond.

The banker had brought his cow to the dipping vat at Gans, Friday, but objected to the officials painting the cow, as required by the tick eradication regulations and returned to his home with the animal undipped, but deputies Fred Bradley and Roy Cheek took the cow to the vat and dipped her according to the regulations. Mr. Gilbert did not object to having his cow dipped, but he objected to having the cow painted. According to the tick eradication regulations it requires each animal dipped to be painted to ascertain those dipped and those not dipped.

—W.C. Ashbrook, division superintendent of the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, with headquarters in this city, was held up and robbed of his watch and about fifteen dollars in cash while on his way home in his car at a point near Hanson, six miles east of this city, last Monday night about nine o’clock.

The hi-jacking party, consisting of two young men, a woman and a young girl caused Mr. Ashbrook to get out of his car upon a plea for assistance as they had a broken spring on their car and were out of gasoline. As soon as he stepped up to their car to investigate, Randolph Foreman, one of the party, covered him with a gun and after Ashbrook had complied with his demand to “stick them up” the woman in the party, Mrs. Dan Miller searched him and relieved him of his watch and money. The hi-jackers then headed towards Muldrow in their car on the Albert Pike highway and Mr. Ashbrook returned to Hanson where he telephoned the officers at Muldrow and the sheriff’s office in this city of the holdup. The party was caught as they drove into Muldrow, only about six miles from the scene of the robbery.