W. A. WAL WILLIAMS WAS SHERIFF OF STEVENS COUNTY, OK WHEN HE WAS KILLED IN A HAIL OF GUNFIRE FROM THE NOTORIOUS CUNNINGHAM GANG ON THE HIGHWAY JUST OUTSIDE DUNCAN, OK. THEY HAD JUST ROBBED A STORE OF LESS THAN $2.00 THE POLICE CHIEF WAS SEVERLY WOUNDED, BUT SURVIVED. THE FOLLOWING IS A MORE DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE CUNNINGHAM GANG OF OKLAHOMA. forrest Cunningham was the oldest of four brothers in the family. he was the
Leader of the "Cunningham" gang of OKLAHOMA during the late 1930's. He began to live with his uncle Samuel Sarrett in Grandfield, OKLAHOMA during his high school years and graduated from Granfield HIGH SCHOOL in 1924. Marie Sarrett,his cousin, has told of the many awards in the high school won by Forrest when he was in the debating team. Mary Ruth, my wife, has seen these trophies in the display case at the school. checking in 1995 they are no longer present.He was considered a very good student and very well liked. A year or so later he began to preach in churches and hold meetings. This began as a lark because people would say to him that he could speak so well that he could be a preacher. At the meetings the congregation would pass the offering plate and "easy money" began to pour in. After awhile, he and his brothers began to rob banks in OKLAHOMA and had many run-ins with the police. HE ALWAYS SAID HE WOULD NEVER BE TAKEN ALIVE. These activities reached a climax in Duncan, OK where FORREST was killed in a police shoot out on May 13, 1930. Forrest was killed, as was the sheriff, John was wounded and gave a confession JOHN LATER DIED IN OKLAHOMA STATE PRISON. Manuel was wounded and permanently paralyzed. After their capture they were arraigned in Criminal Court, Stephens Co. OK(court docket # 5048) on charges of murder. On June 7th the brothers were transferred to Dist. Court, remanded to sheriff without bond to answer charges.
FOLLOWING IS A MORE DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE SHOOTOUT
later at a location some two hundred miles south of Hooker the final chapter of the robbery unfolded when Stephens County Sheriff W.A"WAL" Williams received a report of four thugs holding up a small filling station located near Lawton for a measly $1.50 in cash and a few provisions. The description of the getaway matched that of one used in another gas station holdup, which had occurred nearby Cotton County several weeks earlier. The Sheriff, accompanied by Lawton Chief of Police I. B. Gossett, Undersherrif Ed Summerall and a Duncan police officer named W. F. McKenzey, hopped into the Sheriff's car and sped up the Duncan-Lawton road hoping to cut off the hijackers. At a point a few miles outside Duncan at a location known as Marlow Junction, the officers pulled alongside a suspicious vehicle filled with a quartet rough-looking men. When informed, "We are officers of the law, pull over!" The bandits reacted by firing a volley of rounds into the officer's car wounding Sheriff Williams and officer Gossett. Deputy Summerall answered the attack by firing a lengthy burst of .45 caliber rounds from the machine gun he was carrying. That did the trick. The driver of the fleeing car, later identified as Forrest Cunningham, instantly dropped dead, while his brother, Emanuel, was struck by a round in the stomach, the bullet passed through his body severing his spinal column. A third brother, John, was slightly wounded but immediately surrendered, while a fourth Cunningham sibling, nineteen-year-old Jess, fled from the car on foot into a nearby patch of woods. Help was immediately summoned and the two officers and three outlaws were transported to area hospitals. A massive posse was fielded and began scouring the countryside for the missing Jess Cunningham. Sheriff Williams expired shortly after his arrival at the hospital while Chief Gossett, who had taken a slug in the abdomen, was listed in critical condition, as was Emanuel Cunningham. The third Cunningham brother was listed in good condition with superficial wounds to the arm and shoulder.
