Old Opera House Murder

Old Opera House Mystery

Cast of Characters

Alva' First Homicide - 9 November 1910

Click the Linked names to view photo, info and testimony. Most of the info came from The Alva Pioneer Souvenir Edition printed in 1903 and the 1911 Transcript of Case #714, Woodward County, Oklahoma. There was a change of venue from Woods County to Woodward County in 1911 with a trial before Honor James B. Cullison, District Judge and a Jury. Trial commencing on September 6-12 1911. If you have any info or know of someone who has photos, info of the Cast of Characters, Please Email Linda. Thanks!

Defense Witnesses -- State Witnesses -- The Jury

Mabel Oakes - 23 year-old, clerk & stenographer for Justice of Peace N. L. Miller. She was born 15 October 1887 and died 9 November 1910. Buried in the Oakes family Plot, Alva Cemetery, Blk 4, Lot 001, Plot 8.

Justice N. L. Miller (a.k.a. Nelson L. Miller) - Justice of the Peace of Alva with offices in the Old Opera House and employer of Mabel Oakes for over a year. Came to Alva in 1897; built first Steam Roller mill which he conducted for year or more. In 1903 he was with the firm of Bell (James W. Bell) & Miller. Miller was born July, 1859, Michigan.

Rachel B. Miller - Wife of Nelson L. Miller. Rachel married Nelson L. Miller. 5 Sept. 1888. Divorced July 24, 1916. Rachel was born Oct., 1863, Scotland; died 9 Aug. 1934, Long View, Washington

Lois Miller - Daughter of Nelson L. Miller. Lois was born Jan., 1888, Kansas. NOT sure what, when or where Lois vanished. She would have been about two years younger than Mabel Oakes in 1910.

Eva Miller - Daughter of Rachel & Nelson Miller. Eva was born June, 1891, Kansas. Married to HOFER and moved to Los Angeles, California.

Minta L. Miller - Daughter of Rachel & Nelson Miller. Minta was born March, 1892, Kansas. Married Morrison R. Couch and moved to Longview, Washington.

Bert Lavern Miller - son of Rachel & Nelson Miller. Bert was born Nov., 1898, Oklahoma. Married Elvira and moved to Los Angeles, California.

George A. Miller - Son of Rachel & Nelson Miller. George was born 1903, Oklahoma. Married Jennette and moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado.

George W. Oakes - Father of Mabel and Clarence Oakes. George born 12 Oct. 1861, died 17 Jan 1932. George & Carrie buried in Alva Cemetery, Blk 4, Lot 001 (Oakes family plot). The Oakes family lived on a farm eight miles north of Alva before they moved in Alva around 1908 or 1909 to Barnes Ave., four blocks east of the southeast corner of the square.

Carrie Howard Oakes - Mother of Mabel and Clarence Oakes. Wife of George W. Oakes. Carrie Howard was born 30 Dec. 1863, died 23 Sept. 1953 and buried with her husband and children in Alva Cemetery, Oakes family plot. During the Summer of 1911, Carrie had typhoid fever.

Clarence Oakes - born 30 April 1895, died 15 July 1979. Younger brother of Mabel Oakes. Later in his life he married Pauline. Clarence is buried in Alva Cemetery, Oakes family Plot.

J. N. Tincher - Medicine Lodge, Kansas' leading Attorney hired by George Oakes to assist County Attorney McCrory in the prosecution.

Claud McCrory - County Attorney prosecuting the case.

McCrory was a Native of Indiana. He lived in Kansas several years. He came to this county at opening and secured a farm near Waynoka. Afterwards he sold it and bought property in Alva where he was residing in 1904. He taught school, was instructor in the county teachers institute, and was nominee for county attorney in 1900. He was reading clerk in the Territorial Council 1901. He was elected City Attorney in 1901, and re-elected in 1903. He was considered a good lawyer and public speaker. On 9 January 1911 - County Attorney Claud McCrory resigned as prosecuting attorney when public sentiment had arisen that he was stalling in the Woods County case #612, N.L.Miller vs State. McCrory had to do one or the other ... resign or prosecute Nelson Miller for the death of Mabel Oakes.

