| Notes |
- The Daily Democrat Thursday, March 15, 1906 page 1 column 2 BOURLAND FOR SHERIFF In this issue of the Democrat will be found the announcement of "Jim" Bourland for the democrat nomination for sheriff of Caddo county. Mr. Bourland is one of the best known men in the county and his reputation for rigid inforcement of the law is a household word in Anadarko and Caddo county. Notwithstanding the fact that he is a democrat from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head, he has held a position as deputy sheriff under Sheriff Thompson for four years and was recently appointed United States deputy marshal by the endorsements of the republican court officials of this district and also the republican organization of this county. Mr. Bourland says that if he is elected sheriff he will continue the same policy with reference to enforcement of the law that he has as deputy sheriff. He asks for the nomination purely on his merits as an officer and leaves it to the democrats to exercise their judgment between him and other men who may aspire to the office.
The Daily Democrat May 24, 1906 page 1 column 6 "JIM" BOURLAND PASSES AWAY The End Came at 6:30 This Morning -- A Brave Man And Fearless Officer At about 6:30 this morning Jim Bourland died from the effect of the wound he received in the pistol dual with Fred Hudson yesterday morning. Deceased was about 35 years of age, unmarried and resided with his mother in this city. He had for about four years held the position as deputy marshall and was one among the best, if not the best officer, in the Territory of Oklahoma. The burial will occur at the Anadarko cemetery at 2:30 tomorrow.
James C. Bourland was actually killed in Anadarko Oklahoma. Reviewing the newspaper articles of that time, I find that his mother, Martha Jane (Clark) Williams/Anderson/Bourland was still alive and is listed as the only living relative of James C. Bourland. So, we know that she was still alive on May 31, 1906, the date of the newspaper article. Other articles state that James was buried in the Anadarko Cemetery at 2:30 on May 25, 1906. Additional research on the burials in that Cemetery do not list his burial there. I just cannot believe that his grave was just overlooked, where ever it may be. He was such a highly respected law officer. I am attaching one of the articles from an Anadarko newspaper describing his funersl. After you have read the article, I am sure you will agree that someone of that stature would have had a nice tombstone. Why was he not so honored?
He is also listed by the U. S. Government as a Deputy U. S. Marshall who was killed in the line of duty.
So far, I have found no proof that his funeral was actually conducted in Anadarko at 2:30 on the 25th of May, 1906. The only thing I have is the item in the newspaper stating that "funeral will be at 2:30". Has his body been removed and buried somewhere else? His body simply vanishes after May 25, 1906.
We do not know where Martha Jane went to live after James' death. I have never been able to find any of the other Bourland children or her other child named Isom Taylor Anderson. Possibly she lived with some other relative. Martha Jane would have been 70 years old in 1906.
Funeral of James C. Bourland
Jim's funeral was described by the May 31, 1906, Daily Democrat, Anadarko, Oklahoma, in the following manner, Page 3, Column 1,
Funeral of James Bourland
"All the business houses of the city closed their doors today out of the respect for the man whose body was being consigned to the tomb. Altogether the largest funeral cortage ever gathered in Caddo County was assembled to do honor to the brave officer who gave his life for the peace of his country.
Enclosing the mortal remains was a beautiful silver mounted casket covered with the flowers of spring time.
From the undertaker's room, the body was carried by the Odd Fellows to the Opera House, the largest building in the city. The number of people in attendance was so large that only half of them could be admitted into the Opera House. Rev. Mr. Teis read a scripture lesson and Rev. Mr. Farrington delivered a short funeral address, while the hushed music of the old church melodies added solemnity to the house.
After this, the Odd Fellows, with the ceremonies of that order, laid to their lasting sleep, all that was mortal of James C. Bourland, as brave a man as ever yielded his life in the cause of law and order."
There was an additional article in that same paper concerning the funeral of Jim Bourland. That other article was as follows:
Page 4, column 4,
"A Lesson"
Parties who went to Anadarko on Friday to attend the funeral of Jim Bourland report that the funeral procession was the largest ever seen in Oklahoma. It required two hours time for the multitude to pass the bier and take a last look on all that was mortal of that fearless protector of the law.
Hundreds of people attended from all parts of the Territory. His mother, the only living relative, was present and her sorrow was overwhelming.
