The reason I'm looking for newspaper articles in the McGee Newspapers is two-fold. I was told not long ago, that my Granny, Myrtle Jane Calton Cantwell, wrote articles for the paper when she was in her teens. The year would be around 1910. I am interested in finding some of these articles. I have heard many of the stories that are mentioned in the papers you have on your site, while being rocked on Grannies lap! I had no idea they were from articles in the newspapers, until I found your web-site. The other reason I am so interested in the newspapers in 1905 and 1906 is curiosity and a sense of justice lost. I have heard the following story, since I was a little girl. My Great-granny, Molly Griffin Calton, my Granny Myrtle and my Mother, Mary Irene Cantwell Thompson, all mentioned it at one time or another. I even sat in on conversations between these people, about many of the events in McGee and Stratford. The following is a compilation of newspaper articles and family conversations about the shooting of Z.Y. (Yoke) Griffin and his brother, Fred.
By all accounts, Dr. Norris should have been locked up but I couldn't find where that ever happened. Norris paid the bond of $10,000 and the trail stopped there. In those days, that was a huge chunk of change. I found out that court records from Indian Territory were stored in several Federal Archives. The records from this section were stored in Fort Worth, TX. I talked with an historian there who told me that there was quite a bit of lawlessness in Indian Territory and it included the justice system. Courts varied on solutions to crimes. She checked the court dates I gave her without success. Many of the dockets aren't indexed and the facilities don't have the manpower to search each book.
The first newspaper account I could find was from the Pauls Valley Enterprise and Valley News, Pauls Valley, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, dated Thurs., June 8, 1905.
KILLING AT McGEE
Z.Y. GRIFFIN DIES FROM PISTOL SHOT FIRED BY DR. J.N. NORRIS, FRED GRIFFIN WOUNDED
"McGee was the scene Wednesday afternoon of a difficulty between Dr. J.N. Norris on one hand, and Z.Y. Griffin and his brother Fred on the other, which resulted in the death of Z.Y. Griffin and the wounding of Fred.
The trouble was the result of a former difficulty between Dr. J.N. Norris and Fred Griffin. The direct cause, so we are informed, was of a very trivial nature.
It is claimed by Dr. Norris' friends that his wife was insulted about a year ago by Fred Griffin and that they had not spoken from that time until the fatal encounter occurred. It is claimed that about the time the quarrel began that Griffin started toward Norris with a drawn knife and that the latter drew a pistol and fired. The former turned to run and received a wound in the shoulder. At this juncture a brother, Z. Y. Griffin appeared on the scene, and Norris turned to him and emptied his pistol, after which they came together hand to hand. They were soon separated and it was found that Griffin was fatally wounded. He lingered to this morning, when he died.
All parties concerned are well respected, Dr. Norris being engaged in the drug business, while Mr. Griffin is of the firm Z.Y. Griffin and Co., dealers in general merchandise."
FRED GRIFFIN 1935
The next day, The Byars Banner, Byars, Indian Territory, Friday, June 9, 1905 gave this account:
SHOOTING AFFRAY AT McGEE
"A shooting affray took place Wednesday at the little town of McGee, 7 miles south east of here in which Fred and Z.Y. Griffin, brothers, were shot the latter was killed. Dr. J.N. Norris did the shooting. The difficulty arose over trouble of long standing. Dr. Norris passed through here Wednesday accompanied by officers en-route to Pauls Valley where he will have an examining trial Sat. Dr. Norris is a Druggist of McGee, and the Griffin brothers have been conducting a mercantile business at that place. Both parties are prominently connected and are widely known throughout the country."
