Shooting of William Jennings Bryan Mccullough - Kiowa County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Irma M. Ewy 13 Jan 2001 ==================================================================== NEWS ITEM: SHOOTING HEARING TO BE CONDUCTED HERE NEXT FRIDAY Murder Charge Filed Against Chief Of Police Today: Chief of police Doss Kutch will face a charge of murder in preliminary hearing Friday morning in connection with the fatal shooting of W. J. Bryan McCullough on Main Street here shortly before last midnight. Justice of Peace T. P. Shaddock will conduct the hearing in the courtroom at 10 o'clock, he announced this morning following the officer's plea of not guilty. He was placed under $5,000 bond. McCullough was shot three times, two of the bullets taking effect. They entered his right side and penetrated his body, emerging at the left side of his back. The other glanced off a rib on his left side. Funeral services for McCullough will be conducted from the Gish Chapel at 2;30 tomorrow afternoon with Rev. H. L. Janes, First Baptist pastor, in charge. He will be buried in Lone Wolf Cemetery. Companion Held: Kutch told County Attorney Paul Cunningham, whom he called immediately after the shooting, that McCullough hit at him and then reached for his pocket. He said he believed the man was reaching for a weapon. McCullough had no gun, officials said. They said the only weapon he had in his pocket was a knife. Rex Newsome, McCullough's companion, was in the county jail today. Cunningham said drunkeness charges will be filed against him. According to Kutch's version of the incident, he was in the Bon Ton cafe shortly after 11 o'clock. The two men were there. He said he suspected they had been drinking and when they left the cafe and started north, he walked between them and took them each by the arm saying: "Let's take a walk. I didn't know then whether I would arrest them or not," Kutch said. "I considered taking them home. Then the man swung at me and reached for his pocket." System Explained: He then called Cunningham, who said he arrived at the scene three minutes later. "The shooting occured about 11:30," Cunningham said, "and 12 minutes later the wounded man was on the operating table in the local hospital." He died at 12:15. Kutch recalled it was the first time he had fired his gun at a man since he has been an officer - seven years. Cunningham explained the filing of a murder charge is the custom employed here rather than a coroner's inquest in such cases. "An open hearing will protect all interests." Cunningham said, "the officer's as well as the slain man and his family. Our interest is to present all facts to the court. If the officer was justified or if he was not will be learned in the public hearing. If he was not justified, he will be prosecuted. If he was, the case will be closed." McCullough was born near Lancaster, Missouri, June 27, 1896. He came with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. McCullough, four brothers, Ottis S., Alfred Harold, Nova C., and Clyde C. and three sisters, Mrs. Mary E. Hudson, Miss Winnie J. McCullough and Mrs. Bertha B. Ewy to Kiowa County in 1902. He had lived here since except for 11 months in the army during the world war.