The Daily Oklahoman
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
July 8, 1903
page 8
LUTHER MURDER
Willard T. Allen Twice Shoots His Wife and The Latter Will Die
The Murderer Escaped
His Wife Filed Suit for Divorce, Alleging He Had Frequently Abused and Beat
Her and Accused Her of Infidelity.
Willard T. Allen, a hotel keeper and prominent citizen of Luther, at
about 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon twice shot and fatally wounded his wife, Martha
J. Allen, the tragedy being the result of domestic infidelity.
The shooting occurred at the home of their son, a mile north of town, where
the wife had been abiding since separating from her husband on July 1. The
weapon used was a revolver, and advices from Luther last evening were that the
physicians despaired of the woman's life.
A telegram reached Sheriff O'Brien last night at 10 o'clock asking that a
bloodhound be sent, stating that Allen was surrounded by a posse of citizens
in a wood about one and a half miles north of the town, but that he would
likely escape in the night unless a bloodhound could be secured and placed on
the fugitive's trail.
The details of the tragedy could not be secured last night owing to poor
telephone service.
On Monday last Mrs. Allen, the woman murdered yesterday, filed a petition
for a divorce, the allegations of which throw some light on the tragedy of
yesterday.
It recites that they were married in Randolph, Mo., on October 8, 1881, and
three sons were the result of the union; that in February 1903, Allen beat and
kicked her, used vile and indecent language and accused her of infidelity;
that for six weeks prior to the time of separation from him she had, owing to
a repetition of abuse and outrageous accusations, declined intimacy with him,
until compelled to do so on July 1 under threat of being killed by him.
The tragedy of yesterday has ended an unpleasant domestic life, and today
the husband is a fugitive from justice with the crime of ___ upon his soul.
This second murder within a fortnight at the little town of Luther has
greatly excited the citizens, and it is feared that a lynching will occur if
Allen is apprehended.
The Daily Oklahoman
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
July 9, 1903
page 1
ALLEN CAPTURED
Luther Murderer Arrested In His Hotel Yesterday
Victim Died Last Night
Allen Fired Five Shots at Her at Close Range - Murderer Will Doubtless
Claim He Was Insane
William T. Allen, who in cold blood murdered his wife at Luther on
Tuesday afternoon, was placed in a cell at the county jail at 9 o'clock last
night.
Allen was arrested in his hotel at Luther at about 5 o'clock last evening
by Deputy Sheriff Sam Bartell of this city. After having scoured the brush all
through the previous night and the greater portion of yesterday, the deputy
sheriffs and posse were surprised to see him walk out from his hiding place
leisurely and proceed to town and enter his hotel, where he was arrested a few
moments later by Officer Bartell. He offered no resistance and his actions
then and since lend to a surmise that he will put up a plea of insanity when
brought to trial for his heinous crime.
Allen told the officers he had not had any food during the time he had been
in hiding, and was given his supper. He had nothing to say when the jail was
reached, but asked for some coffee after being placed in the cell.
"Strange as it may seem," said Officer Bartell last night,
"Allen seems to have the sympathy of the people at Luther, and at the
depot there, as we were waiting for the train, a number of prominent citizens
came up and, clasping his hand, said they regretted the occurrence, but deeply
sympathized with him. This, not withstanding the fact that the testimony which
was ____ at the coroner's investigation shows that the affair was a murder in
cold blood."
The Son's Statement
John Allen, son of the murdered woman, in his statement before the
coroner's jury, said"
"I saw the killing at about 3 o'clock on July 7. Allen fired five
times and before death, mother said four shots hit her. She came out about
dark Monday evening and father came out yesterday at about 10:30 am. They had
no trouble then; she would not talk to him. At about 2:30 in the afternoon she
started to town. When about 100 feet southwest of the house he overtook her
and told her he wanted to talk to her. She said she did not want to live with
him and did not not [sic] care to talk to him. He said: "If you will not
live with me, we will settle it right here." He took a pistol from his
outside coat pocket and shot her once. She then told him she would talk to
him. He had hold of her arm when he shot her. Twice more he then shot her in
rapid succession, both of which shots she said hit her. She jerked away from
him then and, trying to run, fell in a ditch. He followed and fired again,
this shot missing her, she said. She got up then and started for the house and
he again fired, this shot hitting her, according to her statement. Then she
ran to the house falling in the door.
"When the firing commenced I was fifty feet distant from them. My wife
began to scream then, and I ran to her and got there before mother did. When I
got mother in the house on the floor, father came and wanted in. I kept him
out, but when he agreed to give his gun to me I let him in, after he had
secured my promise to return it. He said he wanted to see his wife and would
then leave, Father went and pumped two buckets of water and helped to wash the
blood off mother. He then called for paper and wrote something on a piece of
paper and put it in his pocket."
(This note was afterward found and read: "I will my property to
Johnnie and May. Will find deeds in the bank. (Signed) "W. D. Allen"
The coat also contained $12.85 in money and Frisco checks, four in number
for $150.)
Unmoved by his Crime
The witness continued: "He then walked up and put his arms around
mother and said, "Darling, this never would have happened if you has
listened to me. Give me the gun; I am going to kill myself." He went to
the door and bid us all good-bye.
"Mother was still lying on the floor. We could not get her on the bed.
Father started past, walking along as if nothing had happened.
"I think he first reloaded the gun. He had snapped the gun twice at
his own head when coming toward the house. I do not think it was loaded at
that time. I thought it was a four-in-hand .38 caliber. I did not know he had
it until he began shooting. Never knew him to carry a gun before. Never knew
him to threaten mother or to threaten to kill himself any more than a few days
ago, he said everything would be fixed and all the property will be willed to
me.
"I sent a boy to town for Dr. Norman, and just as the later arrive,
father left by another door.
"Father and mother both ate dinner here yesterday at the witness'
home. The did not eat together. Father ate first with the family and mother
ate later, saying she was not very hungry and did not care to dine just then.
Father had done or said nothing during the day to cause me to believe he was
going to do this.
"Father wanted mother to come back and live with him and she did not
want to do so. I think that was the cause of the trouble.
"She left him on July 3, and had been living with the neighbors
since."
Mary Allen, wife of John Allen, testified to practically the same facts,
she having witnessed the shooting; said before death Mrs. Allen, the murdered
woman, said if she had known he would shoot her, she would not have started
from the house.
"Mother said she had heard he had threatened her life. After he had
gone mother said she did not think he would kill himself. She realized she was
dying at that time."
Deliberately Planned
In Allen's pocket was found a letter saying his wife had been untrue to
him. He said she would not live with him and he would not live without her,
and he did not want her to live and squander the ____ and for that reason he
intended to kill her... (clipping ends)
The Daily Oklahoman
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
July 12, 1904
page 6
Medical Expert in the Allen Murder Case
[article can be viewed by obtaining copy]
The Daily Oklahoman
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
December 4, 1904
page 1
Insanity the Defense in the Allen Murder Case
[article can be viewed by obtaining copy]
The Daily Oklahoman
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
December 6, 1904
page 2
His Attorney Says If Jury Acted on Testimony Already in; the Verdict Would
Be Adverse, But Declares Insanity Will Be Surely Shown By the Defense.
[article can be viewed by obtaining copy]