On the morning of September 22, 1902, there was a rainstorm, so both parties went to town for supplies (since they couldn’t work on the farm). The McFarlands got there first and were waiting on the Brooks. Lewis, dad’s brother, left town to warn the Brooks family what was waiting on them in town. Some of the Riddle family members were stationed on the outskirts of town to serve as watchdogs. They stopped Lewis and wanted to know where he was going He said to water his horse. They threatened to shoot him if he didn’t go back to town, so he did. Willis, Clifton and John went to the Post Office. There they found an unarmed elderly George Riddle. He and his son Lon were part of the McFarland gang. John Brooks began to slap him around and he backed out the door into Willis. Willis pulled a gun on him. A Deputy US Marshall saw what was happening and loaded a shotgun. It “accidentally” went off into the floor (a witness questioned if it was accidental or not). The shot started the gunfight, since the Brooks and McFarlands both thought the others shot first. The McFarlands were reported to be shooting wildly in the direction of the Brooks. George Riddle ran toward the Marshall for protection, but Willis shot him in the back of the head. While he continued to shoot Riddle 2 more times, he was shot in the hip. He fell and arose to continue shooting and was fatally shot in the chest. Cliff Brooks was shot in the leg, neck, chest, and gun hand. The wound to his hand was so painful he threw his gun down and tried to run to safety. Lon Riddle and Jim McFarland ran him down on horseback and killed him. A bullet severed his spine. John Brooks was shot several times, also. He was still in the Post Office. They believed he was going to die, too. Ma (Rannie) hauled John and Willis Brooks to their home east of town. Daddy sat on spring seat with her. She wouldn’t let him look back at the dead and wounded. Daddy said that he would sneak a peak every now and then.
