The Ardmoreite, published at Ardmore, Carter county, Oklahoma, near where special Deputy Rufus P. Highnote was killed, April 8th, 1918, about the killing. Filed in county court against Bud Ballew, Carter County deputy sheriff,for shooting Highnote, at Wirt, Saturday night.
Sheriff Buck Garrett, on complaint of Highnote abusing citizens sent Deputy Bud Ballew to Wirt to take away highnote's comission & three guns he carried.
Sidebar: Wirt was a very small town, busy with the oil boom & Highnote had been appointed on recco of citizens who thought him capable of handling the on-going boom town fracas. Sheriff Garrett had his doubts due Highnote's reputation as a noisy braggart, claiming many killings as a bounty hunter. This is a condensed long story with some verbatim excerpts.
Word came to the sheriff Saturday that Highnote had held a man up on the street, cutting down on him with a gun and telling him if he moved a hand he would blow his head off. He was said to have held up another man that day in the same manner.
As Ballew escorted Highnote --
When just around the corner he whirled quickly and with his left hand drew a pistol and shot at Ballew. As he drew his gun Ballew grabbed for it. He did not get it, but he struck Highnote’s wrist, and this probably saved his life, as a hole where the bullet struck a board shows that it passed very close to Ballew. The latter then drew his gun and shot Highnote
At the time of the shooting Highnote was said to have carried three revolvers. He had two full sized 45’s in holsters on a belt and a 45 automatic in his trousers pocket. He drew one of the big guns with his left hand when he shot at Ballew and the other was found to be cocked when his body was picked up. Highnote is reported to have been going to the motion picture shows and making speeches. Only the other night he told the crowd he was a little man, “but here is the difference,” he said, pulling the two big guns around in front, that all might see he carried them.
At his own request Bud Ballew was tried for the killing & found not guilty along with praise for his action.
Deputy Bud Ballew & Sheriff Buck Garrett
Commisssions as issued back in the day --
This was from the free weekly newsletter - from its letterhead: This and That Newsletter,
Oklahoma History Ardmore, Oklahoma, Vol 21 Issue 1,070 Circulation 5,000 July 27, 2017, Ardmore, Oklahoma, My permanent email address:
[email protected], 580-490-6823
Deputy Shooting Oklahoma 1918
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