Hughes County,

Oklahoma

Gunshot Wounds May Be Fatal

CHADWICK Critically Wounded In Calvin Gun Battle Early Today

GADDY Evades Severe Injury As Pair Flees

Gunmen Being Tracked by County, Federal Officers

Holdenville Daily News, March 12, 1936 by Bill TUCKER

    A veteran Hughes County peace officer lay near death in a Holdenville hospital this afternoon while county, state and federal authorities searched for his attackers in one of the greatest and most united manhunts since Chester COMER, the mad hitch-hiker, was tracked to his doom last January.

    The officer, Luke CHADWICK, 41-year-old Calvin constable, was given only a slight chance to recover by the attending physician. He was wounded along with a companion officer, Deputy Sheriff Bill GADDY, shortly after midnight today by two unidentified gunmen on the deserted streets of Calvin, 20 miles southeast of Holdenville.

    GADDY suffered gunshot wounds in his right shoulder. CHADWICK was struck twice, the first bullet hitting him in the right ribs and ranging downward, entering his abdomen and lodging in his left hip. The second split his right ear, momentarily dazing him and knocking him to the ground.

    Although no trace of the fleeing attackers has been uncovered, officers were of the opinion one of the two gunmen was Pete TRAXLER, last of Oklahoma's notorious killers and wanted for the slaying of George LOOPER, Pauls Valley peace officer.

    The officers were struck down in front of a Calvin pig stand at 12:30 a.m. this morning while there awaiting the arrival of bloodhounds from the state prison at McAlester which they planned to use in the investigation of the burning of an Indian's barn near Wetumka.

    Search for the attackers had extended late this afternoon throughout all east central Oklahoma and into Arkansas. The pair was last seen cutting north on HW 270 which leads to /Wetumka. Sheriff Harve BALL, assisted by Department of Justice agents and state crime experts, was of the opinion the pair fled north, probably into the wooded section of northeastern Hughes County and western McIntosh.

Evidence upon which BALL and others based their theory that TRAXLER and possibly his brother-in-law might have been the GADDY-CHADWICK attackers was found in an abandoned Ford coupe, left behind at a Calvin garage.

    In the coupe officers found coffee, food, cooking utensils, a "bullet proof" vest similar to the one said to have been purchased by TRAXLER in Arkansas several weeks ago and additional clothing. The two men were described by GADDY, who narrowly escaped serious injury in a similar gun battle on local streets last year, as being well-dressed. Both wore brown cowboy hats and were taken at first to be officers themselves.

    The car in which the pair fled bore a Texas license the number of which could not be obtained before the battle started.

    While state crime bureau experts were completing their fingerprint work at Calvin, BALL, his staff and department of justice officers were spreading a purported dragnet into Pittsburg, Coal and Pontotoc counties in event the gunmen circled back and went into hiding in the Coal "whiskey" hills.

    GADDY was unable to furnish a description of the gunmen. Charley LITTLE, a Calvin filling station attendant, said the men bought gasoline at his place shortly before the shooting. He said one answered the description of TRAXLER and had a scar on his cheek. TRAXLER also has a scar on his cheek.

    CHADWICK, the only person who might be able to identify the other gunman in the event TRAXLER was the leader of the attack, is in an unconscious condition. He was inside the pig stand for nearly 30 minutes with the two men. Pig stand attendants were unable however, to give an accurate description of the men, saying they were "well-dressed".

    Before losing consciousness, CHADWICK, en route to the emergency hospital where he is now confined, told officers he believed he had shot one of the pair in the "middle". He said he did so when he saw then "get GADDY". Both CHADWICK and GADDY emptied their revolvers at the fleeing gunmen who were armed with both shoulder and pocket weapons. They too, GADDY said, emptied their guns at the officers.

    The shooting attracted sleeping residents of Calvin and Police Chief John CASTLEMAN, but CASTLEMAN with a hurriedly assembled posse was unable to find a trace of the would-be killers.

    Both CHADWICK and GADDY were rushed to Holdenville for treatment and neither was reported to be in a serious condition. CHADWICK's condition became critical shortly before dawn and Dr. W. E. FLOYD, chief attending physician, said his recovery chances were "about 25%."

    CHADWICK's relatives were summoned to his bedside today. He has been a resident of Hughes County for 30 years and is active in American Legion activities. The Legion commander, Adjutant C. E. GRAHAM, of the American Legion Breeding Post volunteered to join in a mass manhunt. During the day Calvin was the liveliest of all county communities. State, federal and county officials established headquarters in town.