Eighteen year old Leon Siler was released from the State Penitentiary on March 15, 1935; and Charles Sands, age 17, was released on May 25th. They soon hooked up with Ray Traxler, aliased Pete Traxler, the 25 year old son of a Caddo County farmer, and a hardened criminal having served terms at Granite Reformatory, Renfro, and the Leavenworth, and Atlanta Federal Penitentiaries. On the 27th of May, the trio killed Pauls Valley police officer George Loper and on May 31st, Siler, Sands, Ruby Herring, and Phyllis Siler, Leo's 15 year old, pregnant wife, robbed the Elgin Bank and then in a gun fight killed James E. (Pete) Wilson and A. J. Medrano, a farmer in whose house they had taken refuge. Several others were wounded. Meanwhile, Traxler was busy stealing cars, but was soon caught and jailed. Siler and Sands were later executed for the Wilson killing, but Garvin County was never able to punish Traxler, who, over the next 18 months escaped twice from the Garvin County jail and evaded officers on numerous occasions in Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas. Traxler was finally apprehended in a Canadian, Texas shootout and sent to prison for 99 years. In months, he escaped and was captured 13 days later in Bryan County, Oklahoma after being shot by two hostages he and another man had taken. Anyway, the dude was a holy terror, one I've just become aware of. Has anyone done a work on him? Book? Article?

Mike,

If you have internet access to the Daily Oklahoman Electronic Archives (an Index to their newspapers between 1900-present), you will find that Ray "Pete" Traxler's name appears over 250 times betweeen 1930-1960. Some very good articles about this outlaw, who was called by one reporter "Too Tough To Die"!

I've found him mentioned in several articles in Startling Detective magazine (Oct. 1937 pp.32-33; Nov. 1937 pp.30-33,76-79,81); and, True Detective (Feb. 1936 p.60 - Mugshot; Oct. 1936 p.68; Dec. 1936 p.71 - photo of lawmen standing beside his getaway car and confiscated arsenal; Nov. 1937 pp.32-33); and, Real Detective (Feb. 1938 p.59).

Glenn Shirley wrote an excellent 10 page article (pp.51-58) about Traxler in Oklahoma State Trooper magazine in the Spring of 1991. It was entitled "Oklahoma's Craziest Manhunt".

In Ron Owens' great book, "Oklahoma Heroes", he describes the killing of Pauls Valley Officer George Loper by Siler/Sands/Traxler on page 134, and the killing of Grady County Deputy Sheriff James E. Wilson on page 215.

You can find a Traxler appeal case on the Oklahoma Criminal Court Of Appeals (OCCA) website, listed as Traxler v. State (96OKCR231), which was decided in Dec. 1952.

After Traxler was paroled from prison, he lived in Anadarko, Oklahoma, and worked as a plumber from 1952 to the late 1960's. He died in a Lawton (OK) nursing home on December 7, 1970. His death certificate is #23794 from Comanche County, Oklahoma. (Well, I guess he wasn't exactly "too tough to die" after all!)

Exactly what I was looking for. Trying to put together a program for the local historical society. I've been surfing through the Oklahoman files and have also found about 20 references to the dude in the Pauls Valley Democrat. Since, in that crazy manhunt you say Shirley wrote about, Traxler and friends traversed the state, south to north and west to east, I'd bet there's a heck of lot in other state papers.
As near as I can determine, the only real link to Traxler and the Loper murder came from an alleged statement by Leon Siler that he was the wheel man. The Garvin County Attorney wanted to try him for the Loper murder but was unable to conclusively tie him to the crime. While the DA was trying to get his case together, Traxler escaped from the county jail--twice, and that was when it was atop the court house with a single access door. Then, another Garvin County Attorney tried to try him for robbery with firearms which carried the death penalty then and lost him to Texas. The same office tried to charge him with multiple auto thefts. Shoot, when he was shot by one of his hostages and dang near killed, he had already been shot at least once, and had charges pending in Texas, Stephens, Grady, Caddo, Hughes, Garvin, McClain, Pontotoc, Marshall and Bryan Counties of Oklahoma and had single handedly advanced the science of police manhunts though constant practice in the use of ground and air search teams. I'm just surprised there's not a book out there.