A Memorial at the intersection of Hwy 81N and Hwy 7 just outside Duncan, OK where the shoot out occurred, is as follows:
"Erected in Honor of the services of all peace officers and dedicated to the memory of Sheriff W. A.(Wal) Williams, who gave his life in the courageous performance of his duty, May 13, 1930"
John died in prison, Manuel continued to deteriorate, was released to his parents.Manuel and his parents were killed in a car wreck a few years later, and Jess spent the rest of his life in Oklahoma state prison in McAlister, OK.
∼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.
Leader of the "Cunningham" gang of OKLAHOMA during the late 1930's. He began to live with his uncle Samuel Sarrett in Grandfield, OKLAHOMA during his high school years and graduated from Granfield HIGH SCHOOL in 1924. Marie Sarrett,his cousin, has told of the many awards in the high school won by Forrest when he was in the debating team. Mary Ruth, my wife, has seen these trophies in the display case at the school. checking in 1995 they are no longer present.He was considered a very good student and very well liked. A year or so later he began to preach in churches and hold meetings. This began as a lark because people would say to him that he could speak so well that he could be a preacher. At the meetings the congregation would pass the offering plate and "easy money" began to pour in. After awhile, he and his brothers began to rob banks in OKLAHOMA and had many run-ins with the police. HE ALWAYS SAID HE WOULD NEVER BE TAKEN ALIVE. These activities reached a climax in Duncan, OK where FORREST was killed in a police shoot out on May 13, 1930. Forrest was killed, as was the sheriff, John was wounded and gave a confession JOHN LATER DIED IN OKLAHOMA STATE PRISON. Manuel was wounded and permanently paralyzed. After their capture they were arraigned in Criminal Court, Stephens Co. OK(court docket # 5048) on charges of murder. On June 7th the brothers were transferred to Dist. Court, remanded to sheriff without bond to answer charges.
FOLLOWING IS A MORE DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE SHOOTOUT
later at a location some two hundred miles south of Hooker the final chapter of the robbery unfolded when Stephens County Sheriff W.A"WAL" Williams received a report of four thugs holding up a small filling station located near Lawton for a measly $1.50 in cash and a few provisions. The description of the getaway matched that of one used in another gas station holdup, which had occurred nearby Cotton County several weeks earlier. The Sheriff, accompanied by Lawton Chief of Police I. B. Gossett, Undersherrif Ed Summerall and a Duncan police officer named W. F. McKenzey, hopped into the Sheriff's car and sped up the Duncan-Lawton road hoping to cut off the hijackers. At a point a few miles outside Duncan at a location known as Marlow Junction, the officers pulled alongside a suspicious vehicle filled with a quartet rough-looking men. When informed, "We are officers of the law, pull over!" The bandits reacted by firing a volley of rounds into the officer's car wounding Sheriff Williams and officer Gossett. Deputy Summerall answered the attack by firing a lengthy burst of .45 caliber rounds from the machine gun he was carrying. That did the trick. The driver of the fleeing car, later identified as Forrest Cunningham, instantly dropped dead, while his brother, Emanuel, was struck by a round in the stomach, the bullet passed through his body severing his spinal column. A third brother, John, was slightly wounded but immediately surrendered, while a fourth Cunningham sibling, nineteen-year-old Jess, fled from the car on foot into a nearby patch of woods. Help was immediately summoned and the two officers and three outlaws were transported to area hospitals. A massive posse was fielded and began scouring the countryside for the missing Jess Cunningham. Sheriff Williams expired shortly after his arrival at the hospital while Chief Gossett, who had taken a slug in the abdomen, was listed in critical condition, as was Emanuel Cunningham. The third Cunningham brother was listed in good condition with superficial wounds to the arm and shoulder.
A Memorial at the intersection of Hwy 81N and Hwy 7 just outside Duncan, OK where the shoot out occurred, is as follows:
"Erected in Honor of the services of all peace officers and dedicated to the memory of Sheriff W. A.(Wal) Williams, who gave his life in the courageous performance of his duty, May 13, 1930"
John died in prison, Manuel continued to deteriorate, was released to his parents.Manuel and his parents were killed in a car wreck a few years later, and Jess spent the rest of his life in Oklahoma state prison in McAlister, OK.
∼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.
