Beckham County, OK - Deaths: Carl T. Varner, 1927
Thursday, 12 February 2009
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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VARNER, CARL T.
(10 Feb 1927, Sayre Headlight, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
Saturday night shortly before midnight a boy came running up to Marshal
Richerson and informed him that a man was beating up two women at the
residence of "Happy" Haughman, near the bridge over Short Creek on West
Main Street, and that he had been sent after an officer.
When Marshal Richerson reached the house he found Carl Varner crazy drunk,
with the women reporting him as having maintained a "rough house" for some
little time.  When the officer attempted to place Varner under arrest he
resisted, and rushing out into the kitchen came back with an ice pick in
his hand, threatening to kill the officer, and with abusive and profane
language, made a rush ----- (too dark to read).
Most officers would have fired upon Varner as he approached but "Uncle
Jim" clubbed his gun, hitting Varner over the head with it and dropping
him to the floor, the gun being discharged by the impact and the fact that
the officer's finger was upon the trigger, but the bullet, instead of
hitting Varner, went over his head as the gun was discharged and lodged in
the wall.
Efforts to revive Varner were unavailing and Dr. Speed was called,
pronouncing him dead, but his investigation of the body disclosed the fact
that no bullet had hit him and that death came as the result of the blow
from the gun, which crushed his skull.
An investigation of the affair was conducted by the county officers and on
Tuesday a preliminary held, with all of the witnesses present, and the
testimony showed clearly that the officer acted in self defense, with the
result that the preliminary gave Marshal Richerson a clear cut
exoneration.
(10 Feb 1927, Sayre Journal, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
Chief of Police Jim Richerson struck Carl Varner over the head with his
pistol while Varner is alleged to have been making his way at the officer
with an ice pick, says witnesses to the tragedy which occurred midnight
Saturday in the home of George Houghman.  Varner was drinking heavily and
resisted an attempt of Chief Richerson in making the arrest.
Carl Warner's (sic) parents live here and at the time of the killing he
was employed at a local gin.  He was about 26 years old and single.  Chief
Richerson was called to the Houghman house where it is alleged that Varner
was beating Mrs. Houghman, Houghman is working at Borger.
Tuesday morning a preliminary hearing was held before Justice Andrews at
the county court house in accordance with the expressed desires of Officer
Richerson and Justice Andrews sustained a demurrer to the evidence and the
peace officer was released without blame.
Drs. Speed, Windle and Spence examined the wound just a little to the back
of the top of Varner's head and reports that Varner was shot were not
substanciated (sic).  He died as a result of the blow on his head which
crushed his skull.  The gun, according to the officer, discharged as the
result of the impact.
This was the first man Chief Richerson has killed in his record as a peace
officer during twenty-four years of service.  In fact, he states it is the
first time that he has ever had to hit an offender with his gun or
otherwise and during his service as sheriff of this county in the early
days he has many arrests of desperate characters to his credit.
It is with sincere regret on the part of the officer that this occurred. 
Since this affair came up it has been stated by their officers that Varner
has threatened to kill Richerson on a number of occasions.

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