Volume 17 , Issue 31

NW Okie's Journey

Last week we brought you the 1956 mysterious death of a young married woman, Mildred Ann Reynolds, who was found burned beyond identification on a rural road a couple of miles east of the community of Avard, in Northwest Oklahoma.

This week we bring you the first homicide of 9 November 1910, three years after statehood (1907), that brought considerable excitement with mob mentality buzzing through the government square of Alva, Oklahoma. [Image on left is a 1903 photo of Nelson L. Miller, Justice of Peace, of Alva, Oklahoma.]

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Walking With Sadie

Woof! Woof! Well! Labor Day weekend brought the bikers and vacationers to Vallecito Lake and Durango, Colorado this last weekend.

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Old Opera House Mystery, 9 November 1910

The image on the left is a 1909 platte map of the downtown Alva square, showing block 49, Lots 1-16, of the location of the "Old Opera House" where the mysterious death of Mabel Oakes occurred 9 November 1910, Tuesday.

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(1910) Held After Girl Dies

If we travel back to 1910, November 12, we might read in The Washington Post, dated 12 November 1910, page 5, a news article, "Held After Girl Dies," concerning the mysterious death of Mabel Oakes, who was found dead, Tuesday morning, 9 November 1910, in the rear room of the office of the Justice of the Peace. The office used to be home of an Old outdoor opera house, which was converted into the office of Justice of the Peace, N. L. Miller.

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(1910) For Death of An Ottawa Girl

It was reported in "The Evening Herald," in Ottawa, Kansas, 5 December 1910, page 8, which read: "For Death of An Ottawa Girl." Mabel Oakes had died mysteriously in an old opera house, converted to an office of the Justice of Peace, N. L. Miller, in downtown Alva, Woods county, Oklahoma, 9 November 1910.

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(1910) Prisoner Fears Freedom

As reported in "The Evening Herald," in Ottawa, Kansas, Thursday, 17 November 1910, page 1, "Prisoner Fears Freedom." A man accused of nutder of former Ottawa girl was in jail. N. L. Miller of Alva, (Oklahoma), although a justice of the Peace, refused to be released on bond.

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(1910) Magistrate Held

As reported in "The Cincinnati Enquirer," in Cincinnati, Ohio, 12 November 1910, Saturday, page 1, the headlines read: "Magistrate Held," after his stenographer was found dead in his courtroom.

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(1910) Foul Murder At Alva (Okla.)

As reported in "The evening News," in Ada, Oklahoma, 11 November 1910, Friday, page 1, the headlines read: "Foul Murder At Alva." The peaceful dead body of Mabel Oakes was found in the backroom of Miller's office, on the South side of the square, in downtown Alva, Oklahoma.

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(1911) Killed Ottawa Girl

The murderer of Mabel Oakes gets life imprisonment sentence in Alva, Oklahoma. Mabel, the victim, was a stenographer, found dead in office of her employer. The Evening Herald, out of Ottawa, Kansas, 14 September 1911, Thursday, page 1, reported headlines: "Killed Ottawa Girl." Finger prints were allegedly reported on Mabel's neck which led to arrest of Lawyer Miller and he would pay penalty.

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(1911) Miller Given Life Term In Penitentiary

"The Wichita Daily Eagle," out of Wichita, Kansas, dated 14 September 1911, Thursday, page 2, the following headlines: "Miller Given Life Term In Penitentiary." N. L. Miller of Alva was found guilty in the death of Mabel Oakes, his stenographer. Miller faced his family with smile after sentence was pronounced.

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Chronology of Old Opera House Mystery

This is the chronology that we have put together for the Mysterious death of Mabel Oakes, 9 November 1910, in downtown Alva, Oklahoma, at the "Old Opera House," on the South side of the square, Barnes Avenue.

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