Jim Bourland, at one time in his life, was a bad man and had served one term in the reform school and two terms in the penitentiary. The last seven years, however, he had spent as an honorable and upright citizen, and for four years was a deputy sheriff and deputy U.S. Marshal. He was a terror to the evil-doers, and his life was at all times in the balance. Sheriff Thompson says he was the best officer he ever knew.
The funeral of Jim Bourland demonstrated one thing, and shows conclusively that no matter how bad a man had been in his younger days, the public will honor and respect him if he tries to do right.
Jim Bourland tried and did do right, and the forgiving spirit characteristic of the West gave to him friendship among his fellow men almost without an exception. He was killed for doing his duty and
killed by a men whom he had hunted down and arrested for murder.
Both are dead and gone. The public breathes easier from the fact that Hudson is dead. The public bows it's head in sorrow because Jim Bourland is dead.
Both were outlaws in their time. The public honored one with the largest funeral ever held in this country. The public exults at the death of the other."
Oklahoma Historical Society
Newspaper Index Card Database
Details of the record
ID16562
Last_NameBourland
First_NameJames C. (Killed)
subject1Murder
SubjectHudson, Wesley
NewspaperSayre Headlight
Date1906-06-07
Page2
Column3
NotesShot
Source:
http://www.okhistory.org/wpa/form.php?table_name=WPA&function=details&where_field=ID&where_value=16562
To order copy of newspaper: http://www.okhistory.org/OHS/catelog.php?subj=research
Here are several newspaper accounts of Jim Bourland's death and funeral:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~okcaddo/lawmen/bourland.txt
There is a drawing of James C. Bourland at this site:
http://oklemem.com/Agencies/Caddo%20County%20Sheriffs%20Office.htm
James C Bourland, Deputy Marshal/Deputy Sheriff
U.S. Marshals/Caddo County Sheriff's Department
There had been hard feelings between Deputy Bourland and William Wesley “Fred” Hudson for some time. The afternoon of May 22, 1906, Bourland had arrested Hudson for carrying a gun. The next time they saw each was in Robinson’s Saloon in Anadarko at 1 A.M. the morning of May 23. No words were spoken but both men immediately went for their guns. Deputy Bourland was shot in the stomach while Hudson was shot in both thighs. Bourland was operated on and three feet of intestines that were pierced in multiple places by bullet fragments, were removed. Bourland died at 6:30 A.M. on May 24 at the age of 36. Doctors also amputated one of Hudson’s legs and he died the day after Bourland.
PISTOL DUEL THIS MORNING Jim Bourland and Fred Hudson Both Probably Fatally Shot At one o'clock this morning there occured at Robinson's saloon in this city a desperate pistol duel between deputy sheriff Jim Bourland and Fred Hudson, in which both men received probably fatal wounds. Bourland is shot in the abdomen, the bullet passing through the intestines.Surgeons who operated removed about thirty inches of the intestines which had been injured by the passage of the ball. Hudson received two wounds, one in each thigh. In one the bone is shattered, while in the other is a dangerous flesh wound. Surgeons recommended amputation of the limb that has the shattered bone but Hudson declined to permit the operation. Bourland is a deputy sheriff, and Sheriff Thompson says of him that he is the best field officer in Oklahoma. In his official capacity he had been active in the effort to ferret out the murder of Luke (sic) Houston. Hudson was indicted for that murder, had his trial here a short time ago and was acquitted by the jury. Growing out of the proceeding in the above case there was a bitter enmity which needed only a slight occasion to precipitate the tragedy of this morning. Yesterday afternoon Bourland arrested Hudson for carryng a gun. He gave bond for his appearance at court this morning. When the two men met at the time of the shooting there was no parleying but each began at once the deadly work. Excitement has been running pretty high in the city today. All lovers of law and order looked upon Bourland as one of the best officers the county ever had, and they deplore the fate that has befallen him. At 3 o'clock this afternoon, under the influence of opiates, Officer Bourland was resting fairly well. On account of his most wonderful vitality his friends are hoping, almost against hope, that he may recover. At the same hour Hudson had consented to the amputation of his leg and surgeons were performing the operation. Week's Review (Apache) May 25, 1906 page 1 column 1 DOUBLE SHOOTING Jim Bourland and Fred Hudson Engage in Pistol Duel at Anadarko. Both Men are Fatally Wounded Jim Bourland, one of Sheriff Thompson's best and most fearless deputies was shot through the abdomen and perhaps fatally wounded at about one o'clock Wednesday morning in front of Charley Robison's saloon in Anadarko by Fred Hudson, who was recently tried and acquitted on a charge of complicity in the murder of Deputy United States Marshal