Traxler also ran for a time with another noted Southwestern bandit named Irving Charles Chapman, according to Anthony Gish in American Bandits. There's a neat article on Traxler by the son of a sheriff who shot him at www.stancrump.com/tarbox/

Thanks, This story just keeps getting longer. I noted with interest that Nell, Traxler's moll, was known as Nell Watson in Ellis County. I have another source listing her as Nell Tigley in Verden, Oklahoma and another that says he was definitely Mrs. Traxler. Another point of interest is that Traxler's obit says he was a plumber in Lawton, Oklahoma from 1952 until his death in 1970. The description of the capture near Canadian, Texas clears up a lot of misinformation in other newspapers and the description of the vests (OKC papers only mention one) was exceptional. And, the info on the Babitzke robbery...outstanding. Thanks again for posting this.

Because the above link talks about Traxler's move to Denton Texas and has some confusing information regarding other crimes and prison time, I thought the following might help. The link also talks of a 1950's gun fight I can find no information on. I doubt it happened because there hardly seems time.
Traxler was returned to the Texas Pen in 1937. Some time later a move was made to try him on additional charges in Walker County. Traxler obtained a change of venue to Fayette County, Texas and he was moved there. That county, however, declined to try him and he was returned to Walker County rather than back to the pen but was never brought to trial in that county. Meanwhile, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in December, 1944, upon hearing a writ of habeas corpus ordered prison officials to return him to Lipscomb County for new trial. But, the Texas Prison system could not respond to the order of the Court because they did not have jurisdiction or custody as Traxler was still whittling away the time in the Walker County jail. And, even though Lipscomb County had been given jurisdiction, they never made an effort to go after Traxler. In August, 1946, Walker County got tired of the whole thing, dismissed their charges and told Traxler to go away. So, because of the ineptitudes of the judicial and penal system, Traxler became a free man and soon found employment as a plumber in Denton, Texas.
All this time, Oklahoma thought they had a "hold order" on Traxler, meaning they were to be notified immediately if he were to be released so they could begin actions necessary to return him for legal action in that State. But, Oklahoma was never told Traxler was walking the streets, instead it was a tip that Pete had been seen in Chickasha, Oklahoma which alerted Chief State Investigator Ivan Kennedy, and he swiftly noticed the interested parties. On August 12, 1946, Bryan County officials filed a new complaint of robbery by firearms identical to the one filed July 21, 1937, including a request for the death penalty. Denton officials were notified of the new warrant, and they started a search for Traxler. Sheriff Roy Moore and two deputies spotted Pete driving a coupe and after a brief pursuit nabbed him. The Governor of Texas granted a requisition on October 15, and on the 18th, Traxler was delivered by Sheriff Moore to officers of Bryan County, who then brought Pete into Oklahoma. The defendant was granted a change of venue on November 6, and the case was transferred to the justice court of C.A. Woodward, where a preliminary examination was scheduled for December 5. At that hearing, Pete was bound over to the district court of Bryan County. Traxler was first tried on the 14th day of April, 1947, but the jury being unable to agree, a mistrial was declared and Traxler was freed on bond. The case was next tried on December 18, 1950 and a jury found Traxler guilty. On January 10, 1951 the court gave Traxler a five year prison term. Pete appealed the conviction rather than risk a new trial because of the request for the death penalty the jury ignored. His appeal was based in large part on intent, with Pete saying he was "borrowing" the Trimmer car and that it was happenstance the loan was a gun point. On January 7, 1953, the Oklahoma Supreme Court affirmed the lower court quoting the "Animus furandi" concept, a Latin phrase that is generally translated as intent to steal, a criminal intent, or intent to feloniously deprive the owner permanently of his property. The court, then tongue in cheek, held that in the instant case the robbery was at the point of a gun; defendant was being pursued by officers, the victim was forced to accompany the robbers and his pleas to be released were unavailing. The court further found Trimmer was told that "dead men tell no tales," indicating that the victim and his car were to be used to the ultimate in effort to elude capture. It is, furthermore, reasonable to assume, said the court, that even if abandonment should take place only a few miles distant, and that because the defendant might have used other cars along the route of escape without destroying them, such would not mean that he would not by the very force of circumstances involved, be the causative factor in the destruction of this vehicle. Such theory of temporarily taking by the most causal analysis, the court decreed, was used to reduce "ad absurdum" Traxler's attempt to mitigate criminal motivation did not withstand the test.
During the five year interval between his release from the Texas penal system and the last appeal for his Oklahoma conviction, Pete had been working for as a plumber's helper for a firm in Wharton, Texas and had not been involved in any crime. Pete, now 45, learned of the latest decision when he returned after a late call to the plumbing office on January 8, 1953. Pete immediately screamed "foul play," alleging he was being sent back to prison because he didn't pay off a certain lawyer and politician. Bitterly, Pete complained, "It seems that when a fellow straightens up, there are some who just don't want him to stay straight." Then, using the same tactic which won him freedom in Texas, Pete asked the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals for a rehearing on the matter. But, this time, his request was denied and the High Court ordered his imprisonment.
On June 12, 1955, the Oklahoma City, Daily Oklahoman newspaper announced that Roy "Pete" Traxler, notorious Texas and Oklahoma gunman of the late 1930's walked out of McAlester penitentiary a free man. Waving aside photographers, Pete told reporters, "I don't intend to come back. You won't see me again; I've turned over a new leaf." When asked of his plans, Traxler said he intended to visit his mother in Chickasha and then return to Denton, Texas where he had been offered a job as a plumber. Pete was true to his word and nothing more was heard from the old outlaw. According to his obituary, Traxler lived in Anadarko where he had worked as plumber from 1952 to the late 1960's. On December 7, 1970, the outlaw to tough to be killed by a bullet died at the age 63 in a Lawton nursing home from complications arising from alcoholism contributing to cirrhosis and heart disease.

