 |
HISTORY OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY
POLICE DEPARTMENT by Ed HILL and Ron OWEN
Almost every other major city in America was
established and prospering while Oklahoma City was still wild, open
prairie. It is doubtful if any other state or city has packed as much
significant history into such a short time period. High noon on Monday,
April 22, 1889, was signaled from the Red River to the Kansas line by
bugles, train whistles, shouts and gunshots. The first Great Land Run had
begun. When President Benjamin HARRISON decided to open the Unassigned Lands to settlement, what more American way to settle it than a race? The bugles and whistles would rapidly quiet, but the gunshots would continue. No one knows how many people entered the central Oklahoma area that day. Estimates range from 20,000 to 100,000. They came on horses, mules, oxen, buggies, wagons, trains and on foot. More than a few came "sooner" than they should. Some historians believe the Run came about as part of an inevitable westward expansion. Some believe it was a governmental capitulation to the "Boomers" and their incessant invasions of this territory over the previous decade. Some believe it was a punishment to the Indian tribes who had sided with the Confederacy during the Civil War. Probably all of these held some truth.
Four prospective townsite areas were already
established at Guthrie, Kingfisher, along the South Canadian River south
of Norman and at Oklahoma Station (eventually Oklahoma City). Law
enforcement was to be provided initially by the Provost Marshal, Captain
Daniel F. STILES of the U.S. Army, from his headquarters just east of the
Santa Fe tracks in what is now the Bricktown area. STILES had elements of
the 10th Infantry, 10th Cavalry, 5th Infantry and 5th Cavalry at his
disposal to accomplish the task. Within the first half hour after noon, representatives of the Seminole
Land and Improvement Company laid out what would become Main Street. They
then began surveying, platting and laying out lots from this location
north and south. South of that area, the Oklahoma Colony Company began
surveying northwards. This group was led by Dr. Delos WALKER, who later
became the first President of the City School Board. Dr. WALKER, like many
of the others involved in the initial bedlam destined to become Oklahoma
City, had a street named after him. When the two surveys met at Grand
Avenue (now Sheridan), they naturally did not match exactly. This accounts
for the "jog" in the north-south streets at Grand Avenue. Evidence of the
difference can still be seen at Sheridan and Walker. The two areas started
out as separate cities. North of Grand became the "Town of Oklahoma" or
simply Oklahoma. South of Grand was South Oklahoma. Each held its own
separate elections and had their own mayors, marshals and city officials.
The chaos was to remain for over a year until they were consolidated into
one Oklahoma City. Captain STILES did all he could to prevent the area from becoming hell
on earth, but he certainly had his hands full. Deputy U. S. Marshal J. C.
VARNUM rode in to tell of a half-blood Chickasaw killed in a quarrel with
a man named Nolan. Fourteen miles west of town, he found another man dead
on a claim with his killer calmly sitting on a log nearby. He said he was
on the property first. Three miles west of Guthrie, a man tried staking
out a previously staked claim. The first-comer shot him three times with a
Winchester. Two Boomers arguing over a lot attracted the attention of some
soldiers. Charley QUINLEY, one of the contestants, told them not to
interfere. One of the troopers ignored the warning and QUNILEY immediately
shot him. A Chicago gambler named George COLE set up shop at the town's
only water well near Main and Broadway, selling water at a nickel a cup.
When a thirsty group began planning a hanging, soldiers ran COLE out of
town. Two hundred-fifty armed men tried to jump a claim north of the City
defended by ten men. Five hundred armed men raided a claim on the west
side and began staking out lots. Detachments of troops arrived at both
locations in time to prevent all-out war. Hell's Half Acre Front Street (now Santa Fe) was the center of early
action. By mid-afternoon of the first day, a sharply dressed gambler from
Texas calling himself "Kid" BANNISTER set up a tent across from the Santa
Fe Depot. A sign on the tent proudly proclaimed it to be the first "bank"
in the Territory. And it was....a faro bank. The Kid was a local
entrepreneur for the next 14 years until he was shot by the bartender of
the Turf Club at 13 N. Broadway. The crowd witnessing the incident cheered
when BANNISTER was pronounced dead. Next door to the Kid's "bank" was John
BURGESS from Kansas with a buckboard full of booze. He played cat and
mouse with U. S. Marshals from that location for two years until he opened
the most notorious of all the early saloons, the Two Johns, on the
northwest corner of Grand and Broadway next to City Hall. On the corner was the tent of "Big Anne" WYNN, who was to build a red light empire that would last for 20 years. One of 18 children, 26 years old and 200 pounds of aggressive womanhood, Anne was an intelligent, shrewd political manipulator and a veteran of plying her trade in the Colorado mining camps. She later moved her establishment to N. W. 2nd (now Kerr) and Walker, became a power in City politics, amassed a $75,000 fortune and was never convicted of a crime. In fact, the entire square block bounded by Broadway, Santa Fe, Grand and California became known as "Hell's Half Acre." The unit block of West Grand was called "Bunco Alley" and the unit block of North Broadway became "Battle Row." One of the early witnesses recorded his observations with crystal clarity: "History has never recorded an opening of government land whereon there was assembled such a rash and motley colony of gamblers, cutthroats, refugees, demi mondaines, bootleggers and high-hat and low-pressure crooks. There were nesters, horse thieves, train robbers, hijackers, bank raiders, yeggmen, ragamuffins and vagabonds. There were marksmen who were quick on the draw and who could throw a half dollar in the air and clip it with a bullet from their revolvers three times out of five....."
