Two robber suspects arrested at Muldrow

25 Years Ago

—Gov. Frank Keating informed the Choctaw Nation Tuesday of the state’s intent to terminate and attempt to renegotiate the existing tribal-state compact with the Choctaws for off-track betting.

Blue Ribbon Downs management argues the Choctaw Nation simulcasting parlor at the tribe’s bingo facility at Pocola has devastated Blue Ribbon Downs’ income from simulcast races from other racetracks in state and out of state. Don Essary, track manager, said the Sallisaw racetrack lost over $300,000 in purse money last year because of the Choctaw simulcasting parlor.

Essary has said if the Pocola simulcasting parlor is not shut down, Blue Ribbon Downs may be forced to close its doors.

Sallisaw Mayor George Glenn, after hearing about the governor’s intent to renegotiate the betting compact, said Tuesday. “ This is a good thing for Sallisaw. I’m so glad the governor notified them that they can enter into negotiations that can work out the problems.

50 Years Ago

—The Arkansas and Illinois rivers are two of the 15 major streams in Oklahoma which will be studied by the Tulsa District Corps of Engineers to determine if they should be designated as “navigable waters.”

The studies are necessary to determine the extent of the federal jurisdiction in administering the regulatory permit program.

When declared navigable the stream becomes subject to federal jurisdiction this requiring a permit for construction of structures, piers, docks, submerged pipelines, aerial crossings, filling and excavating in or above the water up to the ordinary high water mark.

75 Years Ago

—Twenty Vian, Carlile and Gore 4-H Club and FFA members have received 1,725 chicks in preparation for the Spring Boiler Contest and Show sponsored by the Vian Lions Club in cooperation with the Oklahoma Bankers’ Association and the Oklahoma A. & M. College, according to S.W. Armstrong, executive vice-president of the Vian State Bank.

The chicks are to be fed for 10 weeks, said Armstrong. On May 13, all participants who have completed at least one unit of 50 chicks will be permitted to enter four dressed broilers in the show and will receive a Certificate of Award.

A complimentary lunch for all who enter the contest will be provided by the Vian State Bank, he stated.

—Approximately $750 damage to the new skating rink being erected one mile north of Sallisaw by Joe Rigsby was done by high winds Wednesday night during a brief electrical storm, according to Brooks Griffith, foreman of construction.

About $100 of the damage was done to a power saw owned by Griffith. It was torn all to pieces, he stated.

“ The wind flattened all the walls and rafters,” he said. “ The lumber wasn’t damaged for the most part, though. It will take about a week to put everything back up.”

The construction crew began the repair work immediately Thursday morning, he said.

100 Years Ago

—Two alleged bandits who were forced Wednesday morning from a high-powered automobile secluded in a wooded thicket near Muldrow by Morgan Newman, peace officer, after one of the men with levelled revolver had covered J.E. Fisher, town marshal, when he demanded their surrender, were removed to Sallisaw for safe keeping following an attempted jailbreak Wednesday afternoon.

The men, identified as George F. Williams of Memphis, Tenn., and Thomas M. Buck, of Cameron, Texas, denied ownership of approximately one-half gallon pennies, nickels and dimes found loose in a suitcase buried in the car. The machine, identified as one recently stolen from Wewoka, Okla., was not claimed by either man. However, they confessed that the car was stolen property, Fisher said Wednesday night. No count of the money had been undertaken, Fisher added.

According to Williams, they left Fort Smith early Wednesday morning in the car found in their possession, Sheriff Gay said Wednesday night. They were fingerprinted by B.C. Cosgrove, bertillion operator of Fort Smith at the Muldrow jail immediately after their arrest following communication between Chief Oots of Fort Smith and Muldrow officers.

“We’re in for it,” one of the alleged bandits remarked as they entered the sheriff ’s office at Sallisaw, according to Gay, Wednesday night.

“Wewoka officers have left for this place to identify the car,” Gay said..

“ These men were attempting to loosen stones from the jail wall at Muldrow when discovered by outsiders,” Fisher said, “and had about four inches of mortar loosened when detected.”

Both men, were placed under charges of investigation without bail, awaiting the arrival of Wewoka officers who are expected early Thursday morning.