For the most "definitive" story about Roy "Pete" Traxler and his wild escapades, one need not look any further than:

"Too Tough To Die - The Story of Pete Traxler - Southwest's Number One Bad Boy" by Mike Tower.

(Source: Oklahombres Journal - Special Edition - Spring 2008 {Vol. 19 No. 3 pp.25-37})

GREAT JOB, MIKE ! ! !

After reviewing the story's here I failed to see the story done by "TIME' magazine about the capture of Traxler and the death of Tindol. My Grandfather was the man responsible for Tindol's death. The story printed by "The Oklahoman" and in "Time" Magazine was very specific of who the men were that were kidnapped by Traxler and Tindol.
James Denton is the man's name.

Traxler-Denton.txt (4 KB, 190 downloads) Traxler/Tindol-Denton

quote:

Originally posted by Tower:
Eighteen year old Leon Siler was released from the State Penitentiary on March 15, 1935; and Charles Sands, age 17, was released on May 25th. They soon hooked up with Ray Traxler, aliased Pete Traxler, the 25 year old son of a Caddo County farmer, and a hardened criminal having served terms at Granite Reformatory, Renfro, and the Leavenworth, and Atlanta Federal Penitentiaries. On the 27th of May, the trio killed Pauls Valley police officer George Loper and on May 31st, Siler, Sands, Ruby Herring, and Phyllis Siler, Leo's 15 year old, pregnant wife, robbed the Elgin Bank and then in a gun fight killed James E. (Pete) Wilson and A. J. Medrano, a farmer in whose house they had taken refuge. Several others were wounded. Meanwhile, Traxler was busy stealing cars, but was soon caught and jailed. Siler and Sands were later executed for the Wilson killing, but Garvin County was never able to punish Traxler, who, over the next 18 months escaped twice from the Garvin County jail and evaded officers on numerous occasions in Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas. Traxler was finally apprehended in a Canadian, Texas shootout and sent to prison for 99 years. In months, he escaped and was captured 13 days later in Bryan County, Oklahoma after being shot by two hostages he and another man had taken. Anyway, the dude was a holy terror, one I've just become aware of. Has anyone done a work on him? Book? Article?

