Beckham County, OK - Deaths: James C. Riley, 1921 Thursday, 02 October 2008 Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell) ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm ************************************************ RILEY, JAMES C. (31 Mar 1921, Beckham County Democrat, Erick, Beckham Co, OK): A vast assemblage of Beckham county's neighbors and acquaintances of twenty years, together with the generation of today and tomorrow, paid a last tribute to the memory of Mr. "Bud" Riley at his late home in West Erick and at the cemetery south of town Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. Mr. Riley was killed at one of his farms 12 miles southeast of Erick Tuesday morning some where near 11 a.m., the full particulars of the affair not yet being obtainable. Deceased was born in Texas Sept. 21, 1877. Aged 44 years he was in the prime of manhood and nature had bestowed lavishly upon him. Of fine physique, a man of excellent business judgement and foresight he was prompt to grasp an opportunity for financial success and by hard work and good management had accumulated wealth. He had served the county well as a commissioner of this district and had been a prominent factor in the business world of this part of the state. Mr. Riley was married to Miss Ada Riggs in Texas, and moved to this locality about 20 years ago. To them have been born 6 daughters and 5 sons all of whom are living except the eldest daughter, a fine character, talented, educated, and beloved who passed on three years ago. Also left to mourn his loss are the aged father and mother, 4 brothers and two sisters. (31 Mar 1921, Sayre Standard, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK): The authentic reports reaching this city yesterday relative to the shooting were to the effect that Sheriff Bill Tuton, of Greer county, accompanied by two deputies and D. D. Daugherty, Federal enforcement officer of Oklahoma City, had gone to the Riley place, just over the line inside of Greer county to search the property on the assumption that a still was being operated. The officers carried a search warrant for the Riley place and upon nearing the land, the tract said to contain about 750 acres of what is known as the "breaks," they hid their automobile and climed (sic) to the top of a hill overlooking the ranch. It was said that the car belonging to Riley could be seen going in various directions from the ranch house. When it was seen that the car was leaving the premises the officers waited behind a hill in the section line and waited for the car. When Riley drove near the officers he was motioned to stop, whereupon sheriff Tuton stepped in front of the car, the other officers being on either side. The sheriff told Riley that they were officers and it was said that Riley raised his pistol and fired through the windshield of his car and he fell dead instantly to the bottom of the car. He was said to have been shot four or five times, two of the bullets going into his heart from the left side. The officers at the side of the car were shooting through the curtains of the car, all of them being up. The sheriff shot Riley also through the opening made by the breaking of the windshield. The shooting occurred about 11:00 o'clock Tuesday morning. Mr. Riley was one of the most highly respected citizens of the county. His home has been at Erick and near Erick for many years and he was the owner of what used to be known as the Cook ranch near Hext Switch. He owned much city property in Erick and is reported to have owned property in Mangum in addition to the Greer county land at which place he was killed. Riley is reputed to have been worth $75,000. He was elected county commissioner from the Third district in 1916 and served as a very efficient officer until the latter part of 1917 when he resigned. Riley was a married man and has seven children whose ages range from one to eighteen years. Mrs. Riley is a sister to S. I. Riggs living near Delhi, Okla. The dead man also has two brothers living on farms near Sayre. Reports from Erick are to the effect that the body will be buried in the Erick cemetery today. The body was taken to the Riley home in Erick from Mangum at midnight Tuesday. (1 Apr 1921, Southwest Press, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK): BUD RILEY KILLED BY ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS Since Tuesday night wierd stories have passed relative to the killing of Bud Riley of Erick by Sheriff Tuton of Greer County, and other enforcement officers from Mangum, who met Riley in the brakes southeast of Erick Tuesday evening about five o'clock and demanded him to stop. The officers were said to be in search of a still near the Riley ranch. They, say, when Tuton asked Riley to stop and stepped in front of his car in the road, Riley whipped out an automatic and fired through the windshield of his car at Tuton. The other officers had surrounded the car and they shot Riley three times causing his instant death. Riley's body was taken to Mangum by the officers and his relatives secured the remains late Tuesday night bringing them to Erick for burial. The feeling in Erick and all over the county, even in Mangum, where Riley was respected and well known for years, was running high. County officials are busy on the details of the case and a thorough investigation will be made. Mr. Riley was an old resident of Beckham County, at one time commission of the third district, and he is supposed to have been wealthy, owning several big farms, ranches and some city property. He was held in high esteem by all who knew him. He leaves many relatives, including several brothers, wife and children. Sheriff Cope and County Attorney Speed claim the shooting was in Beckham County, about one mile this side of the Greer County line. --------------------------------------------------- Return to Beckham County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/beckham/beckham.html