The early provisional government tried to make some
order out of all this. They passed ordinances against carrying concealed
weapons and claim-jumping. They imposed an "occupation tax" and used the
funds to build the first jail on the southwest corner of Broadway and
Grand. It was known as the "Cottonwood Bastille" because of the native
trees used for its construction. But the governments were having problems
of their own. The first mayor of South Oklahoma City resigned in less than
a month amid charges of corruption. The treasurer, who failed to post his
bond, simply disappeared. The next mayor resigned when he heard of a
movement to impeach him. On June 13, 1889, Clyde MATTOX was removed from
the police force of South Oklahoma and John S. HOWARD was appointed City
Marshal. The next day, drunk and disgruntled, MATTOX killed Marshal HOWARD
and was seriously wounded himself in a gunfight in the 100 block of West
Reno. MATTOX survived, was sentenced to be hanged, had it commuted to life
imprisonment and eventually served eight years in prison. However, the town north of Grand wasn't exactly running smoothly. Two
incidents will illustrate. During the early summer of 1889, an armed drunk
kept pestering a group of men by bragging, "My name is Rip Rowser Bill and
I've come to Oklahoma City to start a graveyard." After a few days the men
lost patience and decided the man's manners better suited him for
residence in Texas. While waiting for the train they tied him up and
limited his wanderings with a rope around his neck secured to a cottonwood
limb. When they returned to load him on the train, they found him
swinging. A rapidly assembled jury agreed with the men's contention that
the rope had shrunk during the night's dampness. Thus Bill was buried,
fulfilling his prophecy about "starting a graveyard in Oklahoma City." But
before he was buried, he was fined $3.30, the amount found in his pockets,
for carrying a concealed weapon. Later still that summer, a City Council meeting was enlivened by a
spirited argument over adopting a City charter. The argument quickly
degenerated as the first provisional Mayor, William L. COUCH, picked up a
chair and went after Councilman Jack LOVE. The melee moved outside,
eventually involving two Councilmen, the Mayor, Recorder and City Marshal.
Somewhere in the chaos, Councilman LOVE was pistol-whipped. On November
11, 1889, Mayor COUCH resigned and moved to his claim west of town to
protect it from lot-jumpers. His claim was on the southwest corner of Main
and Walker, the later site of the County Courthouse and, much later, a
Holiday Inn. On April 14, 1890, COUCH got in a gunfight with John C. ADAMS over this claim. Fatally wounded, COUCH died a week later and was buried the next day, the first anniversary of the founding of Oklahoma City. ADAMS was arrested by Deputy U. S. Marshal Charles COLCORD. Ironically, forty seven years later, the Oklahoma City Police Department would move into their new headquarters building. The streets surrounding it would be named Couch and Colcord.
On May 2, 1890, President HARRISON signed the Organic
Act permitting local governments to be formed within Oklahoma Territory.
