News article: John A. Hunt, Deputy U.S. Marshal - Pittsburg County, Oklahoma Submitted by: William A. Hunt 19 Nov 2006 Return to Pittsburg County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/pittsburg/pittsburg.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== South McAlester Weekly Capital, Thursday, July 16, 1903 "Man And Woman Wounded! Man And Woman Under Arrest. "Bloody Fight Between Two Families at Hartshorne. "Fight Between Women Caused Their Husbands to Start a Duel. "As a result of a general family fight at Hartshorne last evening, George Hart is under arrest, charged with shooting W. C. Cole, and Mrs. W. C. Cole is a prisoner charged with fatally wounding Mrs. George Hart. "The Cole and Hart families are neighbors in Hartshorne. The men work in the same coal mine and the two women have been the most intimate of friends until recently. "The story of the affair, as told by Deputy U. S. Marshal John Hunt of Hartshorne, is as follows: "The two women have been very intimate, and it is alleged that they have kept company with men other than their husbands. As women will, the two fell out over something and became the bitterest enemies. "Cole heard on the street that his wife's name was being used in connection with other men and he at once went to his better half for a settlement. The couple finally concluded to separate. "Hart in turn heard the stories in circulation about his wife, and when he asked Mrs. Hart about it she denied all charges. It is claimed that Mrs. Cole talked considerably, and Mrs. Hart and even gave the names of the men she implicated. "Hart heard the rumors and going to the men secured from them affidavits that Mrs. Hart had never acted improperly and that the allegations of Mrs. Cole were false. "Yesterday about 11 a.m. Hart went to Deputy Hunt and told him the whole story, asking advice, saying that he was preparing to prosecute Mrs. Cole for slander. "Hunt told him he was no lawyer and that the best way to settle the matter was to secure advice from Commissioner Allen Wright of South McAlester. Hart left saying that he would telephone the Commissioner. Deputy Hunt then heard no more of the case until last evening when the shooting occurred. "From witnesses of the battle the following details are derived: "It was about 7:30 p.m. when the two women met in Cole's yard on East Pennsylvania avenue in Hartshorne. Words passed and a fight ensued in which the women clinched and fell to the ground. Mrs. Cole pulled a revolver while they were still on the ground, and fired twice. One shot took effect in Mrs. Hart's side near the hip and passed almost through the body. "Cole was in the yard when the fight started and when the shooting occurred Hart, who was in the house, ran out, pistol in hand, and came toward Cole. Cole then took the pistol away from his wife and the two men opened fire at each other. The range was very close. Some eight shots were exchanged. "When the smoke cleared Cole was found on the ground shot through the body and in one hand. Cole's pistol was found after the shooting and all of the chambers were empty. Hart was not hit. After the shooting Mrs. Cole ran to the neighbors where she was found by Deputy Hunt, who arrived soon after the shooting. "Hart was arrested when assisting his injured wife into the house. The prisoners and their wounded were guarded last night and this morning brought here [McAlester]. "The wounded were take to All Saints Hospital, accompanied by the two prisoners who remained at the hospital several hours before being brought before Commissioner Wright." -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Pittsburg County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/pittsburg/pittsburg.htm