Submitted by
Loyd Bishop

DEATH ENDS CONTEST.

As the result of a long drawn out land contest, J.C. Potts was shot and instantly killed by Thomas Holland at 11 o’clock Saturday night on the contested claim three miles southeast of Newkirk in this county.
The feud between the parties is of long standing, running back to the opening of the strip, when both settled upon the same piece of land and shortly afterwards began a contest for its possession. The case has from time to time been decided in Holland’s favor, and lately he has received a patent for the land. Potts, however, has managed to keep the case before the courts in one shape or another, thus holding possession of a portion of the land, which he lived upon and cultivated.
The feud has been bitter, and Holland has lost several head of horses from his pasture, which he accused Potts of stealing or assisting to steal. Two or three colts were also shot or cut to pieces in the pasture, and Potts was supposed to be guilty of the acts.
Lately Holland has been missing corn from his field, and Saturday night he determined to watch the field for the purpose of apprehending the thief. He concealed himself in the field and waited. At about 11 o’clock he heard some one shucking corn in the field, and prowling in the direction from which the sound came, discovered Potts in the act of filling a sack with corn. He raised his gun and fired and Potts fell to the ground dead.
Holland is a married man with a family; Potts was a single man, his sister-keeping house for him. The feud has grown so bitter of late that it was feared that a tragedy would result, and the neighbors are not greatly surprised or excited at the outcome. The sentiment of the people who are familiar with the case seems to be with Holland, Potts being looked upon as the aggressor in most of trouble. Dr. O.T. Morey, county coroner, was called, but decided that under the circumstances no inquest was necessary. –Ponca City Courier.