Beckham County, OK - Deaths: Sam Doxey, 1905 10 Jan 2008 Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell) ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm ************************************************ DOXEY, SAM (5 Jul 1905, Roger Mills Democrat, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK): Shooting at Sayre. Last Saturday evening at 9:30 o'clock, James Dobbs, marshal of Sayre, shot and killed Samuel Doxey, on the street of Sayre. The cause of the shooting seems to have been an old grudge which had existed between the two men. Dobbs approached Doxey and after a few words had passed, drew his pistol and shot Doxey five times. It is reported that Doxey made an attempt to draw a pistol. Doxey was a pioneer cattleman in the vicinity. He leaves a wife and a four year old son. Dobbs was arrested and is in the custody of the sheriff pending preliminary trial which is set for the sixth inst. The body of the unfortunate man was taken to Mangum his former home, for burial. This is another example of the evil of carrying weapons which with our binding laws forbidding its, is too often indulged in by our citizens. (6 Jul 1905, Thursday, Elk City Democrat, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK): The killing of Sam Doxey by City Marshal James Dobbs at Sayre last Saturday night was a sad affair. Both of these men were old citizens of the county. Ye scribe has been personally acquainted with both men for several years. Sam Doxey was a son-in-law of Uncle Marion Kellum and well connected otherwise. He was well educated, very affable, a man of family and had many friends, all of whom mourn his demise. James Dobbs, city marshal of Sayre, has been in official positions in this and Custer counties for many years. He is well thought of by all who know him, and has a fine, passive disposition; a good husband and father. We never knew him to raise his hand against his fellow-man unless he was forced to do so. We don't care to publish the rumored reports of the cause of shooting, but knowing his disposition as we do, we can not believe that he shot Sam Doxey unless he believed his own life was in immediate danger. Both men stood high in Masonic circles. They were bright minded men. We publish below the coroner's inquest. Verdict of Corner's Jury. Territory of Oklahoma, County of Roger Mills: An investigation holden ((sic) at Sayre, O. T., Roger Mills county, on the 2nd day of July, A.D. 1905, before me, H. Riley, coroner of said county, on the body of P. S. Doxey, there lying dead. The above-mentioned jury upon their oaths do say that the said P. S. Doxey came to his death about 10 o'clock on the night of July 1st, that he came to his death by pistol shots fired from the hands of J. W. Dobbs, with intent then and there to kill the said P. S. Doxey. In testimony of which the said jury have hereunto set their hands thus the 2nd day of July, A.D., 1905. J. W. Marriott, H. Bohannon, C. W. Jeffries, C. S. Minnis, W. L. Blalock, O. M. Solomon. I, H. Riley, coroner of Roger Mills county, hereby attest the signatures of the above jury, and certify to the above as being their verdict. H. Riley, Coroner, Roger Mills County. (6 Jul 1905, Erick Newspaper, Erick, Beckham Co, OK): Sam Doxey, a well known cowman and settler of Roger Mills county, was shot and killed in Sayre Saturday night about 9:30 by J. W. Dobbs, city marshal. The affair took place on the sidewalk in front of a saloon. Doxey, whose greatest fault was that he loved liquor too well, had been drinking during the day, and his friends were endeavoring to persuade him to go home when Marshall Dobbs came along the sidewalk. He was accosted by Doxey, and several words were exchanged, when the latter started to draw his gun. Dobbs drew his own weapon in self defense and fired three shots before Doxey could use his gun. Doxey then shot once, after which Dobbs shot twice more. Although all five of Dobbs' shots had taken effect, Doxey stood on his feet for several seconds, and pulled the trigger again, but the gun failed to explode. He then sank to the sidewalk and died without a word or a struggle. Four of the shots had passed through his body, three striking his chest and one the abdomen. A coroner's inquest was held Monday and the evidence was substantially as above stated. Sam Doxey was 44 years old. He had been a resident of Roger mills county for sixteen years, during which time he had been engaged in the cattle business, and was well known all over Oklahoma and Texas. J. W. Dobbs is city marshal of Sayre, and also a deputy sheriff. He has also been a resident of Roger Mills and Custer counties for a number of years, and has an excellent reputation as a citizen and as an officer. There had been no bad feeling between the two men, and Marshal Dobbs expresses the greatest regret over the affair. There were three eye-witnesses to the shooting, and all are agreed that Dobbs had no alternative but to shoot or be shot. (19 Jan 1905, Roger Mills Democrat, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK): There was great rejoicing in Sayre last week when the news came in that Sam Doxey had been acquited (sic) on the charge of embezzlement. The old friends of Sam threw their hats in the air and whooped til their throats were sore. Mr. Doxey was convicted at Henrietta, Texas, by a court and jury that were in the hands and control of the plaintiff and when the case went to the supreme court of Texas, justice prevailed and Mr. Doxey has shown to the world that he is entirely inocent (sic) of any act that would jeopardize the character; he has always shown among the people who have known him since infancy. Sam will be home in a few days and the fatted calf will be devoured. --------------------------------------------------------- Return to Beckham County Archives: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ok/beckham/beckham.htm