I ran across something that may be of interest to the rest of you. In my research of my great grandfather,DUSM James Cooper Wallace, I have found that his uncle, James Cooper, was married to Tellitha Doolin, half-sister of none other than Bill Doolin!

From what I have read, it appears that Bill Doolin was killed by Heck Thomas. Jim Wallace was a posseman for Heck Thomas before becoming a Deputy US Marshal.

Hmmmm. I was just wondering about the discussions at family gatherings..
Connie Karle

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

[QUOTE]Originally posted by karlec:
From what I have read, it appears that Bill Doolin was killed by Heck Thomas. Jim Wallace was a posseman for Heck Thomas before becoming a Deputy US Marshal. /QUOTE]

That is interesting--thanks for posting it. Heck Thomas always claimed that he killed Doolin with a shotgun charged with No. 8 buckshot. Frank Canton disputes this, saying Doolin was killed by one of the Dunn brothers riding in Heck's posse. I've often thought this argument might be settled by a careful forensic examination of Doolin's death photos, as one should be able to tell by measurement of the various holes in Doolin's corpse the exact dimension of the shot that killed him (assuming that no others in the posse had shotguns firing No 8 shot).

--meursault

At least one of the Guthrie territorial newspapers stated Rufus Cannon shot Doolin. This was later recanted in the article before the paper came out. Cannon was a black deputy U.S. marshal who rode posse with Heck Thomas at times. Cannon had earlier shot the arm off a white train robber named Jesse Jackson near Bartlesville with a shotgun. It is possible that Cannon was the shooter and the story was changed to keep racial harmoney in the territory. A black lawman killing a white outlaw was not widely publicized in the territory at that time in history.

I found mention of a Deputy Marshal James Wallace in the Fort Smith criminal case file of Emmanuel Patterson who shot and killed Deputy Marshal Willard Ayers. The date of Wallace's involvement in the case was 1887.

On the Trail
Diron Ahlquist
Secretary/Editor Oklahombres Journal

Diron,

How would I go about getting a copy a criminal case file? Can copies be ordered or does the research and copying have to be done in person?
Connie Karle

Karlec,
When and where was the criminal incarcerated? Will determine how to proceed.

Connie

I can get you a copy of the case file as I already have a copy of it in my collection. Please email me for the particulars.

On the Trail
Diron Ahlquist
Secretary/Editor Oklahombres Journal

I would love to have a copy of the case file you mentioned. Thank you........Connie

Why don't you post the criminal file for everyone to read?