Submitted by 
Marti Graham

Youth Killed By Express Messenger

Poteau, Okla. June 1 (Special) - Pat Lawson, 14 years of age, son of W. E. Lawson of Poteau, was shot through the head Saturday night by John Sick, a Kansas City Southern express messenger, and died at his home here Sunday noon.

According to the story of the shooting told by Jay Pruitt, a companion of Lawson, the two boys were returning from a picnic at Heavener, riding the blind baggage. Pruitt said the express messenger ordered them inside the car at the point of a gun. At a point two miles north of Heavener they were forced, at the point of the messenger's revolver, Pruitt said, to enter the car, and no sooner had they entered the door than Lawson was shot through the head. Pruitt, fearing a similar fate, jumped from the moving train but escaped with only a shaking up.

County authorities have gone to Kansas City to bring Messgener Sick back to answer a charge of murder.

Information posted as courtesy to researchers.