Beckham County, OK - Deaths: Dan Carter, 1929
08 Nov 2007
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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CARTER, DAN
(Feb 1929, Elk City Newspaper, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
Dan Carter, colored porter at the Casa Grande hotel, and wife who was
Maggie Waterhouse before her marriage were killed last night at 11:00
o'clock following their wedding which was performed at 10:30.  Jim McGrew,
ilias (sic) Jim Johnson, consumed with jealousy because his cousin Dan had
married the woman of his affections, fulfilled his threat to "kill them
both" when he entered their house in the negro section of town and fired
three death shots that proved fatal to the bride and groom.
It is said that Jim came to the rear east entrance of Dan's house and
begged for admission, stating that he wanted to talk to him.  Dan replied
that he would "see him in the morning," but was finally persuaded to allow
him in to talk to his wife.  She apparently came into the adjoining room
and when Jim entered he talked with her and standing in the door shot Dan
while he lay in bed.  The shot struck below the eye.  then he had turned
and shot the woman who stood in the darkened outer room.
According to Dan's daughter, who was an occupant of the house when the
crime occurred, Jim returned to the scene of the murder to ascertain if
his shots had gone straight.
Charlie Smotherman was the first white man to arrive on the scene and
ordered that the bodies remain as they lay until attorney Ivester arrived.
 They were removed at about 10:00 o'clock this morning when it was decided
that an inquest was not necessary.
The murder last night was not a surprise to occupants of negro town.  Dan
had quarreled with his cousin Jim had declared if they married he would
kill them both.  In preparation Dan had got his gun out of "soak" and had
it placed between his knees, cocked, when he was shot.
Jim, according to Dan's daughter, had declared that he was not mad when he
came to the house last night and asked his cousin to let him in.  He
pretended that he wanted to get his clothes.
No trace had been found this morning as to the whereabouts of McGrew.  He
had been in Elk City since early fall and had lived with Dan.  His
previous record is reputed to show several murders and he has served a ten
year penal term.
Dan had been employed at the Casa Grande hotel since its opening in
November.  He was 39 years old and had been married twice.  His daughter
and baby grandchild lived with him.  He was an ex-service man and had
served over seas.  He had paid up compensation at the time of his death.
Jim McGrew was an unusually tall negro and is bald headed and gold teeth. 
He wears a mustache.
A negro said to answer to the description of the murderer is being held by
the Police at Clinton.  Deputy Sheriff Chas. Smotherman, accompanied by E.
M. Woody, left at 1:30 o'clock for Clinton for the purpose of identifying
the suspect.