Beckham County, OK - Deaths: F. M. Sears, 1901
Saturday, 01 November 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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SEARS, F. M.
(8 Aug 1901, Cheyenne Star, Cheyenne, Roger Mills County, OK):
Killing Near the Sweetwater Post Office.
Monday evening a report reached this city to the effect that sometime
during the day Bob Riggers and F. M. Sears both stock raisers residing on
Middle Buffalo, became involved in a quarrel resulting in Riggers shooting
and instantly killing Sears.  Two conflicting reports are rife relative to
the trouble that led up to the killing.  One report is to the effect that
on the preceding day, Sunday, some of Sears' cattle broke through the line
fence into Riggers' pasture.  Sears went to get his cattle, the men met
and hot words were exchanged ending in Sears calling Riggers a vile name. 
The following day, Monday, Sears went to Riggers' house to talk the matter
over and Riggers demanded that Sears retract; this Sears flatly refused to
do and Riggers stepped into his house, picked up a loaded shot gun and
returning shot Sears through the head killing him instantly, and then got
on a horse and rode away.  The other report is to the effect that Riggers'
cattle had been breaking into Sears' pasture; that Sears was passing
Riggers' house on a load of hay and the men engaged in a dispute over the
matter, Sears repeatedly calling Riggers' vile names ending in Riggers
going into his house, returning with a shot gun and killing Sears and then
riding away.
Which report, if either, is correct we are unable to state.  All that we
can state authentically, up to this hour of going to press, is that
Riggers killed Sears with a shot gun, then rode away and was captured the
following day at Mangum (Greer County).
(9 Jan 1902, Elk City Newspaper, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
The matter of granting bail to Robert Riggins, who is in jail at Cheyenne
came up before Judge Burford yesterday and he decided it was not a
bailable case.  Riggins is charged with the murder of a cattleman named
Sears, last July.  The evidence was examined by Judge Burford before he
rendered a decision.  The matter was looked after here by Senator J. B.
Harrison.  There will be no court at Cheyenne until May.
The above was clipped from the State Capital.  Our comment is simply that
there have been many a cold blooded murder in Western Oklahoma in the
past, we can only remember of two cases but what were bailable.
We were personally acquainted with the deceased, Mr. Sears, in this case
and knew him to be a fine citizen, yet the question over which he met his
death was herd law.  It is still alive, and in the face of the fact that
our Supreme Court Judges could have long ago settled it one way or the
other, we can not but feel that they, to a certain extent, are morally
responsible for all such killings that come up until this question is
finally settled.

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