Moman Pruiett

Oklahoma City criminal lawyer engaged by the Law Enforcement League to help prosecute the case. Howard K. Berry wrote a book entitled, He Made It Safe To Murder: The Life of Moman Pruiett, published by the Oklahoma Heritage Foundation, 700 pages. Out of print now.
The Oklahoma Bar Association article written by Judge Lee Card had this to say about Moman Pruiett, ".....The son of a former confederate Army officer, Pruiett was admitted to the bar of Indian Territory on a judge's motion. At the time of his admission he had a first grade education and two felony convictions. He also had a first-rate mind, wonderful oratorical skills and unquenchable ambition. Moman Pruiett became an outrageous character. He had little or no regard for the truth or the court system. He combined bullying with persuasiveness and was fabulously successful as a criminal defense attorney. Eventually, bad investments, bad luck and alcohol abuse ruined Pruiett's career and he lost everything. He died in a rooming house in 1944." ...READ MORE about Moman Pruiett

Erskine W. Snoddy - one of the Attorneys for the Defense. He retired from the case about the time it got transferred to Woodward county.

Judge L. T. Wilson - Another Attorney for the Defense. Opening Statement

Chris H. Mauntel -

Another Attorney for the Defense. Resigned as attorney for defense and was later a witness for defense. Chris H. Mauntel resided in Alva, Oklahoma thirteen years. He was an attorney at law. Mauntel was a native of Indiana and settled in Alva to open a law office. He was elected county attorney in 1900 and served 2 years, after which he resumed the general law practice. He gave his official duties careful attention, and was one of the best educated, most sociable gentlemen in the county. Mauntel testified that he saw Miller twice on 9 Nov. 1910. The last time he saw Miller was twenty minutes until three o'clock in the afternoon. The first time he saw Miller was at the republican headquarters over the Woods County Citizens Bank. Mauntel testified that Miller left the republican headquarters around 3:10p.m. heading west on a bike over to the west side of the square and Jackson's Cigar Store & Democratic headquarters(just north of Monfort's Drug store on College Ave.) to get the results of the general election held the day before. This is contrary to what Mr. Rauh testified to concerning the defendant, N. L. Miller.

R. A. Cameron -

He was the Judge presiding over the Woods County Case. Native of Illinois. April 19, 1861, enlisted in Co. C 11th Illinois infantry. Afterwards, on account of changes and consolidations, he joined the 110th regiment and was elected First Lieutenant of Co. D, but in a few weeks the captain of Co. K resigned and Mr. Cameron was elected to the position, which he held until 1864 when he resigned and entered the Ohio University at Athens, and remained two years. Then spent a year in the law department of Michigan University. practiced law in Okio and Missouri a few years. he was a member of the Missouri legislature in 1876. 1880 he moved to Eldorado, Kans., and 1885 to Medicine Lodge, Ks, and 1888 held office of county attorney. He came to Alva, Sept. 16, 1893, established a law office, and entered a farm two miles northwest. July 24, 1897, he was appointed register US Land office at Alva, and filled the position efficiently for four years. The Flynn and Barnes fight in Oklahoma, and treachery of Cong. Governor of Ohio, defeated his re-appointment.

Judge Isaac B. Lawhon - Justice of the Peace of Alva, Woods County, Oklahoma. Testified as the State's witness against Squire N. L. Miller.