The 2 men 'kidnapped' by Traxler & Tindol were Fred Trimmer and James Denton (my grandfather). One of the stories I have heard is that James Denton was the 'technical advisor' for the radio program "Gangbuster" that aired a story in 1937. Pete Traxler's name was used in the Title. I have failed in my attempts to obtain a copy of that program. Rich Denton

Traxler-Denton.txt (3 KB, 391 downloads) "Time" magazine story.

quote:

Originally posted by oldwest:
For the most "definitive" story about Roy "Pete" Traxler and his wild escapades, one need not look any further than:

"Too Tough To Die - The Story of Pete Traxler - Southwest's Number One Bad Boy" by Mike Tower.

(Source: Oklahombres Journal - Special Edition - Spring 2008 {Vol. 19 No. 3 pp.25-37})

GREAT JOB, MIKE ! ! !

BANDIT LIKELY TO RECOVER; PAL IS SLAIN
DURANT, July 21.---It appeared Wednesday night that Roy “Pete” Traxler, the desperado, would do what he swore he wouldn’t--return alive to the prison farm in Eastham, Texas, from which he escaped July 8. When the showdown came on Traxler’s two-week reign of terror it was beneath a big tree seven miles northwest of Boswell, Choctaw county. A thousand possemen were seeking Traxler and his companion, Fred Tindol, but it wasn’t before them that Traxler fell wounded and Tindol dead. The bad man were shot with their own weapons by two mild mannered men, an oil field pumper and a farmer, whom the fugitives had held captive since early morning. Tindol died and Traxler fell shot just above the heart because two good men came to an agreement with no communication except an occasional exchange of glances through the rear view mirror of a motor car.
Traxler Goes Down Begging. The hostages caught the criminals off guard a single moment. Their eyes spoke understanding. They took the foolhardy chance of grabbing revolvers from their captors and succeeded. They fired at once. Tindol died immediately. Traxler ended another episode in his crime career begging: “Don’t shoot again. I’ve got enough. I haven’t even got a gun.” A hearse hauled Tindol to a Hugo undertaking establishment. Negro farmers carried Traxler from the scene in a pickup truck, taking him as far as Boswell. From there he was taken to the Hugo Hospital, where Dr. Joe Devine said his chance for recovery was good. The story of Traxler’s bad day begins at 5 a.m. at Kingston, Marshall county. W.M. Denton, who was being visited by his son, James E. Denton, 44 years old, an oil well pumper from Asher, was asleep.
Scratching Awakens Men. He was awakened by someone scratching on the screen of his back door. Soon the scratching gave way to impatient rapping. The elder Denton went to the door. Two men pushed past him into the house. James E. Denton, who also had been roused, came from his bedroom in his night clothes. He is a medium sized man, mild mannered, with a touch of gray in his black hair. He takes up the story: “Fred had a rifle and Pete a revolver” he said. “’We’ve got to have a car to get out of here quick,’ Pete said. “I said I guessed they could have my car all right.” “’Where’s your keys?’ Pete said.
Traxler Gets Car Keys. “He followed me to the bedroom. I pulled on my pants and dug the keys out of my pocket and gave them to him. ‘I guess I’ll have to take you with us,’ Pete said. “There was nothing I could do so I went. Traxler was driving. I was in the middle and Tindol on the right. We went up and down all kinds of roads. I haven’t the least idea where we went. Several times we passed officers I knew by sight. “I guess the fact I was in the car threw them off guard. They didn’t try to stop us. We drove pretty fast. Finally we got onto a sandy mud road and slipped off it into a ditch. We couldn’t get my car out and didn’t even try. They pulled me out of the car and we walked through a little road in the woods until we came to a house.”
Another Man Made Captive. The ditch was near the home of Frank Trimmer, a farmer, living near Pleasant Hill, a community west of Boswell on U. S. Highway No. 70. Trimmer, 50 years old, a farmer and a fine specimen of a man, tall and rangy, slightly bald, was at his car in the yard. His wife, Mrs. Lottie Trimmer, who is a school teacher, was ??? him load the car in preparation ??? meeting at the school.

