By 1907, Allen was experiencing rapid growth. Businesses were flourishing and folks came from nearly every state to settle in the county. The transition went smoothly, yet the ever present negative side of human nature occasionally stunned even the most peaceful communities with moral outrage. Allen was no exception. From statehood well into the 1920’s, Allen struggled to maintain moral standards even among its finest citizens. Attorneys were kept busy defending clients in low to high profile crimes. Many past and current families are affected by crimes etched in our history. Nevertheless, these are recorded facts in the annals of time.

In January 1909, City Marshall Zeke Putnam was murdered as he sat in Whitehead’s store in Old Town. The brutal gun-for-hire assault was in retaliation for the death of Clarence Lee. In time, the accused parties were brought to court, but not before there was another murder to silence a witness. Lillie Stick Scribner, the young, nearly full term pregnant wife of Frank Scribner, knew too much and was assassinated May 10, 1909 by the same gunman who killed Zeke Putnam. Testimony in the trial revealed that the evil assaults were to be rewarded with the promise of land.

Ada Evening

News, May 19, 1909

(transcription)

“An Additional

Arrest; Mack Lee Is

The Latest Addition

To The Suspects In

Scribner Case

Late yesterday afternoon, Mack Lee, of near Citra, was arrested and placed in jail on a warrant connecting him, it is supposed, with the Scribner and Putnam murder cases. It appears from the best information obtainable, that these two cases are now inseparable, that is that the murder of Mrs. Frank Scribner grew out of the murder of Zeke Putnam, and is only a sequel to it. Information that sifts through from a grand jury room is always meager, but the current information is that the two cases are connected, whoever may prove to be guilty. Various theories have been advanced as to the possible guilt of various parties, but certain it is that grand jury’s investigations will be interesting when made public, for the reason that these are noted cases in which the whole community is much interested. If it should develop that those who are in jail on the charge of murdering Mrs. Scribner are also guilty of the murder of Putnam, then the murder of Mrs. Scribner will be plain enough, for the reason that in all likelihood she had become informed as to the facts in the Putnam case.

Mack Lee is a well to do farmer and stock man of the Citra community, is a director in the Farmers State Bank, of this city, and a son-in-law of R.C. Couch. Just what connection he is charged of having had with the cases is not definitely known at this time.”

(SEE PRIOR

ARTICLES – Dec. 2nd

& Dec. 5th)

The trials of the defendants moved through the Ada courts and in time the Mack Lee case was heard and judgment passed.

Ada Evening

News, June 16, 1909

(transcription)

“Mack Lee, whose trial has occasioned unusual interest in this section, was on Wednesday morning at 8 o’clock pronounced “not guilty” by the twelve citizens of Pontotoc County who had been selected as the jury to pass on case.

When the jury, through its foreman, J. J. McCloud, had directed the passage of its verdict to Judge West and Judge West had silently perused its lines, it appeared that the large crowd forebode that something unexpected would ensue, through the recognition that the usually placid countenance of the court had suddenly undergone a change, one that prospected ominous design. The clerk was directed to read the verdict.

When Col. Cox, in slow, measured voice, read, ‘We, the jury, find the defendant not guilty;’ When the jury in individual part had announced the correctness of the reading, Judge West said, ‘Gentlemen of the jury, by your verdict you have turned a guilty man loose; you are discharged now and forever.’ When he had talked some further of the necessity for juries to convict when proof of guilt had been established, he turned to Mack Lee, who continued to occupy his chair, and said: “Mack Lee, by the verdict of this jury you are not guilty, but before God you are guilty.”

Neither jurors nor defendant responded to the courts accusation and presently all were gone from the court room. When the verdict of not guilty was announced, a cheer broke out from many through the court room. This demonstration was quickly rebuked. A large number of Mack Lee’s friends and relatives were in the court room early in response to the information that a verdict was coming. There will be no more murder trials during this term of the district court.”

*******

On Christmas Eve, 1909 another prominent resident of Allen, Dr. Charles Stewart, murdered local merchant, David Gray.

Ada Evening News,

Wed, Dec 29, 1909

A preliminary hearing was held this morning for Dr. C. A. Stewart of Allen for the shooting death of David Thomas Gray of Allen, Dec 24, 1909. Witnesses were Jim Story, Dr. Jones, and Julian Donaghey.

A young man had been knocked down the stairs at Dr. Stewart’s office then went across the street where Gray and Jim Storey were playing pool. He asked Gray to go to Dr. Stewart’s office but Gray refused and took the boy to the back and advised him to forget it.

Soon another man came to the pool room and asked Gray to go see what was going on at the doctor’s office. Gray and Jim Storey went to Dr. Stewart’s office and asked him what was wrong. Stewart replied that he had the right to protect his own property. D. Jones told them that a boy had fallen down the stairs but Dr. Stewart interrupted saying, “I knocked him down the stairs.”

Gray and Stewart grappled, then Stewart pulled a pistol and struck Gray near the eye. Gray grabbed a shotgun that was lying on a nearby table. Story jumped between the two men and knocked both weapons to the floor. Stewart fell to the floor and grabbed the pistol and fi red. The shot went wild. Gray retrieved the shotgun and pointed it at Stewart but Stewart fi red, striking Gray about three inches below the left nipple. Gray dropped the shotgun, walked a few steps, and collapsed. He died five or ten Minutes later.

Our thanks to Sheila Valpredo for this on-line history. The headstone for Mr. Gray reads:

David Thomas Gray

Birth: Mar. 4, 1868

Death: Dec. 24, 1909