Houston, near Swan Lake in 1902. Bourland was shot through the abdoman, the ball entering the left side of the intestines and passing clear through. Part of the intestines were removed and for a time the doctors thought he was dying, but Wednesday afternoon we were informed that they thought he had a chance for recovery. After being shot Bourland pulled his revolver and shot Hudson through the right leg close up to the body, shattering the bone so that the leg was amputated Wednesday afternoon. His condition is serious, but not necessarily fatal. The shooting was the result of bad blood engendered in the former trial. Bourland was the deputy who went to the Indian Territory and brought Hudson back to face the former murder charge and was one of the principal witnesses against him. Hudson had, we are informed, threatened to kill Bourland and one other man. On Tuesday afternoon he started out threatening to kill the other party but was disarmed by Bourland. At about one o'clock Wednesday morning some one informed Bourland that Hudson was drunk and hunting for trouble and he went to Robison's saloon, which was still open. Hudson met him at the door and the shooting commenced with the above results. The bystanders are of the opinion that Hudson shot first. There is considerable excitement at Anadarko over the affair. It is thought that Sheriff Thompson is also in danger as his life has been threatened by the remnants of the Hughes-Casey gang of outlaws who have operated in south-west Oklahoma and which has been almost completely wiped out through the efforts of Thompson, Bourland and the other members of the Sheriff's force. J.E. Byrne and a saloon man by the name of Grant Kennedy are under arrest in connection with the shooting. Byrne was one of the counsel for the defense in the recent trial of Hudson for murder. page 1 column 1 BOURLAND DEAD Deputy Sheriff Bourland died at 6:45 yesterday morning as a result of the wound inflicted upon him Wednesday morning. At our last report, yesterday noon, Hudson was reported as resting easy, having slept all forenoon, and the chances seem good for his recovery. The Daily Democrat May 31, 1906 page 3 column 1 Funeral of Jas. Bourland All the business houses of the city closed their doors today out of the respect of the man whose body was being consigned to the tomb. Altogether the largest funeral cortage ever gathered in Caddo county was assembled to do honor to the brave officer who gave his life for the peace of his country. Enclosing the mortal remains was a beautiful silver mounted casket covered with the flowers of spring time. From the undertaker's room the body was carried by the Odd Fellows to the Opera House, the largest building in the city. Not half the people could gain admission, so large was the attendance. Rev. Mr. Teis read a scripture lesson and Rev. Mr. Farrington delivered a short funeral address, while the hushed music of the old church melodies added solemnity to the house. After this, the Odd Fellows lodge, with the ceremonies of that order laid to their lasting sleep, all that was mortal of James C. Bourland, as brave a man as ever yielded his life in the cause of law and order. page 4 column 4 A LESSON Hobart parties who went to Anadarko Friday to attend the funeral of Jim Bourland report that the funeral procession was the largest ever seen in Oklahoma. It required two hours time for the multitude to pass the bier and take a last look on all that was mortal of that fearless protector of the law. Hundreds of people attended from all parts of the Territory. His mother, the only living relative, was present and her sorrow was overwhelming. Jim Bourland, at one time in his life was a bad man and had served one term in the reform school and two terms in the penatentiary. The last seven years, however, he had spent as an honorable and upright citizen, and for four years was a deputy sheriff and deputy U.S. Marshal. He was a terror to the evil-doers, and his life was at all times in the balance. Sheriff Thompson says he was the best officer he ever knew. Hudson, the man who killed Bourland, and who himself was killed, was an ex-convict and murderer, and was also at one time a deputy U.S. marshal. The funeral of Jim Bourland demonstrated one thing, and shows conclusively that no matter how bad a man had been in his younger days, the public will honor and respect him if he tries to do right. Jim Bourland tried and did do right, and the forgiving spirit characteristic of the West gave to him friendship among his fellow men almost without an exception. He was killed for doing his duty and by a man whom he had hunted down and arrested for murder. Both are dead and gone. The public breathes easier from the fact that Hudson is dead. The public bows its head in sorrow because Bourland is dead. Both were outlaws in their time. The public honored one with the largest funeral ever held in this country. The public exults at the death of the other. Do right, and the world will be with you. Taken from (Hobart News-Republican)
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Abt 1871 -