??? surprised to see three??? into the clearing in which ??? home of logs. ??? an automatic rifle.
??(several lines missing)??

swept Trimmer into the car. Trimmer thought he was in the hands of three criminals as the car pulled down the road. Traxler was at the wheel with Trimmer, the farmer, on his right. Tindol was on the right of the rear seat with Denton, the oil field worker. The car proved difficult to handle and Traxler obviously was tired. After a few miles over rough side roads he ordered Trimmer to drive, and took the seat on the right. They had driven but a few miles more when Denton saw Trimmer was watching him in the rear view mirror. “I blinked my eyes at him several times,” Denton said later, “and he winked back at me. We did it several more times during the morning and we understood one another. We said to each other plain as words that if we got a chance we would try to take them.” “When I saw him blink,”said Trimmer, “I understood for the first time why he had been so quiet. I realized he was in the same fix I was. I knew, too, somehow he was a fellow you could depend on.” “Both of the men,” Denton said, “appeared dog tired. “Finally Tindol said ‘Drive up there on the hill and park beneath that big tree’. “Trimmer drove up there and we tried to get some rest. Things happened pretty fast from when Trimmer winked at me, I grabbed Tyndol's gun and Trimmer grabbed Pete's gun and the shooting started. I shot at Tyndol twice. One hit him in the middle of his chest and the second shot evidently missed. Trimmer's shot hit Pete and he fell on the ground and lay there. Trimmer bent over him.” “My brother will get you for this,” said Traxler.
Then Traxler Begs.That was the last outburst of that fashion from the notorious man who wouldn’t “be taken alive.” In another moment Traxler was pleading: “Get me to a hospital. Don’t let me bleed to death.”
The hostages who had turned the tables didn’t know what to do. A few minutes later it was agreed that Denton should guard Traxler while Trimmer walked half a mile to a main road to get help. Soon Trimmer waved down Emery Jefferies, a rural mail carrier, who took to Boswell the first news that Traxler had come to the end of the trail.
Possemen Begin Arriving. Trimmer went back to the scene of the shooting and soon state highway patrolmen arrived. They soon were followed by scores of other officer. Two Negro farmers came along, agreed to take Traxler to Boswell. After preliminary probing for the bullet in his chest there, he was hurried to Hugo.
Traxler brightened as soon as he arrived at the hospital. Hundreds of townspeople swarmed the place as news of his arrival spread. Physicians found it impossible to examine him, so great was the press. Traxler, however, smiled and smoked a cigarette. He did not appear bitter, but rather relieved it all was over. “We hadn’t had anything to eat, “ he smiled, “except whisky for three days. All Tuesday night we were on the run afoot. It was hard work. Several times we almost ran into officers looking for us. We saw several of them and ducked down until they had passed. Traxler Ready to Quit. “We were just too tired to keep our eyes open. I went to sleep. When I came to it was too late to do anything. I tried to tell that guy he didn’t need to shoot me because I was all through. I knew it. I didn’t have a chance. But I just wasted my breath. He didn’t wait for me to say anything. He just shot. I fell out of the car to keep him from killing me.” Traxler’s description of the Tuesday night chase had reference to a posse hunt for him which began when Indian peace officers shot him out of a car belonging to his wife, Nell Traxler, when he ran into a dead end road near Aylesworth, Marshall county. Mrs. Traxler, who had cast her fortunes with her husband when he boldly went to her home in Verden Tuesday morning, was captured after fainting. Traxler and Tindol escaped then by fleeing on foot in the woods.
Chapman Goes On Own. Officers were surprised Tuesday to learn that Charlie Chapman, Arkansas business man turned bank robber, no longer was with Traxler. “Chapman quit me shortly after the kidnapping last Thursday,” Traxler said, “because I insisted on going back for Nell. He wouldn’t stand for that. Our break was peaceful. We just decided to call it quits.” Traxler in the hospital begged to be prosecuted in Oklahoma. “I would rather go to prison here,” he pleaded. “I would rather do anything than go back to Texas or to Arkansas.” However, machinery for Traxler’s return to Texas already had been set in motion. Texas authorities at Austin where preparing extradition papers Wednesday. Ben Carter, county attorney at Durant, said he would file armed robbery and kidnapping charges against Traxler Thursday. The crimes can carry the death penalty in Oklahoma.
Crowd Hampers Physicians. The crowd which gathered about Traxler paid no attention to appeals to leave to give the doctors an opportunity to work until news spread that Tindol’s body had been brought to town and that an inquest was being held. The crowd melted to reappear at the perfunctory inquest. Officers utilized the breathing spell to place a guard at the hospital entrance. Traxler had his pockets filled with ammunition when he arrived at the hospital. He had just $12.50. Ammunition and $1 were found in Tindol’s pockets. Traxler had a three days’ growth of beard. His clothes were dirty and ragged and the marks of dried sweat showed how desperate had been his flight Tuesday night. Even in the hospital he continued to worry about his wife. “Can they do anything to her?” he asked eagerly. He was informed she was under a federal hold order and that she probably would face charges of harboring a fugitive. Mrs. Traxler in jail at Durant asked that Traxler be given hospitalization when informed of his wounding. Then she became silent. Previously she had talked freely. Officers at Hugo on the chance that Chapman might attempt a delivery of Traxler posted double guard over his hospital room. Heavily under the influence of pain killing drugs, he went to sleep at 3 p.m. and still was asleep late Wednesday night.
Traxler is 32 years old. Tindol was 27.