W. A. WAL WILLIAMS WAS SHERIFF OF STEVENS COUNTY, OK WHEN HE WAS KILLED IN A HAIL OF GUNFIRE FROM THE NOTORIOUS CUNNINGHAM GANG ON THE HIGHWAY JUST OUTSIDE DUNCAN, OK. THEY HAD JUST ROBBED A STORE OF LESS THAN $2.00 THE POLICE CHIEF WAS SEVERLY WOUNDED, BUT SURVIVED. THE FOLLOWING IS A MORE DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE CUNNINGHAM GANG OF OKLAHOMA. forrest Cunningham was the oldest of four brothers in the family. he was the
Leader of the "Cunningham" gang of OKLAHOMA during the late 1930's. He began to live with his uncle Samuel Sarrett in Grandfield, OKLAHOMA during his high school years and graduated from Granfield HIGH SCHOOL in 1924. Marie Sarrett,his cousin, has told of the many awards in the high school won by Forrest when he was in the debating team. Mary Ruth, my wife, has seen these trophies in the display case at the school. checking in 1995 they are no longer present.He was considered a very good student and very well liked. A year or so later he began to preach in churches and hold meetings. This began as a lark because people would say to him that he could speak so well that he could be a preacher. At the meetings the congregation would pass the offering plate and "easy money" began to pour in. After awhile, he and his brothers began to rob banks in OKLAHOMA and had many run-ins with the police. HE ALWAYS SAID HE WOULD NEVER BE TAKEN ALIVE. These activities reached a climax in Duncan, OK where FORREST was killed in a police shoot out on May 13, 1930. Forrest was killed, as was the sheriff, John was wounded and gave a confession JOHN LATER DIED IN OKLAHOMA STATE PRISON. Manuel was wounded and permanently paralyzed. After their capture they were arraigned in Criminal Court, Stephens Co. OK(court docket # 5048) on charges of murder. On June 7th the brothers were transferred to Dist. Court, remanded to sheriff without bond to answer charges.
FOLLOWING IS A MORE DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE SHOOTOUT
later at a location some two hundred miles south of Hooker the final chapter of the robbery unfolded when Stephens County Sheriff W.A"WAL" Williams received a report of four thugs holding up a small filling station located near Lawton for a measly $1.50 in cash and a few provisions. The description of the getaway matched that of one used in another gas station holdup, which had occurred nearby Cotton County several weeks earlier. The Sheriff, accompanied by Lawton Chief of Police I. B. Gossett, Undersherrif Ed Summerall and a Duncan police officer named W. F. McKenzey, hopped into the Sheriff's car and sped up the Duncan-Lawton road hoping to cut off the hijackers. At a point a few miles outside Duncan at a location known as Marlow Junction, the officers pulled alongside a suspicious vehicle filled with a quartet rough-looking men. When informed, "We are officers of the law, pull over!" The bandits reacted by firing a volley of rounds into the officer's car wounding Sheriff Williams and officer Gossett. Deputy Summerall answered the attack by firing a lengthy burst of .45 caliber rounds from the machine gun he was carrying. That did the trick. The driver of the fleeing car, later identified as Forrest Cunningham, instantly dropped dead, while his brother, Emanuel, was struck by a round in the stomach, the bullet passed through his body severing his spinal column. A third brother, John, was slightly wounded but immediately surrendered, while a fourth Cunningham sibling, nineteen-year-old Jess, fled from the car on foot into a nearby patch of woods. Help was immediately summoned and the two officers and three outlaws were transported to area hospitals. A massive posse was fielded and began scouring the countryside for the missing Jess Cunningham. Sheriff Williams expired shortly after his arrival at the hospital while Chief Gossett, who had taken a slug in the abdomen, was listed in critical condition, as was Emanuel Cunningham. The third Cunningham brother was listed in good condition with superficial wounds to the arm and shoulder.
