Beckham County, OK - Obits: Olin Chaffin, 1901 17 Nov 2007 Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell) ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************ CHAFFIN, OLIN (30 May 1901, Berlin Venture, Berlin, Roger Mills Co, OK): News reached us Monday evening that Dr. McGee, living nine miles south of here, had been shot through the lung by Olin Chaffin. About an hour before sundown Monday evening Dr. McGee was crossing from home to the house of a neighbor when 2 men drove in sight in a buggy. When these men got near enough to recognize the doctor; one of them, Olin Chaffin got out and entered a draw near which the doctor would pass, and waited until he got within shooting range. As soon (as) the doctor saw the man he turned and commenced to run back home. As he ran Chaffin emptied his winchester, and one shot taking effect. After the shooting Olin Chaffin went to Carter, to the home of Uncle Jimmy Goff, who furnished him blankets to camp out near by. The next morning Chaffin was found dead in bed, he had taken poison. At the last term of court it appears that Dr. McGee had preferred charges again Chaffin for shooting some horses belonging to the doctor. This charge no doubt was the cause of the shooting. Chaffin was a young man of about 25 years, comparatively well spoken of by his neighbors. McGee is an old timer in this country and has also lots of friends. McGee has a good chance to pull through. (30 May 1901, Elk City Newspaper, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK): Monday afternoon Oler Chapin (sic) of Timber Creek made a desperate attempt upon the life of Dr. D. B. McGee, also of that locality, and afterwards committed suicide on the ranch of Mr. Goff about 10 miles south of the McGee place. The reports brought here are so conflicting that the circumstances attending the shooting are in doubt. All that is positively known is that a bad feeling has existed for some time between Chapin and John Russell and Dr. McGee. Dr. McGee was working about his place Monday afternoon when he was approached by Chapin who immediately shot at him four times with a Winchester rifle. One of the balls struck McGee in the back coming out at the right side. Chapin went south to Mr. Goff's house where he asked to stay the night. On the morning following he was found dead, rolled up in a blanket, with half a bottle of strychnine beside him. Some reports say that Dr. McGee is dead; others that he is not seriously injured, and is rapidly improving. --------------------------------------------------------- Return to Beckham County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/beckham/beckham.htm