The above story ...

BANDIT LIKELY TO RECOVER; PAL IS SLAIN
Officers Turn to Hunt for Missing Third Fugitive, Charlie Chapman.
By DAN SMYTH
(Oklahoman Staff Correspondent.)

quote:

Originally posted by oldwest:
I've found him mentioned in several articles in Startling Detective magazine (Oct. 1937 pp.32-33; Nov. 1937 pp.30-33,76-79,81); and, True Detective (Feb. 1936 p.60 - Mugshot; Oct. 1936 p.68; Dec. 1936 p.71 - photo of lawmen standing beside his getaway car and confiscated arsenal; Nov. 1937 pp.32-33); and, Real Detective (Feb. 1938 p.59).

How can I get a reprint or copy of these articles?

Hudson,

Send your "snail mail" address to me at oldwest100@aol.com ; then, in a few days, check your mailbox!

I have thoroughly enjoyed the articles. Thank You. I received page 59 of the article With The G-Men in Real Detective Magazine February 1938. It is continued on page 94. Would anyone happen to have the remainder of this article?

I've stumbled upon an old silent newsreel video of a wounded Traxler smoking in the hospital, Tindol on the slab, the car and Denton and Trimmer. I tried and could not attach it. I will be most happy to share. If you would like me to email it to you send me your email address. It is about 40 seconds long and 5.38 mb. It is truly a treasure of a rare find. You will need a VLC media player to view it. It is a free download from: http://www.vlcmediaplayer.org/download.html

cnhudson@charter.net

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Hudson,

Hudson,

Real Detective Magazine (article) dated February 1938 (pp. 59, 94-97) is In-the-Mail!