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News Article
Indiahoma IOOF Cemetery, Comanche County, Oklahoma
Submitted by: Wanda Purcell
© Bureau County Republian Bureau County, Illinois 23 December 1909 William Spake Information concerning the death of William Spake received this week by his brother, Ernest Spake of Dover, in a letter from his father, Oliver Spake, states that the shooting occurred at Eufaula, Oklahoma, and that Hiram Colyer, the eighteen year old son of G.C. Colyer, Mr. Spake's business partner, did the shooting. It is said that Mr. Spake was murdered in cold blood. The shooting occurred on the Main Street of Eufaula about 1 o'clock on the afternoon of December 9 and on the following day, G.C. Colyer, father of the boy who committed the deed was arrested and charged with complicity in the crime. The boy was captured Friday night near Porum, a station twenty miles ease of Eufaula, on the Midland Valley Railroad. He was brought back to Eufaula, which is the county seat and he is now being held for trial on a charge of murder. William Spake went to Stigler, Oklahoma with his parents, Mr. And Mrs. Oliver Spake of Van, Okla, the fifth day of last March and brouht a house and three lots there. He also purchased a farm of forty acres in Roger Mills County. This summer he sold his land in Roger Mills County for $500 and went to Eufaula, and entered into a partnership with G.C. Colyer and his son, Hiram Colyer, both of whom were strangers to him. The business prospered and at the time of the murder the firm had deposited $800 in the First National Bank of Eufaula. A few days before the tragedy was enacted, G.C. Colyer drew the $800 from the bank and when Mr. Spake went there to check out his share of the money, he discovered his partner's treachery. A dispute occurred before the two men and it is said that Colyer threatened Spake. It is said that Colyer purchased a 38-caliber revolver and gave it to his son with instructions to kill Spake. A short time later, the young man saw Spake on the street and sneaking up behind him fired five shots. The first shot struck the victim in the right hand, passing through the second finger; the second bullet hit him in the right side, passing through his body and another penetrated his back and out below his heart. Two of the shots went wild. After being shot, Spake staggered about thirty feet and then fell dead. The murderer having accomplished his purpose turned and fled. Mr. Spake had $117 on his person when he was killed. The body was buried at Indiahoma, Oklahoma where the parents of the dead man expect to make their home. The relatives from Bureau County were unable to attend trhe funeral. Note: {Oliver Spake is buried in the Reydon White Rose Cemetery having passed away in 1914.} |
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