Beckham County, OK - Deaths: John H. Russelll, 1908
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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RUSSELL, JOHN H.
(2 Jan 1908, Thursday, Elk City Democrat, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
Shooting on Timber Creek
One Dead, One Wounded - Herman Sheller Kills John H. Russell
A shooting took place at a dance at Herman Sheller's home Wednesday night.
 The best information we can gather just before going to press is; John H.
Russell and Herman Sheller married sisters.  A dance was held at Sheller's
home, some trouble started on the outside and Sheller went out to suppress
it.  It was said that Russell and him got mixed up and that Russell shot
Sheller through the hips, Sheller then shot Russell through the body.
Russell died Thursday morning, but Sheller is still alive.
They were old settlers of the country and both men were well thought of.
(8 Jan 1908, Wednesday, Elk City Record, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
John Russel (sic) who lived about half way between Sayre and Berlin, was
shot and killed Wednesday night by his brother-in-law Schiller, at the
latters home between Doxey and Berlin.  There had been a wedding recently
at the Schiller home and a dance was in progress.  Russell made trouble
and when Schiller tried to quiet him he drew a shot gun and shot Schiller
through the leg.  According to reports, Schiller then went into the house
and got a shotgun and returned shooting Russell through the side.  Russell
finished emptying his gun after he was shot by Schiller but did not hit
him again.  Schiller is not dangerously hurt.
Whiskey, as usual, was the cause of the trouble, Russell having probably
laid in a supply before the prohibition law took effect.  He was a hard
drinker and quarelsome (sic) when drunk.
Both men had families.

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