A follow up story of the shoot out appeared in the Pauls Valley Sentinel Newspaper, Pauls Valley, Indian Territory, dated Thurs., June 15, 1905:
"On Wednesday, June 7th, Dr. J. N. Norris shot and killed Z. Y. Griffin and seriously wounded a brother, Fred Griffin, at McGee. The shooting took place at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon in front of the Griffin store. Norris, who had disliked Fred Griffin, the younger brother, trampled on his foot presumably to raise a row. Griffin went on away and was followed by Norris. A short time later they again met and Griffin asked Norris why he had stepped on his foot. Norris immediately drew his pistol and began firing on Griffin, who ran. The second shot fired by Norris struck Griffin as he was running and dodging out of the way behind a corner of the house. This bullet struck the shoulder blade, and glanced upwards and lodged in the right side of Griffin's neck. About this time, Z. Y., who was standing near, made a leap at Norris to get his pistol. Norris leaped backward and began shooting at Z. Y. Three shots were fired at him, only one of which took effect. This struck him in the abdomen inflicting a fatal injury from which death soon resulted. The wounded man struggled fiercely for his life and after the fatal shot had entered his abdomen, he struck at Norris with his fist, as he was wholly unarmed. Norris, having exhausted the five shots in his pistol, began pounding Z. Y. over the head with the butt of the weapon. In his death agony, Z. Y. clutched the hand of Norris, breaking one or two of the bones and bystanders had to release his hand with great effort. Norris was placed in jail and after the preliminary trial, was released on a ten-thousand dollar bond."
On the same day, The Pauls Valley Enterprise, Pauls Valley, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, Thurs. June 15, 1905 wrote:
EXAMINING TRIAL OF DR. NORRIS
"The examining trial of Dr. J.N. Norris for the killing of Z.Y. Griffin and wounding Fred Griffin at McGee Wednesday afternoon, was held in the District Court room Saturday afternoon before Judge Pfeiffer. The Government was represented by Albert Reusiel and the defense by Mowan Pruitt and H. Furman. Quite a large number of witnesses were examined by the Government, but none for the defense. At the conclusion of the trial, the defendant was bound over to appear before the grand jury in the sum of $10,000 which he readily gave."
I have a copy of the obituary but the bottom line is torn off from age. It was written by the preacher at the Church of Christ where the family worshiped. It says:
IN MEMORY OF Z.Y. GRIFFIN OF McGEE, I.T. WHO DIED JUNE 8, 1905
Z.Y. Griffin was born in Christian County Missouri, August 15, 1866. He has been a citizen of McGee for twelve years, doing business in the town, making for himself many true and loving friends. The wife and little children, the father, brother, sisters and relatives which are bereaved, feel as in losing him they have lost all in this life they love most dear. While they mourn they should remember their beloved Yoke has gone on and is waiting to clasp glad hands where sorrow is unknown. He was a member of the Church of Christ of McGee, having gone into the church when young and according to God's Holy Word, "If we sin we have an advocate with Jesus Christ the Son." We feel sure, if we try, we shall one day be reunited with our brother. Then let us while we must, live without him here, strive to meet him in the life beyond. While the tragic death he met, is hard to fear we have the blessed knowledge that he is -----------------------innocent and much-----------------------. W. Goodwin
I have heard my Granny, Myrtle, talk about the shooting and my Mom told me of visiting with Uncle Fred. She said the bullet he took, stayed in his neck until he died because it was too close to his jugular vein to be removed. Fred and Z.Y. were brothers of my Great-granny. She said Z.Y. tried to stop Dr. Norris from killing Fred. She said prior to the shooting a friend of Norris' came to Z.Y. and asked if he could borrow his gun. This may have been an unrelated incident or an assurance that Z.Y. would be unarmed when the shooting took place. Also, assuming the Dr. acted in self-defense, that could justify shooting Fred but emptying the gun on Z.Y. and then beating him with the butt of the gun, pushes my understanding of "self-defense" to the limit.
When Z.Y. died, he left a pregnant wife, Mattie Wadlow Griffin, and six small children. Mattie was so distraught she began labor prematurely and she and the baby died during childbirth in October, leaving six orphans. My Great-great-grandpaw, C.L. Griffin, became guardian of the children.
No one knows why Norris stayed a free man. My Mom said that Great-great-grandpaw Griffin told everyone there had been enough killing and talking and he believed in "forgive and forget". He was a pretty influential man and had been Justice of the Peace. Of course in this day and age, the courts will prosecute whether the victims want to or not.
It could be that Great-great-grandpaw refused to prosecute and the courts, being in turmoil from impending statehood, decided to let the $10,000 stand as punishment. I'd like to find out what the court ruled on the matter. It would close that chapter of the family history once and for all.
Submitted by: Inis Faye Thompson Bloomster (UniquePro5@aol.com)
All pictures on this page including original drawings,(except picture of Dr. Norris) are COPYRIGHT 2001 Inis Faye Thompson Bloomster.