Sheriff Hugh Martin, Jr. -

Woods County Sheriff. On 27 June 1910, filed a 'Petition for Injunction' against Justice Miller & Constable Lewellen in a civil case concerning a confiscated barrel of Beer. A little bit about Sheriff Hugh Martin, though... The following information was sent to me by his great-grandson, Charles M. Cook. Descendants of Hugh Martin & Hugh & Ida B. Martin's Obits tell from where they came and settled and how long Hugh Martin held the position of Sheriff of Woods County, Oklahoma. Hugh Martin, Jr. made the land rush into Woods County. His horse threw him and he got no claim. His father-in-law, Joseph Barnett and brother Lemuel Barnett made the run as well. Only Lemuel got a claim, although all of them stayed in Woods County. Martin was the first Sheriff after statehood. Martin served as government assessor in this sector prior to statehood and was elected sheriff after statehood was granted by congress. He was defeated for re-election by a single vote on 9 Nov. 1910. He later ran again and was elected in 1923. He served two terms before retiring from public office. Martin lived in the Dacoma community. He was born in Mexico, Missouri, August 23, 1871. Martin died 9/15/1941, 70 years of age, in Pratt, Kansas hospital Sunday afternoon and was buried north of Dacoma, in the Union Center Cemetery the following Tuesday. He came to this sector of the state from Turon, Kansas. He lived in this county for 48 years. His wife (Ida Barnett) died 12/4/1940. Martin was a charter member of the Alva Masonic Lodge. Mrs. Martin was a native of Iowa and came to Oklahoma at the opening of the Cherokee strip, settling on a farm seven miles southeast of Alva. She lived there with her husband until about 1936 when they moved to Dacoma.

Coroner's Jury - T. B. Roby, J. T. Herold, Geo. W. Crowell (foreman), R. B. Dugan, C. R. Moore, W. M. Goebel. impaneled by Judge Lawhon on 9 Nov. 1910.

Renfrew-Howerton Undertaking - Funeral services

Reverend G. W. McQuiddy - Conducted funeral service for Mabel Oakes

Law Enforcement League (Law and Order League) - "The Law Enforcement Leagues were usually locally established and funded with the purpose of enforcing local moral standards, whether they dealt with booze, kissing in motion pictures, separation of races, or investigating the backgrounds of newcomers to be sure they were morally and socially acceptable to the town fathers."

Henry L. Noah - Loaned Nelson & Rachel Miller $300, 1 March 1911 at 10% per annum.

Standard Savings & Loan Assoc. - Loaned Nelson & Rachel Miller $1200, 24 Jan. 1910, Block 25, Lot 16 (SE corner, 3rd St, two-story house), Alva, Oklahoma, Woods Cty, personal residence.

J. P. Grove - One of Nelson L. Miller's Defense attorney's after the Preliminary Hearing. He replace C. H. Mauntel, who did not show up on the Defense Attorney list after that.

Judge James B. Cullison - Enid, Oklahoma Judge that heard the Woodward Case #714, N. L. Miller Murder Trial.

Ary Allen - Official Court Reporter, 20th Judicial District, in Woodward County, Oklahoma, Woodward County Court Reporter, Stenographer.

Sandor James Vigg

(Click Link for information concerning Sandor J. Vigg) - County Attorney of Woods County, State of Oklahoma, 1908-1916. Vigg replaced Claud McCrory (who was forced to resign as county attorney). Sandor J. Vigg was candidate for re-election as county attorney in 1912. he was was born in Austria-Hungary July, 1879. He came to Barber County, Kansas, with his parents, April, 1891. From there he came to Woods County about 16 years ago, where he has since resided, the first 12 years in Fritzlen township and the last 4 years in Alva. He was a graduate of the Northwestern State Normal at Alva and of the Law Department of University of Kansas. He was admitted to practice law before the Supreme and the all other Courts of Oklahoma in June, 1908, and since that time he had been a member of the Woods County Bar, engaged in the active practice of law. As a lawyer, had actual experience in conducting, and prosecuting about 400 civil and criminal cases in our Courts. From murder cases down to violations of the prohibitory laws, and from the famous assessor controversy down to the Pioneer printing 'grab.' He was known as a prosecutor of ability, strength and vigor.

Charles J. Swindall - Defendant N. L. Miller's attorney from Woodward

R. W. Dick, Warden - Oklahoma State Penitentiary, McAlester, Oklahoma

Jerry Coover - Clerk District Court, Woodward County, Oklahoma.

Defendant's Witnesses...
Attorney's for the Defendant: L. T. Wilson and Charles Swindall.
Woodward County, Sept., 1911 - Case #-714
The State's Witnesses...
Prosecutors for the State, Law Enforcement League & George Oakes... Sandor J. Vigg, County Attorney Woods County; Moman Pruiett (for the Law Enforcement League) and J. N. Tincher (for George Oakes).