Brent community scene of triple tragedy
— Sequoyah County Democrat, Sept. 11, 1925
25 Years Ago
—“ The good ol’ days are gone,” Will Limore, owner of Stevenson’s LP Gas in Sallisaw, said Monday.
Propane used to be fairly cheap in the good ol’ days, about 79 cents a gallon, Limore said. Even 93 cents a gallon a few months ago was cheap compared to the whopping $1.09 a gallon propane was selling for Monday.
Dealers say they have been forced to increase their prices to consumers because the cost of wholesale propane keeps rising.
Natural gas prices are also still on the rise and have steadily been rising since last year.
50 Years Ago
—Dr. Thomas D. Peace a native of Short, is the new director of the Frontiers of Science Foundation of Oklahoma, Rodman A. Frates, president has announced.
Dr. Peace who recently resigned after ten years as director of the Oklahoma Department of Pollution Control will succeed Dr. Hadley at the foundation. Dr. Hadley will retain his title as executive vice president of the Frontiers of Science and serve as a consultant.
75 Years Ago
—Jim Marvin, manager of the Sallisaw IGA Super Market, and Paul Graham, manager of the meat department, have each bought one-fourth interest in the store here from Marvin’s brother, Ken Marvin, of Prairie Grove, Ark. Graham announced this week.
The transaction was completed last week, he said.
The store will celebrate its third birthday Oct. 5. Both men have been with the firm since it opened here.
—Construction has begun on the new brick front for the building occupied by Orendorff’s Modern Home Appliance store and Herring Hardware.
Buff-colored brick will be used on both fronts, and the top of the building will be lowered and capped with tile so that it will be the same height and appearance as the other in the block, O.M. Orendorff stated Thursday.
The work should be completed in about 10 days, barring “bad” weather he estimated.
100 Years Ago
—Sequoyah County, the hot-bed of tragedies and calamitous clashes between men, was again the scene of such an occurrence when on last Tuesday, J.M. Hollis, father, and William Hollis, son, were shot to death in front of the post office building at Brent, by William W. Kidd, son-in-law. Kidd was shot also during the fight and chances for his recovery are very slight.
From the best information obtainable, it appears that family quarrels have ensued for several years past. Kidd lives about one mile from the Hollis home. He has lived in that community for several years and is looked upon as a man of influence and standing.
Many years ago he married the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Hollis and it is said, has at times beaten and abused her, with the aged father and family resenting such treatment. Neighbors state that one of these periodical beatings was administered last week and that this was actually the cause of Thursday’s tragedy. It seems that on Tuesday, Kidd went to the store at Brent armed and that two of the Hollis boys were there also. The father was in Sallisaw on business. He left town about 3:00 p.m. with Jimmie Williams and rode to within a half-mile of the store and walked from there to the store with some groceries and supplies in his arms. When he reached the store he saw Kidd standing outside and called him to one side for a talk which resulted in hot words passing between them. Mr. Hollis is said to have thrown some of the articles in his arms at Kidd. Kidd drew his revolver, and William Hollis, one of the sons, then hurried toward Kidd with gun in hand and opened fire. He shot Kidd in the right shoulder and right side. Kidd is said to have transferred his gun from right hand to left and opened fire on young Hollis, shooting him through the head with death resulting about one hour later. He then turned upon the father, who was bearing down upon him and shot him through the body, with death resulting almost instantly. One eye witness says that the elder Hillis had an open knife in his hand when killed. Kidd walked to the store porch and sat down, but soon became ill from his injuries and was removed to his home. He has been there since, under the care of a physician, but little hope is held out for his recovery. Dr. J.A. Cheek, the attending physician pronounces the wound as being fatal and expresses little hope for recovery.
The sheriff’s office was notified within a few minutes of the tragedy and Deputies Bert Cotton and Perry Chuculate, accompanied by County Attorney Harry Pitchford hurried to the scent to make full investigations.