On July 15, the new County Commissioners incorporated the two towns on
either side of Grand into the City of Oklahoma City, a metropolis of 5,086
souls. On August 9, 1890, W. J. GAULT was elected Mayor and created the
5-man Oklahoma City Police Department by hiring Charles COLCORD as the
first Chief at a salary of $60 per month. Colcord hired four officers, one
from each of the four city wards. They were John HUBATKA (who, like
Colcord, was also commissioned as a Deputy U. S. Marshal), William GILL,
F. M. "Bud" REYNOLDS and Abner J. DAY. At the first meeting, the Council leased a two-story brick building at
13 N. Broadway for $25 a month. The basement became the City Jail, the
second floor housed City offices, Police Headquarters and Police Court
while the first floor housed the notorious Black and Rogers Saloon. This
historic site is now occupied by the Sheraton Century Hotel. It is not
difficult to justify the Black and Rogers Saloon's reputation as
"notorious." The saloon was a favored meeting place of the Wolf gang from
Lexington. In the early part of GAULT's second administration, a tough Texas
gambler named George SHIELDS, known as "Satan Shields," learned that some
of the gang came to town to kill a friend of his. SHIELDS went to Pettee's
Hardware Store on Main, bought an ax-handle and went around the corner to
the Black and Rogers to confront six members of the gang. In less time
than it takes to tell it, all six were unconscious on the floor. When they
came to, all six were hauled before Police Judge Ben MILLER, who fined
them $100 each....for attempting suicide. Sheriff John FIGHTMASTER killed
"Scarface Joe" in the same building. Ada CURNETT, the only female Deputy
U. S. Marshal, arrested 19 men there one night for perjury in land
contests. Chief COLCORD resigned after about 6 months to run for Sheriff and J.
T. WORD was appointed to serve out the remainder of his term. It was
during WORD's time as Chief that one of the first city ordinances,
prohibiting carrying concealed weapons, was adopted. A $25 fine was the
penalty for carrying concealed weapons. But, one could still carry all the
unconcealed weapons he wanted, and they continued to be frequently used.
The year 1892 marked the appearance of the first telephones in the City
and Oscar G. LEE as Chief of Police. Although later a noted hotel
developer, LEE took his duties seriously and was evidently up to the job.
When two local hoodlums named Bud and Ping FAGG went on trial, LEE was
ordered to clear the courtroom because it wouldn't hold all of the
spectators. One man, Bill MCMICHAEL, objected, telling LEE to "go to
hell." MCMICHAEL landed at the bottom of the courthouse steps. LEE gave
him back his gun, fully loaded, and told him not to come back or "I'll
have to use force." After 10 months, LEE went on to pursue his business interests and was replaced first by Willis IVERS, then Edward F. COCHRAN, serving the first of two separate terms as Chief. In November of 1893, City Hall moved into a building on the northwest corner of Broadway and Grand after it was raided and confiscated under orders of Mayor O. A. MITSCHER (father of Admiral Marc MITSCHER of World War II fame). The City offices remained there for 9 years. Then, and until Statehood in 1907, liquor was legal, provided dealers paid a license fee of $250 annually, a principal source of revenue for the young city. On February 13, 1894, former Chief Willis IVERS was tried and acquitted of embezzlement of City funds while in office.
Late 1894 saw Milton JONES become Chief at a salary of
$75 a month. His force, which had grown to eight men, received $60 a
month. Chief Milton JONES became the first Oklahoma City Police Officer to
die in the line of duty on June 30, 1895. Three "notorious outlaws," Jim
CASEY, Bob CHRISTIAN and his brother Bill CHRISTIAN, were being held in
jail on murder charges. Bob CHRISTIAN's girlfriend smuggled pistols into
the jail which the trio used to overpower the jailer. Once outside, the
trio created a disturbance trying to commandeer a wagon. The disturbance
brought Chief JONES and two of his fellow officers. In the ensuing gun
battle, JONES was fatally wounded. Jim CASEY died in the storm of gunfire
from Officers STAFFORD, JOHNSON and several citizens. The CHRISTIAN
brothers both escaped and were never brought to justice. After JONES's death, J. H. BOLES became Chief of Police. BOLES was
fired on December 16 for being drunk on duty and falsely arresting a
couple earlier in the month. Officer G. W. JACKSON was made acting Chief
on December 18 and appointed as Chief on December 30. JACKSON was replaced
by T. A. "Abe" COUCH (brother of William L. COUCH) on May 1, 1896. In 1896
the Territorial Legislature passed a law making the Chief's post an
elective one. The first elected Chief was Edward F. COCHRAN, serving his
second term. COCHRAN had a force of 8 men and 3 bloodhounds to maintain
some semblance of order. Probably the highlight of his term occurred within a single week in
1897. The first incident occurred at Traylor's Saloon at 16 West
California. Patrolman Ike ASHBURN and two other officers got in a
"free-for-all shootout" with a house full of drunks, leaving 6 dead. Chief
COCHRANn strongly defended his officers and refused to "fire" them. A few
days later, a repeat performance took place at The Bucket of Blood in the
800 block of East 1st. A berserk Mexican, brandishing a Bowie knife,
killed 8 razor-toting patrons before being killed by an unnamed police
officer. G. W. JACKSON became the second and last Chief of Police to die
in the line of duty. JACKSON was serving as the "Night" or Assistant Chief
in early April of 1898 when he responded alone to a brawl in a rooming
house on West Second Street. When he tried to stop the "free-for-all
fight," the drunks became more enraged and started shooting. JACKSON was
wounded and died two weeks later. His funeral, on April 15th, was "the
largest the City had seen since that of Milton JONES three years
previously." News stories describe the crowds which lined the processional
route to Fairlawn Cemetery. Ironically, Fred JONES, a brother of Milton
JONES, was arrested and served time for JACKSON's killing. COCHRAN served about 20 months before resigning on February 7, 1899, as
a result of "a lack of harmony" with City government. The remaining two
months of his term were served by City Councilman George W. CHINN. William
B. HENDREY was elected Chief on April 5, 1899, and increased the force to
12 men. The closing of one century and the birth of a new one did little
to tame the town. It was still a dangerous place, particularly for con-men
and gamblers. Bob DARNELL, known as "Big Mitt," his brother Emmet, "The
Butterfly Kid" and Jack PECORA all died in gunfights, just to name a few
of the more notable ones. Charlie HARRIS, a gambler/gunfighter who had
survived the Colorado mining towns, was gunned down on California
Avenue. A building boom began with the new century. Buffalo Bill returned, staying at ex-Chief Oscar LEE's new $100,000 Lee Hotel. On July 2, 1900, Colonel Teddy ROOSEVELT held a reunion of his Rough Riders in the North Canadian River basin and hosted a ball at 214 West Main. Motorized cars made their appearance on City streets. Ralph W. COCHRAN, former Chief Edward F. COCHRAN's brother, was elected Chief of Police the next year and increased the force to 18 men to police over 10,000 citizens. The politics of the time were chaotic. Ralph COCHRAN resigned in March of 1903 and John HUBATKA, one of the original officers, served the remainder of his term. Progress still persevered. On February 2, 1903, the first streetcar in the Territory was put in operation by the Oklahoma Railway Company, run by Anton CLASSEN and John SHARTEL. In April of 1903, Orris H. EMRICK was elected Chief of Police, defeating John HUBATKA. A reorganization of the Police Department increased the force to 22 men. Two served as detectives, thirteen worked nights and seven worked days.
An epochal gunfight occurred on January 13, 1904, that
sent a message that law and order was in Oklahoma City to stay. Ed KELLY
was on parole from Colorado for killing Bob FORD, the man who had slain
Jesse JAMES. Upon arriving in Oklahoma City, KELLY had been rousted by
Officer Joe BURNETT. KELLY, armed with two guns, had bragged he was
"gunning for a policeman." About 9 P.M. KELLY ran into BURNETT in the 300
block of West First. KELLY drew his gun, BURNETT grabbed his hand and
struck him with his nightstick. Then ensued an epic struggle that lasted
15 minutes, went 75 feet around the corner and saw over a dozen shots
fired before BURNETT finally killed KELLY. When it was over, Officer
BURNETT had flesh wounds in his left arm and left hip, 2 bullet holes in
his overcoat, part of one ear bitten off and his overcoat was smoldering
from the muzzle blast of KELLY's guns. He survived to become an Assistant
Chief on the force he served so well. In the spring of 1905, "Big John" HUBATKA was elected Chief on the Republican ticket, this time to last for 2 years. The force increased to 23 regular officers and 5 reserves. On January 1, 1907, Chief HUBATKA submitted a report to the City Clerk detailing the nearly 21 months of his administration. The OCPD now consisted of 25 men including 4 detectives. He stated that during that time 7,112 arrests had been made, and slightly over $28,000 collected by the Police Department had been turned over to the Police Judge. The number of arrests for intoxication were highest (1,962), followed by prostitution arrests (1,173). The arrests were all categorized and enumerated by offense, all the way down to discharging bombs (2), female dressed in men's apparel (2), hay stacking in the City limits (1) and running automobiles without lights (also 1). The value of stolen goods was placed at almost $10,500 while the amount recovered was a little over $8,700. Case dispositions included 3,227 who paid their fines, 799 dismissed, 289 found not guilty and 236 ordered to leave town. The newspaper commented that the results were "at a minimum for a city of near 40,000."
       
These graphics were done by an artist and are the
property of the artist. They are not for the taking - visit the artist's
web site by clicking on her name below. If you wish to use any of them,
you must contact the artist and ask for permission to use them.
I would appreciate if you would keep in mind, while
visiting this web site and others, that the information found within
each page is not to be copied in any manner, or used for profit or public
use
This page was last updated February 2005 - Copyright Jacque Hopkins, 1996-2005 |