McCurtain Co. OK - OBIT: Jesse Colbert Submitted by: Sandie Welch sandiewe@verizon.net Return to McCurtain County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/mccurtain/mccurtai.htm ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== McCurtain County Local Newspaper: NO 14 Sep 2008 THE COURT HOUSE CORRIDORS SHOW BUT LITTLE LIFE _______________ JESSE JAMES BROUGHT IN SUNDAY AND LODGED IN JAIL FOR MURDER. _______________ (From McCurtain Gazette) Sunday morning the phone in Sheriff Jones' office rang nervously. It rang again, and when the officer took down the receiver, he heard an Indian's voice at the other end. The voice was insistent, but indicated excitement, so far as an Indian can become excited. Calling for the sheriff, the Indian in a plain, matter of fact manner, made his wants known. "Is this Sheriff Jones?" queried the man. "This Eagletown; come over right now, man dead." That was all the information the sheriff received, but he left for Eagletown soon after and upon his arrival there took in charge Jesse James, a Choctaw who was charged by other Indians over there with stabbing Jesse Colbert to death with a dirk knife in a drunken melee Saturday night. From information given the reporter it appears that James, Colbert, and other Choctaws were having a time of it, with whiskey flowing freely. Trouble arose between James and Colbert, resulting in Colbert's death at the hands of James, it is said. James was brought over from Eagletown Sunday evening and lodged in jail. No preliminary has been set. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. The killing of Jesse Colbert by Jesse James Saturday night occurred at the home of Colbert, near Eagletown, in the presence of a number of Indian Women and boys. James it is said, was very drunk, as was Colbert. James attacked Colbert with a long dirk knife, the blade reaching through his neck, inflicting a fatal wound. Sheriff Jones and L.E. Mifflin, county attorney went out to Eagletown Sunday morning and investigated the affair. When Jesse James was arrested and questioned by the sheriff and county attorney, he denied that he was responsible for Colbert's death. He also denied any knowledge of the affair. He is now in jail. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to McCurtain County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/mccurtain/mccurtai.htm