Beckham County, OK - Deaths: Richard Green, 1923 21 Feb 2008 Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell) ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************ GREEN, RICHARD (8 Nov 1923, Elk City Newspaper, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK): A very sad accident occurred in our vicinity the night of Hallowe'en, when the three sons of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Green called on a neighbor and fixed up a dummy, then made a noise so as to call the neighbor out. After he saw the prank, he with the boys talked and laughed about it. The man returned to his house and thought he would turn the prank on the youngsters and give them a thrill which they were after, due to the spooky night. He took his six-shooter, and thinking same was unloaded, made out to fire same. The gun was loaded and the bullet struck some machinery in the lot and glanced off, striking the body of Richard Green, eleven years old. The youngster did not seem to be hurt much, so the boys accompanied by the neighbor, walked to the Green home, three quarters of a mile. A doctor was summoned and upon examination found the boy in a serious condition. The little fellow lived until Saturday. The Green family were very much shocked and distressed by the accident and the neighbor is in much grief. He was a kind neighbor and thought so much of Mr. Green and family. We are sure the community is in sympathy with both families. (8 Nov 1923, Sayre Headlight Sayre, Beckham Co, OK): A very lamentable Hallowe'en accident occurred seven miles east and one north of Sayre on Wednesday night last, by which Willie, ten-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Green, lost his life. It seems that Willie, with two other boys about of his own age, made a Jack-o-lantern out of a pumpkin, and thinking to have a little sport, took it over in front of the house of a neighbor named Fouts. After placing the lantern the little boys rapped on the door of the house and then ran and hid. When Mr. Fouts came to the door he saw the lantern, and thinking to have a little sport with the boys, stepped back and secured a shot gun, and then fired away to the south of where the lantern was placed, never dreaming that the boys had hid in that direction. Willie was laying on the ground and the shot struck him in the hip and side, inflicting wounds from which he died early Friday morning, although physicians from this city and Elk City operated upon him on Thursday in the effort to save his life. The parents are heartbroken over the affair, but all agree that Mr. Fouts is suffering as keenly as any, neighbors declaring that Willie was a favorite with Mr. Fouts, and that nothing could have induced him to knowingly have harmed the child. Funeral services were held Saturday forenoon from the Merritt church, and very largely attended. Interment was in the Doxey-Sayre cemetery. (22 Nov 1923, Elk City Newspaper, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK): Little Richard Green was born April 15, 1913, and on the morning of November 2nd, 1923, he was called to the Great Beyond. He leaves father, mother, three brothers and eight sisters to mourn his departure. At the tender age of nine, little Richard was converted and joined the Missionary Baptist church in the Prairie View community. Will say to the bereaved, your loss is heaven's gain. Jesus said, "Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." ---------------------------------------------------------- Return to Beckham County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/beckham/beckham.htm