Sprinkle, city clerk, mysteriously disappears

25 Years Ago

—For two years Gore school officials have been looking forward to the groundbreaking for the new junior high school.

Superintendent Dr. Ross Nixon said the building’s construction was delayed after Gore resident, Jimmy Claude Carter filed a civil lawsuit against the school board for language on the bond election ballots and in resolutions calling for the election, which forced the board to argue against Carter’s charges in court three times.

Nixon said the school board can now focus on the plans for the new junior high and a groundbreaking ceremony was held Wednesday afternoon.

50 Years Ago

—After hearing complaints that Sallisaw’s Guys and Dolls Recreation Center was a gathering place for curfew violators and criminals, the city council repealed an ordinance permitting the business to operate 24 hours a day. New hours of operation will be from 8 a.m. to midnight daily, except Sunday, when it will be 1 p.m. to midnight.

Chief Sam Lockhart attended the monthly meeting of the city council Tuesday night and protested that the 24-hour operation of the business was attracting criminal elements from surrounding communities.

75 Years Ago

—M.G. Fink, county commissioner from Blackgum, announced Wednesday that contract for a 7-mile road from Box to Tenkiller Dam would be let in March.

Cost of the project which will include grade, drainage and gravel, will be $58,000, he stated.

“The road will complete the circle route to the dam from Sallisaw and Vian,” said Fink. “When the dam is completed, the road will run right across the top of it.” Fink pointed out that the new road would shorten the distance from Sallisaw and Vian to the dam by about 50 percent. “As it is now,” he said, “you have to go to Gore and then cut up toward the dam. The new road will go from Box north to the county line and then over to the dam.”

Right-of-way for the road is being cleared now, stated Fink. “With good weather,” he said, “we should be able to complete the road within three months, once the contract is let and work is started.

100 Years Ago

—Harry D. Pitchford, county attorney issued a warrant for the arrest of E.E. Sprinkle at 4 p.m. Thursday, charging him with abandonment of wife and children and the warrant was immediately placed in the hands of the sheriff. At the same time, County Attorney Pitchford wired the chief of police at Dallas, Texas, to apprehend and hold Sprinkle.

Sallisaw and community was thrown into a frenzy of excitement and agitation last Monday morning, when it became known that Edgar E. Sprinkle, city clerk, had left the city unexpectedly and suddenly on Thursday night previous. It is alleged he stated to his immediate family that evening that he had some urgent business in Fort Smith and that he would probably return the following day (Friday) on the Missouri-Pacific local. He was at his desk on Thursday throughout the whole day and had complained of a very bad cold, and when he failed to report the following morning, Fred Johnston, city manager, naturally presumed that he was indisposed because of the cold attack and thought nothing of it. When he failed to report Saturday morning, Mr. Johnston telephoned the clerk’s family to inquire and found that he had been gone from the city for nearly fortyeight hours and when he failed to return and failed to report for duty on Monday morning, an immediate investigation was started.

Rumors by the score have been heard on every hand and much discussion is heard as to the various angles to the case and whole mysterious affair centers about the eternal triangle and an alleged clandestine love affair wherein a young woman, barely eighteen years of age, occupies the center of the stage. The young woman’s parents reside within the county and are highly respected and honorable people, and rumor also has it that the young lady is directly related to members of the Sprinkle family. It seems that she has in months past been employed within the home as a domestic or nurse and the alleged love affair started in that manner, culminating in the elopement. It is said that she left Sunday for unknown parts, stating to her parents that she was journeying to Kansas City where she would meet and marry some man whose name was not given. Rumor also has it that a letter came to this city on Monday from the departed official, bearing a Dallas postmark and it is presumed that he is headed for Mexico or Central America. It is thought that the young lady will follow him there.

The departed officer leaves a wife and four small children. He purchased a home here last year and was paying it out upon the monthly installment plan.

It is said no provision of any kind was made for the family and they are left practically destitute.

City Manager Fred Johnston and the city commissioners took steps immediately to protect the city against any loss in case there might be a financial shortage.

A hurried check and audit was made by the city manager on Monday and Tuesday and he states that apparently there is a shortage of between $200 and $300 in the clerk’s accounts.