MORE FROM MOMAS OLD ALBUM BECKHAM CO. OKLA Copied by Paulyne Rutherford Taylor 1978 ************************************************************ VETERAN SHERIFF DIES ENROUTE TO CLINTON SATURDAY Coughing Seizure Results In Death Of W.T. Velvin Sayre Final tribute was paid W.T. Velvin (Bill) Sheriff of Beckham County for two terms, at 2:30 oclock Sunday afternoon at the First Baptist church where services were conducted by Rev. L.B. Alder, officiating. Death of this popular Sayre man and pioneer conty resident came as a complete surprise to all who knew him. Seemingly in good health, Velin left here at 15 minutes until 1 oclock Saturday afternoon to trasact business at Clinton. He was accompanied by Mrs Ollie Lee Hayes, a waitress in a café next to the filling station operated by Velin, who planned to go as far as Clinton with him and then continue her journey to Oklahoma City. When they had passed Foss, Velin was seized with a fit of coughing. He stopped the car and ask Mrs Hayes if she knew how to drive. When she nodded in the affirmative, he turned the wheel over to her and told her to drive fast. Just four miles outside of Clinton, Velin told Mrs Hayes to hold to the road. Those were the last mortal words he uttered. Alarmed at his condition Mrs Hayes stopped the car and flagged down a truck. The driver however was bonded and could not leave his truck. Another car was stopped and the driver drove Velin into Clinton. It was evident that Velin was councious though unable to talk, for he took his glasss off and laid them on the rear of the car. When they reached Clinton, Velin was uncouncious and had the appearance of being dead. The driver stopped at a drug store and was given directions to the hospital. When he arrived there, Velin was dead. Death was attributed to a heartattack. Sheriff Ed West was informed of Velins death at 2:45 oclock by Clem Guiliand, Clinton undertaker. Velvin was sheriff from 1930 to 1934. He made an unsuccessful campaign for the office again in 1936. He retired from politics to operate the Soveriegn Service Station on West Main. He was a member of the Masonic lodge, Rotary club and was an active member in the Baptist church. He was an Erick resident before moving here. Survivors are his widow, aq daughter Margarett,who is a student nurse in an Oklahoma City hospital; two brothers Dolph, Erick,and Blue, Shamrock. Internment was made at the Sayre-Doxie cemetery with arrangments by Killough- Hullun directors. John Swart, Farmer, Near Sayre Accused of Leaving Wife For Another Woman John Swart and Mary Lou Welch were arrested Sunday night at the Short Creek encampment by undersheriff K.T. Henson and deputy Vlearance Phillips, and charged with adultry, according to Lislie Brewer county attorney. Swart faces an additional charge of wife deseration. He was arraigned before Earl Gordon justice of the peace, Monday morning and ordered held $1000.00 bond each. Swart allegedly left his wife on their farm northwest of Sayre, six weeks ago with seven children to support. Neighbors are said to have complained about the situation, since it worked a hardship on them keeping Mrs Swart and the children provided for. Swart is accused of living with Mrs Welch in a tourist cabin west of Elk City before bringing her here Sunday. They were living in a trailer at the time arrest was made and were believed to have been planning on moving out the next day. Preliminary hearings have been set for Friday. COUNTY MAN FACING CHARGE OF THEFT Sayre Charles Poarch Is Held By Pampa Officers;Is Wanted By Beckham Auth orities Beckham county officers were expected to leave for Pampa Texas sometime Tuesday or Wednesday to seek custody of Charles Poarch, sought in connection with the alledged theft of recently of a truck from Gene Tindale of Sayre. Acting prosecuter Lyle G. Brewer reported today that Poarch had been arrested in Pampa, Monday by Texas officers on a warrant charging alledged theft. Tisdale is in charge of maintance of a Beckham county highways. It is understood here today that Poarch stated he would waive extradition to Beckham county to face charges. POARCH BOUND OVER TO DISTRICT COURT C.D.Poarch was bound over for trial in district court Thursday at a prelimiary hearing on a charge of larceny of an autombile. He was released under $1000.00 bond, Neville Gillum, county attorney said today. Sayre John A Morgan John A Morgan of Erick waived a preliminary hearing Thursday and is sechuled to go on trial in districk court on a charge of driving an autombile while under the influence of intoxicating liquor. His bond has been set at $1000.00 ******************************************************************************* ***These had to be in 1928-35 at Beckham County Oklahoma Clippings from the Sayre Paper. FIVE ESCAPE DEATH IN FIRE EARLY TODAY Sayre Home Of C.P. Carriker Is Destroyed By Mysterious Blaze HOME TOTAL LOSS Barely escaoing being caught in a fire trap, a Sayre family of five miraculously escaped death here early Thursday morning, in a fire that burned their home to the ground and turned them out only thinly clad in near zero weather and snow. No one was injured. Awakened by the suffocating smell of smoke, C.P. Carriker who lived in the 300 block on North First street was the first to give the warning to the other occupants of the house when he opened a kitchen door and found the room a blazing inferno. Instantly the blaze swept through the house and the four members of the family and a house guest who was spending the night with the Carrikers were forced to make their own exits from the building, Mrs Carriker and her daughter Jewel who rushed through a bathroom and bedroom were the only ones who were ab le to get out of the house through the front door. Escape Through Window Mr Carriker who had gone to the back to warn the others, John Carriker , his son and Miss Susie Cowden of Wheeler Tex. Were shut off from the front door and were forced to escape through a bathroom window. None of the occupants had time to dress and were forced to leave the building in nighclothes. Besides an armfull of clothing grabbed by Mrs Carrikers and John as they made for the exits nothing was saved. The girl took 3 dresss and the son took 2 suits,two pair of trousers, and 3 shirts. The furniture and building were a total loss. The way I think it happened was this,said John today. There was not a fire in the house as far as I know, and the blaze must have started in a wastebasket in the kitchen, probably by a mouse igniting a match that had fallen into it. He explained he believed that the fire started in the kitchen. Although he was cut off from the front door by the flames and there was no fire in the bathroom when he and the others went through the window in that room. WAKENED BY THE WARNING I was sound asleep and the first thing I knew I heard someone hollar Fire and the house was covered with flames, he said. I grabbed a pair of trousers I had laid at the foot of the bed and grabbed an armful of clothing as I went out. By the time we started we got cut off from the front door and we broke out a bath room window and went out that way. The loss today was estimated by fire chief W.W. Fuller at around $2,500.00. It was a seven room house. The fire chief explained that the alarm was turned in at 3:40 and by the time the truck arrived the roof and walls were falling in. Sayre OFFICERS CAPTURE ROBBERY SUSPECTS Johnson is apprehended by Officers At Stillwater, Buie Is Held At Sayre Dutch Johnson, wanted by Sayre officials in connection with an alledged robbery on Railroad Hill last Sunday night was apprehended by officers at Stillwater, it was announced Thursday by Ralph Hood, county attorney. Tony Buie is being held at the county jail in Sayre in connection with the robbery. According to Hood, two men entered the hom,e of Charlie Brauer and Hugh Carter last Sunday night. After taking about $40 from the Brauer and Carter a fight started and both Brauer and Carter were beaten badly around the head. One shot was fired but no one was hit.