Van Buren Argus Crawford County, Arkansas September 23, 1903 KILLED TWO MEN Judge Russell, mayor and postmaster of Gans, a small town about halfway between Muldrow, Indian Territory, and the Arkansas River, shot and instantly killed Jim Choate and Peck Martin Friday afternoon. The men killed were young half-breed Indians who were under the influence of liquor. They had started a riot in the pool room and with drawn knives had cleared the room, they having tried to cut a young son of Judge Russell. The judge hearing the trouble went to the scene and soon had everything quieted down and had started back to the post office when he found he was being followed by Choate and Martin with drawn knives. They commanded Mr. Russell at the same time getting between him and the post office. He warned them not to advance on him, but they continued to do so when he drew his gun and so true was his aim that he only fired two shots, both men falling dead with their open knives in their hands. Fran Alverson Warren e-mail: [email protected] 479-369-2703 http://www.crawfordcountyarkansas.net/