Beckham County, OK - Deaths: James Nugent, 1904 Tuesday, 09 Sep 2008 Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell) ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm ************************************************ NUGENT, JAMES (15 Dec 1904, Thursday, Roger Mills Democrat, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK): A Man Shot In Elk City This morning about 1 o'clock at the Turf Exchange saloon, about a half dozen men were playing for drinks, among them was a stranger in town named Nugent and his cousin. At other tables the same thing was going on, and many were standing round looking on. All at once a gun was fired, the ball taking effect in the side of Mr. Nugent and going into the wall. Mr. Nugent now lies in a very dangerous condition, and the doctors say he cannot live. No one knows who fired the shot, but the officers have arrested all who were in the house at the time, until the arrival of the sheriff and county attorney from Cheyenne. (21 Dec 1904, Wednesday, Elk City Record, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK): James Nugent is Shot By Joseph Morgan, Thursday Night, Bond, $2,500. Several people who sleep between Broadway and Fifth streets on Main were awakened by a pistol shot, late Thursday night last. It was learned that a young man, by the name of James Nugent had been shot in a saloon on Main street. Nugent is a young man only nineteen years old. Morgan, the man who shot him is a man of family living north of town. The shot seems to have been unintentional, and resulting from a careless handling of a pistol by a drunken man. Nugent is at the time of this writing thought to be in a precarious condition. Prosecuting attorney Hendrix came from Cheyenne on Friday and placed Morgan on preliminary trial before Justice of Peace. After examining several witnesses, attorney Hendrix deferred further trial until January 12 at which time, should Nugent die in the meantime, Morgan will be assaigned (arraigned) for murder. Morgan's bond was fixed at $2,500, which was filled and Morgan was released. (28 Dec 1904, Wednesday, Elk City Record, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK): Nugent. James Nugent, the young man who was shot in a saloon here a week ago, died on Saturday night and was buried at the city cemetery on Sunday afternoon. He came to Elk City two weeks before the unfortunate shot which ended his life occurred, to visit his half-brother, G. W. Southard. Nugent was a young man of exemplary character, and according to his own story, had gone with a cousin of his shortly after the close of the show at the opera house, to bring a friend of theirs from the saloon. He was not a frequenter of saloons and had been in the saloon but a few minutes when he was shot. He had no idea who fired the shot; and as he was not quarrelling nor had any trouble with anyone in town could give no reason for anyone to take his life. His father, William Nugent, came over Saturday from his home in the Chicasaw (sic) Nation, his half-brother, Thomas Southard from Bowie, Texas, and James Moore, a cousin of the deceased, of Washita county, were present from a distance to attend the funeral. (29 Dec 1904, Elk City Democrat, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK): Death. Mr. Nugent, who was mysteriously shot last week died Saturday night and was buried in the grave yard at Elk. --------------------------------------------------- Return to Beckham County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/beckham/beckham.html