Comments

Volume 8, Issue 17 - Feature #1808

Duchess Corner

- 2014-05-11 13:47:58

Mrs. Donald Oakes, I just ran across your comment concerning Mable Oakes' murder of 1910, in Alva, OK, that you made in 2006-05-06. You mentioned that you might have a fragile copy of Mable Oakes. Also, during my research on the murder, we know Mable was about 5 months or so pregnant. That could count for the heaviness of her weight back then. If you still have a fragile copy of Mable, I was wondering if you would/could make a copy for me to put a picture to Mable in the story? Thnx.

Linda McGill Wagner - 2014-05-11 13:45:35

I have an old picture that I believe Pauline Oakes told me was Mabel. I never thought of her being that large of a woman as described in the <u>Old Opera House Mystery</u>. I think she did have a longish neck. Since this was the first murder in Woods County (after it became a county) it was called the "darkest day" in Woods County. <br><br> Pauline was upset that I had dug into the details and told her about finding out that Mable had been murdered. Of course you know the old boy had ordered instruments to perform and abortion and Mable didn't want any part of his "surgery". Being an Oakes, I would imagine that Mable didn't go down without a huge struggle! This was all before he strangled Mabel with her own scarf.<br><br> I had stopped at the historical Mud House on my way to Oklahoma City one day (when we lived in Edmond 1994) and the people there told me that it was not unusual in those days to just "do away" with older or sickly wives, (probably nagging wives too) or any woman who was causing a man a problem, or if he had his heart set on a younger woman. I could all be arranged and often was, men very seldom were caught, tried, and convicted. At that time the historical people in charge had ask me to bring my story to them for Okie history. However, I never went back that way.<br><br> Mabel also had a younger brother, named Walter, I'm not for sure how much younger he was than Clarence. I will have to dig out all of my papers and get a copy of Mabel's picture, which is very fragile.<br><br> I always spent weeks at a time with Pauline on our vacations out in Alva. She was a quiet woman and the boys never pumped her for information on the family history. However, I had lots of time to ask questions on those long hot afternoons where I sat in the kitchen while Pauline cooked. While the swamp cooler hummed, and drinking lots of iced tea and eating Pauline''s great pies.<br><br> I always told Don I was going to write a book on Mabel. Mrs. Oakes wasn''t too happy to hear that! :) Call me Mrs. Donald Oakes, since the my name is Judy and Max used to be married to a Judy. -- Judy Kay Oakes, Ft. Myers Beach, FL

Mrs. Donald Oakes - 2006-05-06 12:11:03

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