Kirk brothers in bad again

-Sequoyah County Democrat, July20,1923

From the files of Your Sequoyah County Times

25 Years Ago

(From the July 23,1998, issue of the Sequoyah County Times) —Sequoyah County residents who are supplied water by the Sequoyah County Water Association are being asked to stop watering lawns and stop washing cars, “at least until we get a good rain.”

Jackie Plank, administrative assistant at the rural water office in Sallisaw said, “The association is asking for all its members to practice water conservation starting immediately For example, this means no outside watering or washing of cars.”

“This will remain in effect until the heat breaks and we have a substantial rain fall,” Plank said.

The problem, she added is not lack of water. The association buys water from several other water companies, has its own water treatment plant on Lake Tenkiller and, in emergencies, also buys water from Sallisaw The problem is water usage is so high, water users at higher elevations are not receiving water due to the high water usage at lower levels.

Plank said, “We have only two or three people who have water in the Nicut area.”

Other members of the water association only have water two to three hours a day, Plank said.

50 Years Ago

(From the July 19,1973, issue of the Sequoyah County Times) —John Carlile, chairman of the Sequoyah County Public Works Authority, announced this week that a $250,000 loan from the Farmers Home Administration (FHA) has been approved for the implementation of a solid waste system in Sequoyah County Within the next few weeks, bids will be let for the packer trucks, a portable building, a bull dozer and other related equipment that must be secured before the routes for the collection of garbage can begin.

75 Years Ago

(From the July 23,1948, issue of the Sequoyah County Times) —Final quarter Sallisaw softball league competition started with a roar Tuesday night as “Sarge” Cox struck out 13 IGA batters to lead Mattox Motor Co.. to a 9-2 win over the grocerymen. In an earlier practice game a Long-Bell pick-up team defeated a group of Oklahoma Creosote players, 15-8. Thomas Webb was the winning pitcher, Arnold Seabolt losing.

—Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler Mayo were hosts at a swimming party and picnic given Sunday afternoon at their cabin on Sallisaw Creek near Marble City, when they entertained employees of the Sequoyah County Times and their families.

Those who attended were: Mr. and Mrs. George Chitwood and daughters, Cora Sue and Judy, Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Burnett and children, Bob, Donald and Shirley, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Cranford, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Gritts and son, John Clifford, Mr. Stinson Anderson, Mr. Jacques Ellison, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Burchfiel, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Pointer, Dick Mayo, Ed Pointer, Charles and Janice Young, Andrea and Jimmy Mayo and the hosts.

100 years ago

(From the July 20,1923, issue of the Sequoyah County Democrat) —Harry Kirk and Owen Kirk are charged with assault with attempt to kill, carrying a concealed weapon and conjoint robbery and Jeff Kirk, another brother faces assault attempt to kill and conjoint robbery following a fight with one John Merchant at a dance given near Marble City last week.

Jeff Kirk was convicted during the last term of court of murder and was given 20 years in the state penitentiary He is now under a heavy appeal bond.

The Kirk brothers were attending a dance at a Mrs. Pettit’s near Marble and John Merchant and his wife who were in that community on a visit from Arkansas were also in attendance at the dance. A fight between the Kirk brothers and Merchant occurred during the evening after much “corn” had been circulated, it is said and during the encounter Merchant was badly beaten up and some of his loose change he had in his pocket was missing. The Kirk brothers were arrested by Sheriff Johnston’s force and after filing a change of venue from Judge Mclaughlin’s court to the county court they were released under a heavy bond. Their preliminary hearing has not been set.

The Kirk brothers have been in the limelight during the past six months. Owen Kirk was arrested for the Dodson murder at Marble City, but was acquitted at his preliminary hearing when a witness testified that Jeff Kirk, a brother to Owen fired the fatal shot.

Jeff Kirk and his brother Harry had escaped following the Dodson murder and were not apprehended until the preliminary hearing of their brother, Owen, Jeff came in and gave up, claiming self-defense, but a jury in the district court decided otherwise. Harry was released under bond as a witness.

—As per promises made and publicity given, the committee in charge of the big drawing for the 1923 model of Ford Sedan given under the auspices of Carnie Welch Post No. 27, gave the car away last Saturday afternoon to the holder of the lucky number, the car going to William G. Stigler of Stigler, Okla. Mr. Stigler held but one ticket, No. 546, and the Legionnaire who sold the ticket to the lucky holder was Lester Humphrey, one of the most active and loyal members of the local post.