People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 February 1897 — FEUD MAY DRAW BLOOD. [ARTICLE]

FEUD MAY DRAW BLOOD.

Deadly Affair In Oklahoma —Whole Country Stirred Up. Guthrie, O. T., Telegram: W. E. Lurton, E. Lurten and Charles Moore were surrounded near Stroud, sixty miles east of here, by George Graham, his three sons and four other men Thursday and taken bodily into the Creek county. A feud of long standing has existed. between the men, and the abduction was doubtless made with the intention of murdering the Lurtens and Moore in revenge for depredations committed against the captors. The citizens of Chandler, in the Sac and Fox agency, have organized a posse and gone in pursuit. Full particulars from Lincoln county show that the outlaws who terrorized the Sac and Fox agency did depredations at the town of Stroud, fifteen miles northeast of Chandler, a few hours before. The reports brought in by deputy marshals to the effect that Gen. Thomas, agent at the Sac and Fox agency, was shot, and that three men had been killed, were incorrect. On Monday the Griffiths gang, composed of six members, gathered at the town of Stroud and terrorized the citizens. They ordered everybody Inside the house and school closed and locked, declaring that a bloody battle would shortly take place. For two days Stroud was In a state of siege and few people ventured out. Wednesday, while Deputy Jim Furber, Henry Lurten, Everett Lurten and Charles Moore were entering Stroud they were ambushed by the Griffiths gang, eight in number. Twenty shots were fired, but no one was killed. Four of the Griffiths rode hurriedly away to Sac and Fox, where they caused the excitement already mentioned. The four remaining outlaws then captured the two Lurtens. Furber

and Moore, bound them and hurried them away to the Creek country. Two posses of deputies have left Chandler to intercept the Griffiths. A report received says old man Henry Lurten has been lynched and Everett Lurten and Moore shot. At this writing the latter report cannot be confirmed. The whole eastern country is stirred up.