Beckham County, OK - Deaths: William Pleas Crump, 1914 Tuesday, 18 Dec 2007 Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell) ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm ************************************************ CRUMP, WILLIAM PLEAS (4 Dec 1914, The Carter Express, Carter, Beckham Co, OK): Pleas Crup (sic) was found dead in his corn field near Elk City last week, with part of his head shot off. At first it was believed to be a case of suicide, as a note was found in his hand or pocket, and a shot gun near with a string tied to the trigger. The note said, "I do not want to live any longer." Later it was found that J A. Lovern, one of Crump's renters, had a bill of sale to some of Crump's stock and a lease to his farm for another year, and after C S Gilkerson, Atty. Myer and Horace Gaither put Lovern thru a "sweating process", he confessed to being implicated in the murder, but said Ray Schooler, a 16-year old boy, did the shooting. The boy was arrested but turned loose. He claims to know nothing about the shooting. Lovern is in jail awaiting further investigation and evidence. (Dec 1914, Unidentified Beckham Co Newspaper, Beckham Co, OK): After several days spent in an investigation of the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of W. P. Crump, who was found lying dead in his corn field on his farm three miles northwest of Elk City last Friday morning, Acting County Attorney Mac Tracy returned to Sayre Wednesday morning fully satisfied that the mystery had been cleared and that what at first was supposed to be a plain case of suicide was in fact a cold blooded and deliberate murder. Crump's body was found Friday morning about 8:00 o'clock, lying in his corn field where he had been gathering corn. A double-barrel shot gun was found lying across the body, one load of which had been discharged. The dead man's face was badly torn from the gun shot wound, and in his hand was a note which read as follows: "Don't blame anyone for this. I am tired of living. I want to go to Missouri; my people live there. W. P. Crump." The body was found by Mr. Crump's renter, J. A. Lovvorn (sic), who was living at the Crump farm. When neighbors gathered and viewed the body and read the note it was thought that it was plainly a case of suicide and the body was taken to Elk City where an inquest was begun Friday night. In the meantime one or two suspicious circumstances connected with the affair caused the people to believe that a more thorough investigation was advisable, and County Attorney Tracy was asked to take the matter in charge. He went to Elk City Friday night of last week and practically all of his time has been devoted to the case until Wednesday morning when he returned to Sayre and accompanying him on the same train were J. A. Lovvorn and Ray Schooler, the former under arrest on a charge of murder, and Schooler held for further investigation. One of the incidents leading to a more thorough investigation of the case was the fact that on Tuesday preceding the death of Crump his renter, J. A. Lovvorn, had deposited in a bank at Elk City a bill of sale for all the live stock and personal property of Crump; together with a lease of the Crump farm for the coming year. The corner's (sic) jury which convened Friday night was adjourned to reconvene Tuesday, and at the conclusion of their deliberations Lovvorn was arrested on a charge of murder. Mrs. Lovvorn was also placed under arrest, but within a few hours she was released; Mr. Tracy being fully satisfied that she had no knowledge of the affair and was in no way implicated. He said he stood there a few minutes and the old man was gathering corn, and when he got a chance he shot him. He said he shot him in the face. He said he put that note in his hand and he said he went right on across the field to the road and got in his wagon, or buggy, and went on up home. Ray said the old man started to stoop over when he shot him. Ray said: "We sure want to keep this quiet." This was the Sunday after the old man was killed. I didn't see him any more until the next day and today, but I didn't talk to him. We were all picking cotton together, and nothing was said about anything. This is the Ray Schooler who is the son of Mrs. Schooler that lives on the farm directly east, across the road from Mr. Crump's place." It is reported that soon after Lovvorn had made his alleged confession he feigned insanity and Wednesday morning he professed to know nothing about having made any statement in the presence of Gaither or anyone else. The corner's jury returned a verdict in substance stating that W. P. Crump came to his death from the effects of a gun shot wound fired by unknown persons. Mr. Crump was an old bachelor about fifty-three years of age, and was regarded as one of the best citizens in that community. For several days after his death it was generally believed that it was a case of suicide and had it not been for the skillful manner in which Acting County Attorney Tracy prosecuted his investigation the matter might still be regarded in the same light and the guilty ones escape their just punishment. --------------------------------------------------------- Return to Beckham County Archives: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ok/beckham/beckham.htm