Beckham Co. OK, Robert Manning murdered, 1929
Submitted by Paulyne Taylor pingtiger@arn.net
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ROBERT MANNING MURDERED
September 28 1929
Robert Manning living Northeast of Erick, and Sterling Caudle, Sayre were
murdered about one o:clock Sunday morning less than twenty miles apart, while
they were attending dances.
Manning had gone to the dance hall located one mile West of Lone Oak Church,
where he with others of his friends had been enjoying a dance.
Mannings brother and a man by the name of Adams, a farmer living one half mile
of the Poky Corner store has a misunderstanding, and a fight followed. Manning
hearing about the fight got out of his car and started toward the boys to
separate them or to stop the fight in some way. Martin saw Manning start
toward the fighters and decided to stop him, according to Lewis Hollis
deputy sheriff.
Several onlookers, said that Martin watched for Manning and as he started
around the back of his car Martin stabbed him. Adam and Martin were
living together prior to the murder. Martin seemed anxious that Manning
would not reach the fighters. Those present at the time of the murder
said that Martin ran as soon as he had inflicted the wound. Manning lived
a very few minutes. The wound was inflicted with a double edged knife.The
wound was inflicted within his shoulder blade and entered Mannings body on
the right side of his chest, leaving a wound about an in inch in length.
Soon after the murder Mannings body was brought to Sayre by Littrell-
Moores ambulance.
Manning lived on a farm Northeast of Erick.
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MANNING
FUNERAL WILL BE MONDAY September 29 1929
Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 2:30 at Deli. Martin is being
held in the county jail to await trial .His home is one half a mile from Poky
Corner store.
NOTE:
Those attending the dance that night along with Robert and his brother were
Roberts wife Edith, her parents Martin Jerome and Maggie Sechrist from
Sayre. Not in the same group but also at the dance that night was William
Paul Rutherford who was to become my father a few years later. Robert and
Edith had been married one month when he was killed. Edith was my mother.
I have heard this story many times in my life. My grandfather, mother, and
grandmother were in the car going through a gate when someone yelled at
Robert that his brother was in a fight. Jerome Sechrist and Robert got out
of the car. Jerome said it happened so fast. He kneeled down where Robert
had fallen and he said Roberts last words were Jerome he has cut me to the
bone.
My dad Paul Rutherford lived at New Liberty at this time. I am sure Dimp
Roberson was also with dad. Marlene and I both seems some legacy should be
left for anyone who has been here and gone. I am sure Robert was 21 or
younger. All we can say now is Robert Rest in Peace, you are remembered.
Nineth Month 29th day year 1929
MARTIN TRIAL
Sayre Oklahoma
November 11 1929
The trial of Isaac Martin CHARGED WITH MURDERING Robert Manning during a brawl
at a dance fifteen miles Northwest of Sayre on the night of September 28 1929
is arraigned to appear in district court on November in the coming session.
Melrose ______ A noted Beckham county criminal attorney will defend Martin.
Eleven state defense witnesss who were subpoened to aid in the prosecution of
Martin by county attorney H---ter, many of the witnesss are said to have been
eye witnesss to the murder.
Details of the fatal happening according to investigation, are that Robert
Mannings brother, who was with him at the dance engaged in a fight, and
when he attempted to go to the fight Martin interfered and stabbed Robert
with a double-edged knife.
Following the stabbing Robert Manning lived only a short while. Martin was
said to have made a get-away. He was arrested later when county officials
found him at home apparently asleep.
.
I really know little of Robert except he is buried at Deli where I believe his
grandparents and maybe his parents are buried. Thanks to MARLENE BLAKE for
digging these old obits out. My mother told me when she married Robert she
was 17 she was born in 1911 Greer County. Roberts mother gave them
housekeeping supplys and some farm animals.
She met Frank Hale in January 1930 and married him sometime in the summer of
1930. Frank died in Septemeber 1930 of typhoid fever, they were living at Borger
Texas. Frank is buried in an unmarked grave at Texola. In January 1931 Edith
married Paul Rutherford.
Dad said in the following September he got sick and he though Edith was a witch
who was killing her husbands. Moma had no children by either of the 1st two
husbands.