The Woodward News – Friday, May 10, 1895.
PRISONERS HILL AND HEFFEN SHOT DEAD BY OFFICERS.
Finding of the Coroner’s Inquest.
Details of the Occurrence.
This historian of events in Woodward county will mark Saturday, May 4th, as epochal. On that day occurred one of the most daring attempts to break jail, followed by the most swift and terrible results ever recorded anywhere.
In the county jail on that date were John Hill, George Waddell, Harry Heffner and Arthur Marsh. The first two names were confined on a charge of assisting three comrades to break jail here on the night of March 20th, which was successfully done by holding up Guards Norvell and Gholston at the point of winchesters and compelling them to release Curly George, Tom Yoas and E. Lahr, confined on charges of cattle stealing. Prisoners Heffen and Marsh were confined on other charges and were not considered dangerous characters.
About half past one o’clock on the afternoon of May 4th, Master Fred Wiggins, galloped wildly down Main street shouting “the prisoners are and shooting the guards.”
Sheriff Odem was at once in the saddle and almost before the successful jail breakers were across the railroad track north of town, he had covered the intervening half miles between the post office and the jail building and after making a hasty inquiry at the latter place, was off after the escaping prisoners.
It seems the Guards Robt. Norvell and John Gholston were again in charge. Heffen, who was of slender form had succeeded in detaching the bail from a slop bucket in the cell corridor and by dextrously working his arm through the grating succeeded in getting the key from the top of the cell house where it was laid after locking the prisoners in after the midday meal. With the key in his possession he unlocked the outer door, got a shot gun used by the guards and compelled Guard Norvell to open the combination locks which confined Hill and Waddell. The drop on Norvell as gotten by Heffen slipping in stocking feet until he gained possession of the gun as narrated.
Prisoner Marsh refused to leave the jail, but Heffen joined his fate to the others. It seems that Waddell also protested against making the attempt, but was over-ruled by the more daring Hill. The three men, Hill, Waddell and Heffen then armed themselves with the guards’ winchesters and revolvers and after firing several shots at Guard John Gholston, who was outside the jail while the escape was being made from the cell houses, they ran northward toward the Canadian river, hoping, doubtless, to reach the thickets and hills beyond and so make good their excape from the steel gratings.
Sheriff Odem then arrived on the scene, but being armed only with a revolver, was compelled to keep out of range of the winchesters in the hands of the three, who fired occasional shots at him as they ran toward the river.
The alarm given, the town soon brought assistance to the sheriff. Step by step the prisoners retreated toward the hills and before the arrival of the deputies they waded across the purling currents of the North Canadian, and sought refuge in the undergrowth of Jack Britton’s home.
About this time Deputies Ben Wolfarth, Ben Pior and U. S. Marshal Eugene Hall had joined Sheriff Odem and a fierce fight began with the prisoners which resulted in the death of Hill and Heffen and the re-capture of Waddell.
Early in the fight the left arm of brave Ben Wolfarth was shattered and he was brought to town by Allan Thompson, where he could receive immediate surgical treatment. The arm was found to be so badly splintered by the ball that it was necessary to amputate it above the elbow joint.
Deputy Pior narrowly escaped instant death by his horse rearing with him. The shot which otherwise would have have pierced his breast was received by the horse, which staggered and fell dead just as Pior emptied his repeater at Hill, who fired the shot.
After the surrender of Waddell, the bodies of Hill and Heffen were brought into town by Geo. Ruttman’s team and placed in the rear room of the Probate Judge’s office, where they were viewed by hundered of citizens.
Coroner Workman at once empaneled a jurycomposed of the following gentlemen:
W. G. Reynolds, foreman, J. M. Cavin, W. E. Herring, J. C. Cain, A. J. Overstreet, R. S. Oats, J. T. Pearson, T. G. Fleming, T. H. Campbell, W. P. Cochran, J. W. Shumate, J. H. McIntyre.
The verdict rendered is withheld from the public, but the substance of same is that Hill and Heffen met death by shots of officers of the law while resisting arrest.
Their remains were interred in the cemetery on Sunday, May 5th, by the officers, relatives of Hill being present.
In addition to the deputies above names, a number of citizens joined in the pursuit, among whom were Jack Love, Ranger Sullivan, of Amarillo, Texas, Roland Clark, Temple Houston, and others.
County Attorney B. B. Smith is entitled to credit for the active manner in which he notified men and sent them to the assistance of Sheriff Odem.
At the court house, where the jail is located, are the offices of County Clerk Doran and County Superintendent Miss Bertha McPherson. They narrowly escaped several of the shots fired, one of which penetrated the County Clerk’s desk, within a few inches of where he was sitting.
The prisoner, Waddell, is now kept in irons. The guards maintain a strict watch and it is believed that any attacking party would meet such a hot reception it it would be impossible to make another delivery.
Public sentiment universally commends Sheriff Odem and his deputies for their bravery and prompt action in the premises.
LATER–
Since the above was placed in type an order has been issued from the office of J. D. F. Jennings commanding the officers to take Waddell to Guthrie for safe keeping. Waddell asked protection here, as he feared mob violence, and the expense of maintaining a heavy force of guards is the only reason gives for the order.
In obedience thereto, Officers Arnold and Allen, accompanied by County Commissioner Jno. Ruttman, left yesterday for Guthrie with Waddell. No further trouble is apprehended here.
