Beckham County, OK - Deaths: John Schell, 1910
Saturday, 01 November 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

 ************************************************
 Copyright. All rights reserved.
 http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm
 ************************************************

SCHELL, JOHN
(29 Sep 1910, Thursday, Sayre Standard, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
Elk City was the scene of another shooting affair on Saturday evening last
which resulted in the death of one, and the serious wounding of another,
while two others have been lodged in jail with a charge of highway robbery
and possibly still more serious charges against them.
The facts, as near as can be learned, are that Frank C. Smith, a cattle
man residing near Bononine, Texas, was in Elk City that evening, and fell
in with Carl Schell.  Smith was a man who has been in the habit of
carrying a considerable sum of money on himself, for use in buying cattle,
and it was assumed that Schell learned this fact, and communicated it to
John Schell, a brother, and one "Skeets" Young, the claim being that these
three framed up a scheme to rob Smith.
Carl Schell induced Smith to go with him to the eastern part of Elk City
on the pretext of taking him to a disorderly house.  When about four
blocks east of Main street Smith became suspicious, and refused to go
further, Smith claims that while standing talking with Carl Schell, and
refusing to be led further away from the center of the town, John Schell
and Young passed them, but stopped about fifty feet distant.
According to Smith he turned his head to look down toward town, and was
aroused with a command to hold up his hands; turning he found himself
facing a gun in the hands of John Schell.  In less time than it takes to
tell it, Smith wiped (sic) out his own gun, both himself and Schell firing
at almost the same time.
The men were only a few feet apart and their first shots both took effect,
but both fired several additional shots, but none of them took effect.  As
soon as the shooting started Carl Schell and Young took to their heels.
Sheriff Francis was in Elk City Saturday evening, and at the time of the
shooting was talking with Marshal Crabtree, and the two officers
immediately started in the direction of the shooting, arriving on the
scene shortly after the two men fell.
Both men were shot through the right side, but in the case of John Schell,
the bullet took a downward course, while that hitting Smith went straight
through, being removed from his back by the doctors.  Smith was removed to
a hospital, and although dangerously wounded, the physicians say that he
will recover unless inflammation sets in.  John Schell lingered until
shortly after 5 o'clock Sunday morning, when death claimed him.
After arriving at the hospital Smith very quickly gave the officers enough
information to allow them to locate the other two men, and Carl Schell and
Young were placed under arrest.  Schell being brought to the jail in this
city Sunday noon, and Young kept at Elk City in order that the officers
may have a chance to thoroughly talk the matter over with them without the
men having an opportunity to frame up a story.
Before being brought to this city Carl Schell was taken to the hospital,
and there fully identified by Smith as the man who had acted as the decoy.
John Schell and Young, who were to do the hold-up act, changed hats after
leaving the business part of town, and Young's hat was found beside
Schell, where he fell, and was one clue which gave the officers an
opportunity to apprehend Young.
Although John Schell lived nearly eight hours after the shooting, and was
conscious a portion of the time, he refused to make any statement that
would implicate anyone else.  While the officers refuse to make any such
statement, it is understood that Young has confessed his connection with
the affair, and as Smith positively identifies Carl Schell, there would
seem to be a strong case against the two men now in jail.
John Schell was quite well known throughout the county, and has been in
trouble before, there being one or more charges against him at the present
time for bootlegging, of which he had been convicted and the case
appealed.
(29 Sep 1910, Thursday, Beckham County Democrat, Erick, Beckham Co, OK):
Last Saturday night another shooting occured at our sister city Elk City. 
It is reported that John Shell (sic), and a man by the name of Skeete
Young undertook to holdup and rob Frank Smith who lives near Benonine.
Mr. Smith went to a restaurant Saturday evening and ordered supper.  In
paying for same he flashed considerable money.  John Shell was in the
restaurant at the time and engaged Mr. Smith in a conversation, later
Shell's brother came in and the two held a confidential talk, Carl went
out and a little later Frank Smith left accompanied by John Shell.  The
two walked a couple of blocks northeast of Broadway, when Carl Shell and
Skeete Young appeared in front of them and passed, whereupon Mr. Smith
began to suspicion that something was wrong, and is reported to have said,
that he was going back, whereupon John Shell informed him that he could
not.
At this both men are reported to have drawn revolvers and both fired at
about the same time.  Another report says that Smith had no gun, but
grappled with his would be murderer taking his gun from him and returning
the shot.
When help arrived both men were laying on the ground apparently both
fatally wounded.
