THE PROCTOR BECK FIGHT.

Old man Kesterson ran the old Helderbrand mill, up on Flint creek, in the Flint district. Kesterson married Zeke Proctors's aunt, whose maiden name was Beck. Proctor and Kesterson had an argument at the mill, and Kesterson went upstairs over the mill where he and his wife lived, to get a gun. As he came down stairs, Mrs. Kesterson got in front of him (her husband), and was shot on the stairs by Proctor. The bullet killed her instantly, and wounded Kesterson in the arm. The Becks were furious about Zeke Proctor killing their aunt. While the trial of Zeke Proctor was going on at the Flint court house, the Becks went to Fort Smith and got a warrant for the arrest of Proctor, for shooting Kesterson who was a white man. They came back to the Flint court house with four United States marshals to arrest Proctor. When they arrived at the Court House, the trial was in progress, and Johnson Proctor, (brother of the defendant), went out to talk to the Becks and the Marshals, and upon learning that they had a warrant for the arrest of Zeke, he told them if his brother came clear, they would turn him over to the Becks. Sam Beck said " We are going to take him now". Johnson Proctor walked back to the court house, stopped upon the porch and turned around. Then Sam Beck shot him and the fight started. One of the guards gave Zeke Proctor a gun so that he could take part in the fight. Four Becks were killed in the fight, Bill, Sam, Sutt, and Double-head Bill). Four marshals were killed, also the solicitory, Judge, and two jurymen.