The Alva Pioneer, Alva, Woods County, OK, Friday, November 11, 1910
Inquest Being Held - news article
Indications Are That Mabel Oakes Was Cruelly Murdered
Doctors Testify The Girl was strangled, that the stomach was empty and no attempt at poisoning was made
Judge Lawhon impaneled a jury this morning for the purpose of holding an inquest upon the dead body of Mabel Oakes, who yesterday was found in a room at the back end of the old opera house, which is directly connected with the office of N. L. Miller, lying upon her back, with her hands carefully folded across her breast, and with every appearance of having died at peace with mankind. Had not she been found in that little back room, where evidences of midnight revels appeared on every side, no great suspicion would have been aroused.
Sheriff Martin immediately took charge of the body, placed Miller under arrest and in jail, and this morning the wheels of retributive justice commenced to turn. Three physicians were called in, Drs. Bilby, Templin and Grantham, and the doctors performed a post mortem autopsy. Their evidence this morning was a revelation.
It had been supposed that the girl might have died from heart failure, or because she was making an attempt to procure an abortion, but the testimony of the physicians precluded this theory. They found that she was in a delicate condition, and had been so for five months, and in order to remove any doubt upon this question, they removed the fetus, and preserved it for future evidence.
They testified that the organs were all in normal condition, and Dr. Templin said that the heart was in the best condition of any that he had ever examined. Their testimony was unanimous upon the fact that the stomach was practically empty, and this organ showed no signs of any drug having been taken that would either aid in an abortion, or assist in an attempt at suicide, and the testimony of these physicians removed any and all suspicion that any attempt at suicide had been made.
The district court room was crowded this morning with the people of this city and vicinity, every one of whom hoped that something would arise to show that no murder had been committed. Old citizens said that for seventeen years, notwithstanding that we were living in a new country, filled with pioneers, and from which could not be kept a certain element that follows the boundaries of pioneer settlements, that no murder had ever disgraced the annals of our city, and each and every one hoped that this would not prove to be the first.
However, it is our duty to record the facts. The testimony of the other witnesses sworn, points with an unnering finger to the fact that a foul murder has been committed in the broad light of day within the borders of this little city. Mr. Oakes testified that his daughter had been in the employ of Miller for some time, and that in the months that had gone by he had kept careful note of her condition. That she had up to a certain time showed that the female functions were performing their usual duties, and that he discovered the date in which they stopped.
Then further noting the appearance of the neck he and his wife commenced an investigation, charged the daughter with her condition, but found that she strenuously denied that there was anything wrong. He then went to Miller, and the latter also denied that he was responsible for Mabel's condition. However, while Miller attempted to put the father off by saying that he had a gun that would shoot as straight and as often as any that could be found, he also called the father in one day and said that he intended to procure a divorce, and that he and Mabel would soon be married. This was the most damaging testimony introduced, outside of the evidence of the physicians, as it showed that Miller practically confessed that there were reasons why he should marry the girl.
The evidence discloses that this girl was in a healthy condition two hours prior to being found dead. The fascinator that she wore was still upon her when found, and this was wrapped about her neck, and the ends carefully tucked away in under her waist at the back of her neck. The physicians testified that death had been procured by strangulation, and that the girl herself could not have possibly strangled herself, and then placed her hands in the condition in which they were found folded across her breast.
Mr. Oakes further testified that he was out on a search for his daughter, and that he was on his way to Miller's office, and saw Miller waiving his hand at him, to come to his place, and heard him say to hurry up. When he arrived Miller took him into the room where lay the dead body of the girl and that he noticed that Miller was under the influence of liquor. This was practically the testimony up to the hour at which the coroner's jury adjourned for dinner, and every reader can draw his own conclusions.
Coroner's Verdict
State of Oklahoma,
County of Woods, ss.
Before I.B. Lawhon, Justice of the Peace of the city of Alva, Woods County, Oklahoma, acting coroner:
We, the jury impaneled, charged and sworn to inquire into the cause of death of Mabel Oakes, do upon our oaths find that the said Mabel Oakes is dead, that she came to her death on the 9th day of November, 1910, in Woods County, Oklahoma, and that said death was caused by violence, to-wit: by strangulation, with a scarf in the hands of another person with intent to kill and murder the said Mabel Oakes, and from the evidence before us, we believe said person to be N. L. Miller.
Jurors:
Geo W. Crowell, foreman
J.T. Herold,
C.R. Moore,
T. B. Roby,
Wm. Goebel,
Russell Dugan,
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