Volume 15 , Issue 23

November 14, 1910 - Official Accused of Girl's Death

In The Daily Ardmoreite (Ardmore, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 25, Ed. 1, Monday, November 1910, page two, we find this headline concerning a Alva girl that was strangled, and her employer, a married man, held for murder. This has to do with the mysterious death of Mabel Oakes found (11 November 1910) in the back room of the old opera house, in Alva, Oklahoma. [found on our OkieLegacy website, "Mystery of Old Opera House," in Alva, Oklahoma]

Alva, Okla., Nov. 12, 1910 -- The Alva Girl was strangled. Her employer (N. L. Miller), a married man, was held for murder. The coroner's jury was in session on this date and holding an inquest upon the dead body of Mabel Oakes, found 11 November 1910, in the afternoon in the back room of the old opera house, which was connected with the office of

N. L. Miller, a justice of the peace in Alva. mabel Oakes had been in the employ of Miller, and the autopsy disclosed that the girl was in a delicate condition and had been so for five months. When found she was lying upon her back with her hands folded upon her breast and the fascinator which she wore tied about her neck, with the ends carefully tucked in at the back.

The physicians testified that the heart was in a normal condition and that the stomach was empty, this evidence precluding the theory of suicide. The doctors also testified that the girl was strangled to death, the fascinator being used for that spur pose, and that some person had committed the deed. The father of the girl testified that he had charged the girl with being in a delicate condition and that he had also accused Miller to his face of being responsible for her condition.

Miller denied, but afterward called the father in and said that he intended to procure a divorce and marry the girl, thus practically confessing that he should protect the girl.

Mabel Oakes was about twenty-two years old and was a bright and cheerful girl. Miller was a man of family and had a wife and two beautiful daughters. He had been a hard drinker. There were indications here that the people might take the matter in their own hands, but the sheriff was an official who would protect his prisoner to the last, and the people know this. The coroners jury returned a verdict saying that Mabel Oakes came to her death at the hands of N. L. Miller and recommending that he be held for trial. The evidence disclosed that he was seen going into his office yesterday (11 November 1910) afternoon and that he was alone with he girl.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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