As a new member of this group, I may be asking questions that have already been asked and expertly answered time and again, but I could find nothing about this subject in the posts or what archives are available. There is a monument on US 81, between Duncan and Marlow, that commemorates a shoot-out between a fugitive(s) and lawmen, during which at least one lawman was killed. I can remember, as a kid, my dad pointing out the monument and commenting on its significance. Does anyone have the story?
Duane M.

Duane,

This shoot-out, between the four Cunningham brothers and a fairly large contingent of lawenforcement officers, was covered quite well in (at least) two early issues of the Oklahombres' Journals. First, Dee Cordry's article entitled "The Killing of Sheriff W.A. 'Wal' Williams" appeared in Vol. 4 No. 2; and, Ken Butler wrote about the same incident in Vol. 10 No. 4. Ken's article was titled "The Cunningham Brothers."

If you will "post" your e-mail address, I will see that you receive copies of the articles.

With the permission from Ron Owens, author of "Oklahoma Heroes - A Tribute to Fallen Law Enforcement Officers", here is his excellent report on this incident:

W. A. "Wal" Williams is said to have had such a reputation for effective law enforcement against bootleggers that his home in Marlow was blown up with dynamite the day he was sworn in as Sheriff of Stephens County, Oklahoma. If it was meant to discourage his crime fighting efforts, it failed.

Oklahoma has a long tradition of bands of notorious outlaws made up of brothers; the Jameses, Youngers, Daltons, Jenningses and Barkers, just to name a few. In May of 1930, another set of brothers was to enter that elite, illegal fraternity. The Cunninghams would be much lesser known than their preceding brethren, perhaps because they were only caught once, on an isolated country road north of Duncan, Oklahoma.

The outlaw quartet had robbed three banks and over 100 gas stations in Kansas and Oklahoma without being arrested. On the night of May 12, 1930, they robbed a gas station in the 1600 block of South 11th Street in Lawton. Their take from the holdup was minuscule but bulletins were broadcast to the neighboring areas. One of the most logical escape routes for the bandits to take was Highway 7 east to the Duncan "Y", where it met Highway 81 going south to the closest sizable town, Duncan. During the early morning hours of May 13, Sheriff Williams, Undersheriff Ed Sumrill, Duncan Police Chief I.B. Gossett, Assistant Chief Charles Coker, Night Policeman W.F. McKinzey and Operative A.B. Cooper headed for the Duncan "Y" to block that means of escape in case the robbers were coming that direction.

About two and one-half south of the "Y", the officers came upon a car with four men in it. Jess Cunningham, the baby brother at 18, was driving but he was the baby of the family in the same sense that a newborn rattlesnake is a baby...but still full of venom. His older brothers Forrest (27), John (25), and Emanuel (23), were packed into the car along with a small arsenal of rifles, shotguns, and pistols. When Chief Gossett approached the driver's door and demanded their identification, Jess Cunningham pulled a gun on him and took the Chief's shotgun. As the other officers approached, a frantic gunbattle started. Sheriff Williams was the first man hit, wounded three times in the stomach, chest and leg.

Chief Gossett was also wounded. Forrest Cunningham was fatally shot, John and Emanuel were both disabled with two wounds each but Jess escaped.

Sheriff Williams died 17 hours later. Chief Gossett recovered through the then-experimental medical technique of a blood transfusion.

Jess Cunningham was later captured in California. The three surviving brothers were tried and convicted. John died while incarcerated and Emanuel, paralyzed from the waist down by one of his wounds, served 15 years in prison. After being pardoned, he drowned with his parents when their car ran into a creek.

Sheriff Williams' wife, Minnie, was sworn in to complete the remainder of his term as Sheriff of Stephens County. Within a year of his death, Sheriff Williams was given a memorial near the spot of his death. The citizens of Marlow and Duncan appropriated enough money for a pink granite marker to be erected near the intersection of Highways 81 and 29 near Marlow. It reads:

"Erected in honor of all peace officers and dedicated to the memory of Stephens County Sheriff W. A. "Wal" Williams () who gave his life in the courageous performance of his duty May 13, 1930."

Old West, thank you very much for your response. My email address, if there is more that you deem applicable, is: