JOBE - Old Clippings from Newspapers - Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA

Our Family Makes the News!

Many times throughout history, our family has made the news. These exerpts will recollect some of these events which help to make our Jobe ancestor's lifes and the times in which they lived seem real to us. The articles are grouped by states (in alphabetical order), then by county and by chronological date.

Following newspaper clippings (of the same event) were submitted by Patti Jobe

Note by Patti
"I've been lucky enough to find several newspaper articles from the time (1918). I was fascinated to see that the accounts were often 'sensationalized' and quite gory in their details. Two of the headlines were completely fabricated, I presume for the 'shock value'. Each newspaper's account had conflicting details with the other articles, but the basic story is the same. Murder was rare for that time, and I was surprised at the idea that newspapers would print such gruesome detail."

My Note:
Please make sure that you read them all and remember this is late 1918!

MUSKOGEE DAILY PHOENIX

October 19, 1918

"Boy's Head Found Near Camp Wagon"-
"Body Later Is Discovered In Creek-Crime Charged To Young Companion"
(NOTE FROM PATTI - Boy?? He was 48 years old!)

The body of J. L. Jobe of Stilwell was found in a creek near the Sequoyah club yesterday morning by members of the Sequoyah club and attaches, when a dog which was found tied to Jobe's wagon had been turned loose and had run directly to the river bank after Jobe's head had been found lying hear his wagon two hundred yards from the bank. Elisha Smith, a Stigler youth, who is said to have been traveling across country with Jobe, is being sought by the officers who connect him with the killing. Robbery is thought to have been the motive. Jobe had been working in the oil fields and was on his way back to his home, accompanied by young Smith, who is said to have asked him for a ride. Smith carried with him a high powered shotgun and when they camped for the night at a point near the Sequoyah club, it is believed that Smith blew off

Jobe's head in the hope of securing a small sum of money which Jobe had been paid as an oil field worker. The last seen of Smith was when a Stillwell physician who was driving along a country road about seven miles out of Stilwell was asked if he would give a stranger a ride. The doctor replied "no" and drove on. Officers are on Smith's trail."

TAHLEQUAH ARROW

October 19, 1918

"Man Murdered Thrown In River"
Thursday a couple of residents noticed a team and wagon standing near the river a short distance below the Wauhullau Club house and they being there so long raised their suspicion and an investigation was made when they reached the wagon there was much blood in evidence, convincing them that a crime had been committed, the condition of the ground showing that there had been something dragged from the wagon to the river. The procured a pike pole and working out from the bank to the deep water they felt something which upon being brought to the surface proved to be the body of a man with a stone weighing at least 50 pounds tied to the body. The body was brought to shore and officers notified. County Attorney Vance at once went to the scene and on looking in the coat pocket of the man found a letter from a Haskell bank to J. L. Jobe, notifying him of a note for $150 being due. Mr. Vance got into telephone communication with the bank and was informed that the note had been paid Saturday and that Jobe was a worker in the Haskell oil fields. Further inquirey elicited the fact that Jobe in company with Eli Smith, of the same vicinity were on their way to Arkansas for a load of apples, going on Smiths suggestion. Jobe having $250 on his person which was not found on the body. The course of Smith was then found to be toward the east and Dr. John Allison who was at Stillwell yesterday reports meeting a man answering Smiths discription a short way this side of Stillwell walking toward that town, who offered the Doctor $5 to take him into Stillwell, which offer was declined and the man went on afoot. Smith who is about 20 years old has not yet been apprehended. Jobe leaves a widow and ten children."

MUSKOGEE DAILY PHOENIX

October 20, 1918

"Deserter Is Held For Job's Murder" "Man's Head Blown Off and His Body Thrown In Creek, Heavily Weighted" Charged with the murder of J. L. Job in Cherokee County Wednesday, Zack Noel, army deserter from this county, was apprehended last night at the home of his brother-in-law, Hannon Griffiths, two miles southeast of Vian. Griffiths was arrested on a charge of harboring Noel. Both men were lodged in jail here. With the top of his head blown off and a heavy stone tied about his neck, Job's body was found in the Illinois River Thursday. According to Sheriff Davidson of Cherokee County, who arrested the defendants with the aid of Deputy Sheriff Brown, of Vian, Noel was the last man seen with Job when the latter started for Arkansas on Wednesday to buy a load of apples. Jobe had $60. Job's disappearance was discovered when his mule was found wandering about in the woods."

CHEROKEE DEMOCRAT

October 23, 1918

"Eli Smith, whose name is Zack Noel, charged with the murder of J. L. Jobe, a short distance below the Wauhillau Club. An account of which was given in the Arrow last Saturday was captured by Sheriff Davidson, at Vian Sunday evening and brought to the jail at this place Monday. Feeling for a time was quite high and there were rumblings of a probal lynching however, this has quited to some extent and it is probable that the law will be allowed to take its course. There is little if any doubt of his guilt and few would shudder at the wrath of the people under the circumstances, but a great majority would hate to have such a blot placed upon our city and County. It would cast a shadow over the fair name of Cherokee County that it would take much time to wash but let the courts deal with the case."

HASKELL NEWS

October 24, 1918

"Found Murdered" "J. L. Jobe Killed By Stranger Near Tahlequah"
"J. L. Jobe, one of our respected young farmers, living eight miles north of Haskell, was found with his head blown off, lying in a pool in the Illinois River, near Tahlequah the latter part of last week. Jobe was last seen her Monday morning when he cashed in on his cotton crop, paid his note at a local bank and left in company with a man named Smith of Arkansas, to buy a load of apples. Very little is known of Smith. Tuesday night they camped near Tahlequah. Wednesday morning about 4 o'clock a shotgun was heard by neighbors near where they camped and towards evening Wednesday a mule was heard braying so much that the neighbors went to the camp site. There they found the wagon and a mule. Hasty search showed that Jobe was missing. Search was made for Jobe's companion and he was caught near Vian riding the horse that Jobe had been driving with the mule. He was arrested and placed in jail at Tahlequah. He is said to have confessed to the crime. Jobe's body was found in the Illinois river at least 200 yards from where he was shot. Dogs traced it there by where it was dragged over the ground. The funeral was held in Haskell on Sunday by Rev. Gambrell. J. L. Jobe was born at Barnett MO., January 23, 1870. He was a good husband and provider for his family. He leaves a wife and ten children, the youngest two months old. He was a good man and was liked by all who knew him."

MUSKOGEE DAILY PHOTNIX

"Noel Is Brought Here To Await Murder Trial"
"Accused of Having Cut Off Man 's Head and Thrown Body in Nearby River"

Note from Patti - cut off?!)

"Zach Noel, recently arrested by the Cherokee county sheriff's office in connection with the murder on the night of October 17 of J. L. Jobe of Stillwell, has been brought to the county jail here for safe keeping until the day of his trial. Sportsmen at the Sequoyah club on the Illinois river found the body of the Stillwell man as they were leaving the club on a hunting trip early in the morning of October 18. The head was found lying near the man's wagon, in which he had been traveling across country, and the body was located at the bottom of the river nearby. The motive for the murder, officers believe, was robbery, as Jobe was known to have had a small amount of money which was not found on the body."

(Jesse Logan Jobe - Abraham S. Jobe/Susan Yeager - Logan Jobe/Mary Saling - Elisha Jobe/? - Enoch Job Jr/Lucretia)


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