A Memorial at the intersection of Hwy 81N and Hwy 7 just outside Duncan, OK where the shoot out occurred, is as follows:
"Erected in Honor of the services of all peace officers and dedicated to the memory of Sheriff W. A.(Wal) Williams, who gave his life in the courageous performance of his duty, May 13, 1930"
John died in prison, Manuel continued to deteriorate, was released to his parents.Manuel and his parents were killed in a car wreck a few years later, and Jess spent the rest of his life in Oklahoma state prison in McAlister, OK.
∼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.
Leader of the "Cunningham" gang of OKLAHOMA during the late 1930's. He began to live with his uncle Samuel Sarrett in Grandfield, OKLAHOMA during his high school years and graduated from Granfield HIGH SCHOOL in 1924. Marie Sarrett,his cousin, has told of the many awards in the high school won by Forrest when he was in the debating team. Mary Ruth, my wife, has seen these trophies in the display case at the school. checking in 1995 they are no longer present.He was considered a very good student and very well liked. A year or so later he began to preach in churches and hold meetings. This began as a lark because people would say to him that he could speak so well that he could be a preacher. At the meetings the congregation would pass the offering plate and "easy money" began to pour in. After awhile, he and his brothers began to rob banks in OKLAHOMA and had many run-ins with the police. HE ALWAYS SAID HE WOULD NEVER BE TAKEN ALIVE. These activities reached a climax in Duncan, OK where FORREST was killed in a police shoot out on May 13, 1930. Forrest was killed, as was the sheriff, John was wounded and gave a confession JOHN LATER DIED IN OKLAHOMA STATE PRISON. Manuel was wounded and permanently paralyzed. After their capture they were arraigned in Criminal Court, Stephens Co. OK(court docket # 5048) on charges of murder. On June 7th the brothers were transferred to Dist. Court, remanded to sheriff without bond to answer charges.
FOLLOWING IS A MORE DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE SHOOTOUT
later at a location some two hundred miles south of Hooker the final chapter of the robbery unfolded when Stephens County Sheriff W.A"WAL" Williams received a report of four thugs holding up a small filling station located near Lawton for a measly $1.50 in cash and a few provisions. The description of the getaway matched that of one used in another gas station holdup, which had occurred nearby Cotton County several weeks earlier. The Sheriff, accompanied by Lawton Chief of Police I. B. Gossett, Undersherrif Ed Summerall and a Duncan police officer named W. F. McKenzey, hopped into the Sheriff's car and sped up the Duncan-Lawton road hoping to cut off the hijackers. At a point a few miles outside Duncan at a location known as Marlow Junction, the officers pulled alongside a suspicious vehicle filled with a quartet rough-looking men. When informed, "We are officers of the law, pull over!" The bandits reacted by firing a volley of rounds into the officer's car wounding Sheriff Williams and officer Gossett. Deputy Summerall answered the attack by firing a lengthy burst of .45 caliber rounds from the machine gun he was carrying. That did the trick. The driver of the fleeing car, later identified as Forrest Cunningham, instantly dropped dead, while his brother, Emanuel, was struck by a round in the stomach, the bullet passed through his body severing his spinal column. A third brother, John, was slightly wounded but immediately surrendered, while a fourth Cunningham sibling, nineteen-year-old Jess, fled from the car on foot into a nearby patch of woods. Help was immediately summoned and the two officers and three outlaws were transported to area hospitals. A massive posse was fielded and began scouring the countryside for the missing Jess Cunningham. Sheriff Williams expired shortly after his arrival at the hospital while Chief Gossett, who had taken a slug in the abdomen, was listed in critical condition, as was Emanuel Cunningham. The third Cunningham brother was listed in good condition with superficial wounds to the arm and shoulder.
A Memorial at the intersection of Hwy 81N and Hwy 7 just outside Duncan, OK where the shoot out occurred, is as follows:
"Erected in Honor of the services of all peace officers and dedicated to the memory of Sheriff W. A.(Wal) Williams, who gave his life in the courageous performance of his duty, May 13, 1930"
John died in prison, Manuel continued to deteriorate, was released to his parents.Manuel and his parents were killed in a car wreck a few years later, and Jess spent the rest of his life in Oklahoma state prison in McAlister, OK.
∼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.
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