1926 – 100 Years Ago​​​​
Three Years as a County Officer Have Brought
Many Interesting Experiences to Sheriff Abe Block

In a reminiscent review this week of his three years as an officer of the law in Kingfi sher County, Sheriff A. C. Block, one of the best-known men in the state, recalled that perhaps a gunny sack full of firearms have been confiscated by himself and assistants during that period.

Nearly all of these weapons were revolvers, four were shotguns, and none were rifles. A number of dirk knives, etc., have also been taken. These death-dealing articles would make an extraordinary collection had Mr. Block been permitted to keep all of them, but it is customary for the court to decree that all weapons used for an illicit purpose be destroyed upon confiscation.

Three good revolvers, two .45’s and a .38 special, were taken from the Loyal and Navina bank robbers last August 27, at the conclusion of the well-remembered gun fight in which two of the trio were killed. Sheriff Block, as well as his deputies, narrowly missed death at that time, when a bullet fanned his hip pocket.

Injured But Once

Block’s only serious injury was received about two years ago, when he was struck in the right side by a bullet meant for Wesley Harris, Negro, who was resisting arrest. The bullet hit Harris, alright, but it ricocheted from the impenetrable head of the “bad man.” Harris has since served time for the shooting with intent to kill, and has been released.

A shotgun was taken from James Harper, who shot J.P. Steele, his stepfather, August, 18, 1925. Mose Cooper was recently turned loose for want of evidence in connection with the killing of his brother-in-law at Lacey, Albert Martin, sentenced under Block’s administration, nearly killed F.J. Hatch in November, 1924. All of the above are colored.

Hi-jacker Slain

A hi-jacker named Smith was killed two years ago at the Rock Island depot by operator Stradley, and was buried in the local cemetery. A Chas. Long was found dead a year ago, cause unknown. The body of a Bredel boy was found in a barn west of Okarche two years ago, he having been killed with a shotgun. Ollie Hamlin is now serving a fifteen-year prison sentence for the murder of a Dover Negro named Tapp, January 2, 1923. And that concludes the list of sensational cases Abe Block has had to deal with since January, 1923, when he became undersheriff.

Prior to that, Mr. Block worked for four years in the sheriff’s office in Blaine county, and witnessed the hanging of Alf Hunter — the only person ever legally killed at Watonga.

Hi-jackers and burglars generally carry guns, he finds, but most bootleggers and still operators consider themselves better off without weapons, as they are usually taken by surprise and resistance may result fatally. Gun-toting constitutes an offense in itself.

1951 – 75 Years Ago
30 Men To Get Exams, Seven To Be Inducted

Thirty men have been issued notices by the local selective service board to take their pre-induction physical examinations on Feb. 13. Most of these men were born the first half of 1930. They are as follows: OKARCHE — Earl J. Stangl, John C. Schwarz, Robert J. Reherman and Eugene C. Schaefer.

KINGFISHER — William D. Marlow, William L. Banks, Kermit C. Kuelzer, Emery R. Baker Jr., Harold E. Bayless, Hary R. Lane, Arnold W. Meier, Verle D. Jones and Wilburn E. Leech.

HENNESSEY — Delbert L. Smith, Clarence C. Vaverka, Lyman L. Hixon, Loyd L. Roberts, William W. Henry, Carl A. Wiley and Herbert E. Bradley.

DOVER — Billy J. Gracey, Frank Hailey, Hugh D. Bennett, Robert L. Johnson, Ernest I. Harris, Nathaniel Phillips, Edward R. Leazer and Ira C. Folsom.

CRESCENT — Allen A. House.

LOYAL — Ferman D. Wanzer

Seven To Be Inducted

Call also has been issued for seven men to be inducted into service on Feb. 28. They are William B. McCully Jr., of Hennessey, Francis L. Schwarz of Okarche, Ivan G. Ross of Dover, and Billy C. Fillmore, Paul O. Schemmer, Austin L. Ables and Hubert D. Peery of Kingfisher.

Fourteen Register

Fourteen men registered for selective service in January at the county draft office. The registrations were made promptly, 11 of the men registering on their birthday, or the first day thereafter that the board office was open.

New registrants are: Bennie F. Tarrant and Robert J. Murry, Hennessey; Elmer J. Gales and Elmer G. Reherman, Okarche; Lester E. Chambers, J.L. States and Noel T. Moore, Dover; Raymond Brown, Lynn B. Autry, Virgil D. Hunt Jr., and Jesse E. Wickett, Kingfisher; Jim L. Tharp of Lovell, Dennis G. Robinson of Ames and Billy R. Stringer of Cashion.