Cherokee County, from The Advocate, 2/06/1898
Cherokee Co. OK Archives 
Copyright c 2003 by: Mollie Stehno, e-mail: shoop@orcacom.net
This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Cherokee Co. OK Archives. 
************************************************************************
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE:  These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in
any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons.  
Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the 
written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the 
submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. 
The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file 
permanently for free access.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/cherokee/cherokee.html
http://www.usgwarchives.net
***********************************************************************
BATTLE WITH OUTLAWS
A Fight Between Deputy Marshals and the "Miller Gang"

February 5, 1898-The Cherokee Advocate-Claremore, I. T., Jan. 27-A special to 
the Fort Smith News Record says:  Information reached here this morning of a 
shooting at Inola, ten miles from here, in which two deputy marshals, Gabe Beck 
and "Hez" Bussey were shot and probably mortally wounded.  It is not known at 
this time whether or not these two men are dead.
	   	Beck and Bussey, who ride for the Muskogee court, with headquarters 
at Claremore, had been planning for some time to capture the gang of outlaws, of 
which one Bill Miller is reported to be the leader.  Last night there was a big 
dance at Inola, at which it was known the desperadoes would be present.  "Hez" 
Bussey and Beck were on the scene, but the fact that the outlaws became apprised 
of the plan and succeeded in capturing and disarming Bussey, delayed the scheme 
to close in on the bandits.  The latter would have killed Bussey but the 
intervention of Miller.  When released last night Miller started out for 
reinforcements and secured them.  This morning he and Beck at the head of a 
posse, closed in around the house of Bill Critten, at Inola, where the outlaws 
were quartered.  Firing was opened by the deputies and returned by the outlaws 
with telling effect.  Beck and Bussey both tumbled to the ground, on which they 
were half reclining before the battle opened.  Both men were badly wounded, and 
it is possible that one or both are dead at this writing.  In the meantime the 
outlaws are at large, although Marshal Bennett at Muskogee has been apprised and 
reinforcements are already on the way.
	  	 The shooting occurred first as the Valley train, bound for Fort 
Smith, in charge of Conductor P. J. McNamara, was at the depot-the deputies, in 
fact, having come down from Claremore on his train.  As the firing was going on 
McNamara's tawny whiskers quivered with the excitement of the occasion.  I 
reminded him of the days of Cook and Cherokee Bill gangs, when, with a six-
shooter in each boot and two bowie-knives under his coattails, he used to pull 
his train through the Indian Territory, dodging bullets at every station.  
McNamara told the engineer to hurry up, and the train pulled out.  Mac is a 
great believer in running on schedule time Passengers were badly scared.
	  	 Bud Weldon got on at Fort Gibson and it is rumored, promptly 
tendered a box of his Elevator cigars with which to exterminate the bandits.
     It is suggested that if the outlaws can be trapped into smoking them, their 
death will speedily follow.  Beck was an appointee of Marshal Rutherford and a 
brave man.  At one time he rode for ex Marshal McAlester.  Bussey is also a 
fearless deputy and was with George Lawson when "Dynamite Dick" was killed.
	 	 "One story is that Miller, whose parents are said to live in Fort 
Smith, is not really the head of this gang of outlaws, but is acting as a 
"decoy" to assist the authorities to capture the band.