Beckham County, OK - Deaths: Jim McGrew, 1929 21 August 2008 Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell) ********************************************************************* USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ********************************************************************* MC GREW, JIM (21 Feb 1929, Sayre Headlight, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK): A boast taken seriously resulted in the deaths of three Elk City negroes last week. Jim McGrew, alias Jim Johnson, alias Jim McGruger, alias Texas Slim, was the rival of Dan Carter for the hand of an Elk City negress. Texas Slim sensing the plans of Carter to marry the negro sweetheart of both, threatened to kill both if they married. The spite of the two negroes were married and Texas Slim made good his threat. Both were shot to death. Texas Slim left for regions unknown. Word was received Friday that the negro was in hiding near Canute. M. Y. Baker, deputy and Charley Smotherman, Elk City officer, went to the scene where Baker found him in a thicket. A fusilade of shots brought the negro out. As he came into view Baker shot but missed. Advancing a few steps Baker noticed a movement behind a fodder shock. Smotherman hollowed (sic) at Texas Slim who reached for his gun. Smotherman fired two shots. The first shot struck the negro in the head and the second entered his body. Death was instaneous (sic). An inquest was held Saturday which cleared the two officers of the death of Texas Slim. (22 Feb 1929, The Carter Express, Carter, Beckham Co, OK): Elk City Negro Killed Pair in Jealous Rage. Jim McGrew, a tall, bald-headed negro with several murders to his credit, and a ten-year prison term as a background, killed his cousin, Dan Carter, a porter at the Casa Grande hotel, and his newly married wife at their home in negro town at Elk City Wednesday night of last week in a jealous rage. It is said that McGrew had threatened Carter with death if he married the woman. The bodies were not disturbed till the next day at ten o'clock, when an inquest was held. Friday officers located McGrew, and knowing his reputation, ordered him to throw up his hands, and upon his failure to comply the negro was killed. (22 Feb 1929, Elk City Newspaper, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK): Dan Carter, colored porter at the Casa Grande hotel, and wife who was Maggie Waterhouse before her marriage, were killed last night at 11:00 o'clock following their wedding which was performed at 10:30. Jim McGrew, alias Jim Johnson, consumed with jealousy because his cousin Dan had married the woman of his affections, fulfilled his treat to "kill them both" when he entered their house in the negro section of town and fired three death shots that proved fatal to the bride and groom. It is said that Jim came to the rear east entrance of Dan's house and begged for admission, stating that he wanted to talk to him. Dan replied that he would "see him in the morning," but was finally persuaded to allow him to talk to his wife. She apparently came into the adjoining room and when Jim entered, he talked with her and standing in the door shot Dan while he lay in bed. The shot struck below the eye. Then he had turned and shot the woman who stood in the darkened outer room. According to Dan's daughter, who was an occupant of the house when the crime occurred, Jim returned to the scene of the murder to ascertain if his shots had gone straight. The murder last night was not a surprise to occupants of negro town. Dan had quarreled with his cousin Jim had declared if they married he would kill them both. In preparation to cope with this threatened danger Dan had got his gun out of "soak" and had it placed between his knees, cocked when he was shot. Jim, according to Dan's daughter, had declared that he was not mad when he came to the house last night and asked his cousin to let him in. He pretended that he wanted to get his clothes. No trace had been found this morning as to the whereabouts of McGrew. He had been in Elk City since early fall and had lived with Dan. His previous record is reputed to show several murders and he has severed a ten year penal term. Jim McGrew was an unusually tall negro and is bald headed and gold teeth. He wears a mustache. Jim Johnson, alias, Jim McGrew, alias Johnny Johnson, lay in the Gentry-Killough mortuary Friday night by the side of his cousin, Dan Carter, who he shot Wednesday night shortly after the nuptial rites of Dan and Maggie Waterhouse had been performed. After viewing the perfect job he had executed in taking the lives of his cousin, Dan, who he had lived with, and the woman of his affections and jealousy, Jim left Elk City and all day Thursday and Friday, until about 4:00 o'clock, he eluded the officers who were on his trail. He was found in a shinnery thicket five miles south of Canute by Charles Smotherman, constable, and M. Y. Baker, deputy. The officers ordered him to put his hands up. Failing to comply with the request, the negro reached for his pocket and Smotherman fired. The officer shot twice and one bullet struck in the back of the negro's head which had slightly lowered when the men approached. Another bullet hit him below the left arm pit. There were several flesh wounds in the arm where the bullet had passed through. Johnson was wearing a corduroy cap and trousers of the same material. He had on a blue jumper which was riddled with five bullet holes where the shot had passed through. All of his clothes were practically new. Six feet in height with bald head and gold teeth, a bristly black moustache and a hard set jaw, the dead negro presented a striking and grim appearance. The fatal shot which Smotherman fired put an end to Jim's reputed mortality list of seven. He was buried Saturday at the negro cemetery southeast of town. Dan's body was shipped to the home of his people in Texas. --------------------------------------------------- Return to Beckham County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/beckham/beckham.html