Charley Dodson caught at Muskogee

From the files of Your Sequoyah County Times

25 Years Ago

(From the Oct. 14,1999, issue of the Sequoyah County Times) —The Sallisaw Black Diamond Marching Band won their 2A Division at the 23rd annual Band Day at Pryor Saturday, then went on to place fourth overall out of the 20 bands competing.

The Black Diamond Color Guard placed third in their competition at Pryor.

The band and color guard are under the direction of Jeremy Ford, Amanda Ford and Don Bickel.

Ford explained that for a band to win state champion honors, it must place first in several contests throughout the year, including both marching band contests in the fall and concert band contests in the spring.

50 Years Ago

(From the Oct. 10,1974, issue of the Sequoyah County Times) —Official announcement was made this week of the sale of Tell Star Family Center, Sallisaw, to Jim Marvin Sr., Jim Marvin Jr., and Mike Marvin, all of Sallisaw. The Marvins have remodeled the store and are commemorating completion of remodeling with a sale this week.

The Marvins purchased the store, located on East Cherokee, several weeks ago, but the official commemoration of their taking over ownership was postponed until this week to allow for remodeling.

Jim Marvin Sr. opened the first supermarket in Sallisaw when he opened the Sallisaw Super IGA in the downtown area in 1947. The Marvins have operated that IGA store, located at Cherokee and Elm, for the 27 years since.

They are continuing the downtown store in addition to their new location, which will be known as Marvin’s IGA.

75 Years Ago

(From the Oct. 14,1949, issue of the Sequoyah County Times) —Monday, Oct. 10, was the day that the 4-H boys participating in the Sears foundation pig program of this county looked forward to with their eyes on the calendar and their hands on the feed bucket, all of them with hopes of winning first prize of one hundred dollars, according to Ray W Zimmerman, assistant county agent.

The pig show was held at the hog shed of our new fair grounds with Robert Hodges, head of the animal husbandry department of Connors Agriculture College, as official judge.

Every year eight 4-H boys are selected to receive one registered gilt pig each. This year the Duroc Jersey breed was used. They agree to properly care for this animal by feeding it a balanced ration in sufficient amounts for good growth, breed it at the proper time to a boar which has been purchased for this purpose each year and given to a qualified 4-H boy and care for the resulting litter of pigs properly; also, they agree to enter it at the Sears pig show.

The district show at Muskogee was held on Tuesday, Oct. 11, and Billy Ray Morgan won third place among the top gilts of all counties participating in this program. First place in this contest is $50.

—Sallisaw High School received recently a new Chevrolet four-door sedan, presented by McDonald Chevrolet Company, for the use of the drivers education class at the school.

Approximately 20 members are enrolled in the course.

The company presented a car to the class last year also, said Earle McDonald Jr. “The course was a great success last year.”

He stated that this particular type of course was sweeping the country, with many schools adding it each year.

The first lesson in the new car was learning to start and stop in low gear. Next they learned how to shift smoothly from low into second gear.

Before the end of the term, the students in the class will be expected to start, shift and reach the speed of 25 miles per hour without turning over a glass of milk, which will be placed on the floor of the car.

100 years ago

(From the Oct. 10,1924, issue of the Sequoyah County Democrat) —When Roy Allen was caught in Muskogee several days ago the Muskogee police department did not know that they had in their possession the last member of the alleged Ed Lockhart gang of bank looters, but it took the keen eye of Sheriff John E. Johnston of this county to establish the real identity of Allen, who was none other than Charley Dodson of Marble City, a much wanted bank bandit.

Sheriff Johnston learned of Allen’s description and he knew it fitted Dodson, who is wanted in Arkansas for a part in a bank raid. John E. made the trip to Muskogee to ascertain Allen’s real identity. He made the investigation which resulted in the establishment of Allen as Charley Dodson, son of the late Berry Dodson.

Dodson is charged with robbing the First State Bank of Prairie Grove, Arkansas. A standing reward of $500.00 has been offered for his body, dead or alive, it is said.

Charley Dodson is a mere youth, but during these few years he has gained a reputation as a fearless bank bandit and one of the brains of the old Ed Lockhart gang, which terrorized eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas bankers during the past ten years.

About four years ago Dodson and his family moved to Ramonia, Oklahoma, near Bartlesville, to live, but the elder Dodson had not been in Ramonia long until he was arrested as one of the mail bandits, which held up and looted the fast Frisco mail train two years ago. Dodson was killed in a pool hall fight by a former peace officer over his son, Charley, who was arrested by the peace officer as the lad who looted the Jay, Oklahoma, county jail and freed Ed Lockhart, who was later shot down.

It is said Dodson will be taken to Arkansas to stand trial for bank looting.