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Submitted: 6/27/10 • Approved: 6/27/10 • Last Updated: 4/17/18 • R21703-G0-S3
Unknown - November 4,
On November 2nd, Tom got into a fight over a fifty cent bet in a dice game with a fellow by the name of Burt Henderson in a back room of the Cotton Exchange Saloon in Guthrie. Tom lost, but when Burt started raking in the money, Tom called him a cheat and went for a knife. Burt struck Tom with the stick he was using to control the dice. At that time, Ben Howard the owner of the saloon entered the room with his .38 caliber revolver and began firing. Three bullets struck Tom in the head and one in the back. A stray bullet struck Burt in the back as he was trying to get out the door.
Burt was kept on a cot in the saloon overnight and his wounds were not life threatening. AS fas as is known he did survive.
Tom was taken to his sisters house with no hope for survival. He lasted for two days and died on the 4th. The date of the 6th on his tombstone is the date he was buried. His brother, John, was a town councilman and frequent trouble maker who had several brushes with the law. The family refused to pay for his funeral. Deputy Sheriff Charles Carpenter had him buried in the pauper's Boot Hill section of the cemetery along with other outlaws.
Contributed on 6/27/10 by tomtodd
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Record #: 21703