...from Tha Byars Banner newspaper archives in Byars, McClain County, OK, dated:

The Byars Banner
10-20-1904

USED A CLEAVER

A Cook in a Shawnee Restaurant Attacks Wynnewood's Marshal

SHAWNEE: Jim Smith, city marshal of Wynnewood was struck on the
head with a cleaver at the English Kitchen, a big eating house
on East Main street and received injuries which will cause his
death.

Smith came here on business and after transacting it, stopped
at the English Kitchen for a meal, on his way to the depot. With
another officer, he was near the rear of the restuarant apparently
in good shape but arose from his seat when he heard a voice in the
kitchen, at the rear, with a remark that he recognized the voice,
and wanted to see the speaker. As he entered the kitch, the cook,
Jack Jordan, faced him, ordered him out, with an oath and then threw
a heavy cleaver at him. Smith was struck on the head. His skull
was crushed above the left eye for a distance of four inches. The
officer with Smith grabbed the assailant and turned him over to the
police. Jordan is being held in jail, under heavy guard.

Smith was picked up and carried to a room, where the skull was
raised off his brain, and his wound dressed but it is thought that
he cannot recover. Smith is a young man, quiet and unusually well
behaved, and the only theory of the police is that he thought he
recognized Jordan as a wanted man and the cook in a moment of rage
threw the cleaver at him.


SHAWNEE: Marshal Jim Smith died from the effects of his injuries,
and Jack Jordan, cook at the English Kitchen restaurant, has been
placed in jail, without bond. The body of Jordan's victim was
removed to Wynnewood, where burial was made. Jordan, it is
understoof will make a plea of self-defense, declaring that the
murdered man was attemtping to "pull a gun" on him.



***posted for genealogical purposes only; no relation***