Sunday morning at 5 o'clock John Shell died without making a statement
although he was conscious up to the last minute.  At this writing Mr.
Smith is improving and will recover.
Skeete Young and Carl Shell are now in jail awaiting a preliminary trial.
(30 Sep 1910, Friday, Sayre Headlight, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
ANOTHER KILLING ON THE ELK
Sunday morning last, the inhabitants of Elk City were again made aware
that the fair name of their city had been smirched by another shooting
affair.
It seems that on Saturday evening Frank Smith, John and (no name) Shell
and Skeet Young had been having a time, doing the foot stunt, drinking and
carousing and that in their jollification Smith had flashed a roll of
bills which aroused the cupidity of the others.  At any rate, according to
Smith's version, and so far there is nothing to rebut it, he was on the
streets east of Utt's hardware store about three blocks with one of the
Shells when the other appeared with the command "your money or your
brains."
With the remark that he would as soon be without brains as without money,
Smith pulled his gun and both parties commenced firing with the result
that both were struck in the breast.
John Shell died at about five o'clock Sunday morning from the effects of
the shot he received and Smith is reported to be in a fair way to
recovery, strange as it may seem tho the shot entered the breast of each
man close to the right nipple.
Sheriff Bob Francis was promptly on the spot, and placed the combatants
under arrest as well as Carl Shell and Sket Young who are now lodged in
jail.
Thus does the underworld of Beckham county and Elk City place another
burden of shame on the entire community and a heavy burden of expense on
the taxpayers.
(30 Sep 1910, Friday, Sayre Citizen, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
Last Saturday evening Frank C. Smith, a well-to-do-rancher of near
Benonine, Texas, stopped off an east-bound train at Elk City and less than
four hours thereafter was lying in a hospital with a bullet hole through
his body and the friends of John Schell, an Elk City bootlegger, were
keeping silent vigil while his life slowly ebbed away, result of a pistol
duel between himself and Smith.  We tell the story of the tragedy as 'twas
told to us.   Shortly after arriving in Elk City Smith purchased a pint of
booze from a prominent Elk City bootlegger and in making payment flashed a
roll of money.  Later he began making inquiry for a woman of the
underworld, of course he was on a cold trail for court records bear
evidence that such creatures do not roost in the city hard by the raging
Elk, nevertheless Carl Schell volunteered to conduct him to the object of
his desire and together they set forth for the outskirts of the city.  On
nearing the outskirts a big weed patch loomed up in front which did not
look good to Smith and he refused to go farther.  While parleying with his
guide, Smith heard the command:  "Hands up!"  Looking around he faced two
men, one of whom was pointing a gun at his breast.  Instead of obeying the
command, Smith whipped out a gun and the two fired simultaneously and both
received bullet wounds in the body.  Both fired several shots, all except
the first volley going wild.  At the first volley Smith's guide and the
companion of his assailant turned on their heels and ran away.
Sheriff Francis was in the city and was standing on the doorstep of a
hotel talking to City Marshall Crabtree when the shooting commenced.  They
ran in the direction from whence the reports came, and quickly came upon
Smith who was calling for help.  A short distance from Smith in the
direction of the patch of weeds a man was lying motionless, who proved to
be John Schell, brother of Carl, the man who lured Smith to the lonely
spot.  Both men were shot in the right side.  Schell died at 5 o'clock
Sunday morning.  Smith is in a hospital and physicians say he will
recover.  He made a statement which led to the arrest of Carl Schell and
"Skeet" Young.  "Skeet's" hat was found near where John Schell fell.
(30 Sep 1910, Friday, Carter Express, Carter, Beckham Co, OK):
Killing at Elk City
One John Shell (sic) was shot on Elk Creek in Elk City last Saturday
night, by a cattleman, Smith, of Texola.  We are informed that Smith had
purchased some whiskey of Shell, and informed him that he would like a
visit to the red light district.  At the time Shell sold Smith the whiskey
he noted that Smith had a role (sic) of bills on his person.  We
understand that Shell informed two of his partners about Smith having the
money, and they planned to rob the cattleman.
After walking some time and meeting up with Shell's partners, the
cattleman informed that he was not going to walk all night, that he was
going to return to town.  They told him that he must give up his money or
his brains.  He replied that he would just as soon give up his brains. 
The shooting then took place.  Shell was shot through the body and died
Sunday morning at 5 a.m.  Smith was shot through the right lung, but it is
thought that he will recover.  Shell's two partners made their get-away
that night, but have been arrested, we are informed, and landed in the
county jail.  We are reliably informed that the father of the Shell boys
is one of the best and most highly respected old men in Western Okla.

---------------------------------------------------
Return to Beckham County Archives:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/beckham/beckham.html