Our
Ancestors
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Ketchum Bank
Submitted by: Melinda
Pennigton
The Teller area of the
Ketchum Bank, Ketchum, Craig Co., Ok. (Persons in photo unknown)
On Thursday morning Raymond Thomas, Allsion "Dick" Ivey both of Tulsa and Richard Burkes entered the bank asking for the Ketchum Brothers and then ordered Frank Pitts, Bank Teller Cashier, to "stick em' up" when he failed to comply, rank Pitts was shot once through the opaque glass through the heart killing him instantly. Then shots were fired at Herbert Ray, bookkeeper, but both shots went wild and the three robbers escaped without robbing the bank. Frank Pitts was shot and killed on 9th of August 1923 in Ketchum, Craig Co., OK. Leaders of the posse first caught Thomas on the road. There was struggle with angry citizens which were prevented in lynching him. Thomas named the other two bandits and identified Richard Burkes as doing the shooting. Burke was at the time out on parole being previously pardoned by Gov. John "Jack" Callowey Walton. All bandits were rounded up within 3 days. Burkes was given the electric chair at 12:05 o'clock Friday morning September 5th, 1924. "Turn 'Er On Boys" was Burkes last words as the switch plunges his soul into the beyond. Franks' wife was left a widow with 3 sons. (Source: Various Newspaper articles from the Daily Oklahoma). Source for photo: Ken Clagett
This page last update 10/18/2006
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