Drawing which appears in this issue of the Pauls Valley Enterprise and Valley News along with the news article

Marshal Cathey on his horse beside a local building

The Pauls Valley Enterprise and Valley News

Pauls Valley, Chickasaw Nation, I.T., Thursday, November 7, 1907

Joint Fixtures Burned

As noted in another column of this issue relative to running the "Joints" out of town, all joints men had their fixtures on the depot platform in the required three hours.  The committee appointed to look after this matter overlooked the fact that John Stump had not taken out a bill of lading for his stuff.   When this was learned Wednesday morning he was again given an opportunity to ship the fixtures, but refused to do so.  A fire alarm was sounded and the leading citizens of the town, two or three hundred in number went immediately to the depot platform, piled the stuff out in the street, saturated it with oil and applied a match.   The whole was soon licked up by flames and Mr. Stump was a poorer yet wiser man than a few minutes before.

Marshal Cathey's body lying in state

MARSHAL CATHY ASSASSINATED

Shot by Jim Stevenson Sunday Evening at 6:30 O'clock

Citizens Arise Indignation

Joints are Driven From the Town and Fixtures of One Burned

The city of Pauls Valley was thrown into a furor of excitement and indignation when the quiet-tude of last Sabbath evening was broken by a number of pistol shots, which was at once followed by the announcement that Assistant Marshal W.R. Cathy had been foully assassinated by Jim Stephenson.  The announcement was not wholly unexpected by many citizens of the town for Mr. Stephenson is said to have told a number of city officials that he would kill Cathey on the first opportunity.  The opportunity whereby he could accomplish this deed and not risk his own life is supposed to have not presented itself until the time above mentioned.  Mr. Cathey had eaten his supper in the Valley Cafe at about 6:30 o'clock and then started out on his regular beat.  From the best information obtainable Stephenson was standing in the dark beside the door and as the officer stepped out, opened fire on him without any warning.  The first shot is supposed to have passed through the heart and as brave and fearless an officer as ever wore a uniform, fell to the walk dying.  Stephenson had an automatic pistol and continued firing until it was emptied.  One other shot took effect in the abdomen and from the position in which it entered is supposed to have been fired into the body after it was prostrated on the walk.  Other bullets in the walk show that it was the intention of the slayer to make sure of his victim even if he was down and apparently dead.  Mr. Cathy fell with his head toward his assassin and although shot through the heart had enough vitality to draw his pistol and shooting over his head at random fired five times, three of the shots taking effect in the body of Stephenson, one shot shattering the bone of the left leg near the hip joint and the other two inflicting flesh wounds in the other leg. Stephenson was immediately taken to the U.S. jail and his wounds dressed.  He was not found to be in a very serious condition and was moved to the Ardmore jail Monday morning.

The wanton slaying of an officer in the discharge of his duty and especially one who had been so efficient as Mr. Cathy, fired the citizenship to such a degree of indignation that summary vengeance was freely talked.  Early Monday morning little groups of the best citizens could be seen gathered along the streets talking over the incident.   soon the fire bell began to ring and instead of a response from the company, all who gather on the streets were told to go at once to the Opera House to attend a citizen's meeting.  The house was crowded and the meeting was called to order by Mayor Bruce who in referring to the incident of the previous evening attributed the indirect cause to joints of the town, in which it was believed the plot for assassination was hatched.   A motion was made and enthusiastically carried to the effect that a committee of five be appointed to wait on the joint keepers and tell them that they must have all of their joint fixtures and stock on the depot platform and have bill of lading for the same within three house, and that all that remained after that time would be carried into the streets and burned.  There was soon a great rattling of dray wagons and saloon fixtures, tin-top cases etc., were being hurried to the depot.  No joint keeper was allowed to argue the case.  It was simply move now or let the citizens of the town burn their goods, and they moved. 

Never has there been a death in Pauls Valley that has caused such a general regret as this one.  After the body was prepared for shipment and awaiting orders from relatives in Texas, the general demand to view the remains and to send in floral tributes was so great that it was decided  to move it to the Methodist church.  By orders of the Mayor all business houses were closed from 2 to 4 in the afternoon and all were requested to assemble at the church and pay a tribute of respect to the honored dead.   Long before time to begin the exercises, there was not standing room in the church.   The schools were dismissed and all teachers and pupils marched in a body to the church and were allowed to march single file through the church and view the remains.. Eulogistic speeches were made by Rev. Thurston, Mayor Bruce, Miles Lasater and R.T. Jones.   Mr. Jones suggested a monument to Mr. Cathy and at once there were offers from all parts of the congregation which came even too fast to be taken down.  When the amounts thus offered had been run up it was found to be $370.00.  The body was shipped Tuesday afternoon to the home of the dead officer's parents at Youngsport, Texas, accompanied there by his cousin W.A. Cathey, of this place.  The many handsome floral offerings left at the church by sympathizing friends, were carefully boxed up and shipped at the same time.  It is estimated that the flowers, valued at green house prices, would cost something over $200.00.

Marshal William Randolph Cathey, front row left.
Lawman James Elliott Russell of Pauls Valley is seated beside and to the right of Marshall Cathey.
Marshal Russell died August 30, 1909.  The two gentlemen in the back are unknown.

Cathey was 28 years of age and unmarried. His father and mother live at Youngstown, Texas, and two brothers reside in Santa Anna