Beckham County, OK - Deaths: Russell Duke, 1922
12 Jan 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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DUKE, RUSSELL
(28 Dec 1922, Thursday, Beckham County Democrat, Erick, Beckham Co, OK):
Russell Duke Accidentally Shot.
Word was received in Erick late Wednesday evening that Russell Duke, son
of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Duke, of Sayre, was accidentally shot and killed near
Rankin, while out hunting with several of his young friends.
(29 Dec 1922, Elk City Newspaper, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
RUSSELL DUKE, SAYRE, ACCIDENTALLY KILLED.
Russell Duke, step-son of Jim Duke, Sayre, with other boys was hunting
near Rankin Wednesday morning when word was received in Sayre by phone of
the horrible accident causing Duke's death.
The boys had been hunting, and presumptions are that Russell had sat down
to rest.  He was found in a sitting position with the gun between his legs
and one side of his head shot off.  Death must have been instant.
Russell Duke was a man of near twenty years of age, and one of Sayre's
promising youths.  His death was a severe shock to his companions and many
friends.
(4 Jan 1923, Sayre Headlight, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
Just as this paper went to press last week came the news of the accidental
shooting, and death of Russell Duke, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Duke of
this city, and at that time we stated that the information at hand was
very meagre, and not at all authentic.  We now learn that it was not the
jolt of the moving auto which caused the discharge of the gun, but instead
that it apparently was dropped by young Duke, the hammer striking the
running board of the auto, causing its discharge.
It seems that John Russell, Luther Wade and Russell Duke left here on
Monday for a hunt near Rankin, Wednesday morning the boys were joined by a
farmer named Wright, on whose farm they were hunting, and spent the
forenoon hunting birds.
Somewhere about noon the four returned to the auto, and Duke seated
himself on the running board, while Wright had climbed into the car. 
Russell and Wade were standing but a few feet away.  Duke set the but
(sic) of his gun on the running board, having one hand on the barrel of
the gun, and in that manner turned it around two or three times.  It is
evident that the but (butt) of the gun slipped from the running board, and
in dropping struck the hammer, and thus received the entire charge of shot
at the base of the brain, causing instant death.
Immediately after the accident the officers at Cheyenne were notified, and
an inquest held the verdict being in accord with the facts as above given.
The body was brought to this city late Wednesday night, and the funeral
services held from the Christian church on Thursday afternoon, Rev. J. T.
Means officiating, and were very largely attended, all business places in
the city being closed during the services.  Interment was at the
Doxey-Sayre cemetery.
Russell was a young man of 24 years, and the greater portion of his life
had been spent in this city where he attended school and grew to manhood. 
He was of a genial disposition, which made many warm friends, not alone
among his young companions, but with the older people of the city as well
and all today mourn his untimely death, and join with the Headlight in
extending their sincere sympathy to the bereaved family.

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