Solomon Homer

Note: The first item was posted before, but I just came across the second article recently.

Caddo Herald, October 9, 1914

Sol Homer Killed in Durant

    Sunday afternoon about 3:30 o’clock Sol J. Homer was shot and instantly killed by Cliff Moye, in Durant.

    Full particulars of the trouble are hard to obtain and difficult to judge. I seems, however, that Homer and Moye for some four weeks have been having trouble, said to have started over a plumbing bill. It also is alleged that Homer had made threats against Moye; that the parties had met often and each time had renewed the trouble and on Sunday afternoon they met on Second Avenue in front of E.E. Fuller’s office, just north of the stairway leading to Homer’s office, and Moye began firing; one shot striking the face and two entering the body, one piercing the heart, causing instant death. An automatic pistol was found between Homer’s feet, none of the shots having been fired, it is said.

    Moye was arrested and place in jail awaiting examining trail. He is a plumber by trade being employed by the Mitchell Plumbing Co., has a father prominent in the jewelry business in Dallas.

    Sol J. Homer was about 44 years old, was enrolled as a fullblood Choctaw, was connected with some of the principal families of the Choctaw Nation, was once National Secretary of the nation and was the Republican nominee for delegate to the Constitutional Convention for the 109^th district, and defeated by Gabe E. Parker. Until three years ago he lived in Caddo, practicing law, and otherwise helping his people.

    He was a graduate of the Roanoke College, Virginia, had a degree from Harvard, and Kansas University. he was well known to everybody. At times he was very brilliant, contributing much to the literature of his tribe; his work having been published in many publications.

    The funeral and interment occurred at Maytubby Cemetery five miles northwest of Caddo Monday noon.

    Deceased leaves two children, St. Clair Homer, of Caddo, and a seven months old babe, and wife who live in Durant.

 

The Caddo Herald

October 23, 1914

Homer’s slayer in Jail—No Bail

In the examining trial of Cliff Moye, charged with the murder of Solomn J. Homer October 4, 1914, before Justice C. A. Woodward in Durant Monday the court held the defendant over to district court without bail. It is possible that a writ of habeas corpus will be (__) out as this is the only way for Moye to secure bond.

The first witness called was R. B. Herndon who conducts a cold drink stand where the tragedy occurred. He was acquainted with both the deceased and defendant. Herndon stated that he was up stairs over the corner drug store when the first shot was fired, and did not come down until immediately after the shooting. He saw the first part of the difficulty, being in front of his place of business. He stated that Homer was standing in front of Fuller & Benson’s office when he saw Moye coming across the street from the Durant Sate Bank building. Moye was about fifty feet from Homer when he first saw him. Herndon saw Moye pull his gun from his right hand coat pocket about 25 or35 feet from Homer and exclaim, “Throw up your hands,” and with an oath, “Don’t get that gun,” Herndon stated that he did not see Mr. Homer after this, but he was watching Moye who was carrying his gun in his right hand. Herndon said he started to take hold of Moye but changed his mind and ran past him into the stairway leading over the Corner Drug store. About the time he reached the top of the stairs he heard one shot, and in a short time three more. He stated that the first report seemed louder and more distinct than the other three. As he passed Moye on his way to the stairway he said, “Please don’t do that.” Herndon returned to the street after firing had ceased and saw Homer lying on the sidewalk with an automatic pistol between his legs.

On cross examination Herndon stated that Moye was drinking to some extent, but that in his opinion he was not drunk. He stated that Homer was drinking, but not more than he had seen him at other times. Herndon had never heard Homer make any threats against Moye. He had in a joshing way told Moye that he had better not fool with that Indian. This was in a conversation in which Moy was telling him of some trouble he had with deceased. Moye did not make any threats against Homer during this conversation except he stated that “that Indian must not fool with me.”

R. C. Hudson was the next witness. He knew both parties. He was inside of Saul’s Stable about 60 feet north of Homer when he heard the first shot. He heard someone cry “don’t do that” or “look out”. He immediately came to the front and saw Homer stepping sideways on the sidewalk in a northeasterly direction in front of Herndon’s cold drink stand. Homer had his left arm up and looked like his right hand was in his right trouser’s pocket. He would not state for certain just where deceased’s right hand was, but he was of the opinion that it was in his pants pocket. Homer stepped almost against the wall, turned toward the street and pitched forward, falling with his head hanging off the sidewalk.

He saw a gun between Homer’s legs after he fell but did not know where it came from. The three last shots were fired after witness got to the front of the stable. He saw Moye fire them at Homer and Moy continue to snap his pistol after Homer had fallen and was six or eight feet from deceased. He was sure Moye snapped his pistol twice and probably more. He stated that he immediately walked to where Homer was lying and he was dead when he reached him. He said he saw deceased early that Sunday morning and was of the opinion that he was drinking to some extent then. Moye was in front of the stable several times that day and he acted as though he was drinking.

J. L. Elliott, the constable who arrested Moye was next. He arrested Moye on Main street in front of the Durant National Bank. He took a 38 caliber Iver Johnson pistol from his pocket. The pistol contained 4 empty hulls and one blank cartridge. Plunger was on the blank cartridge when he got it. Gun contained five chambers.

Dr. Yeats stated that he made an examination of the body and wounds of the deceased at the undertaker’s after the tragedy. He said deceased had three wounds, one on the left side of face near cheek bone. There was no exit from this wound but it extended backward and downward; after bullet entered the cavity of the mouth it was impossible to see accurately where it went. The face was powder burned from this wound. Another wound was the left chest and arm. This was only a flesh wound going just under the skin coming out about an inch from where it entered, and entering the underside of the arm, going through the fleshy part. There were two holes in the vest where the bullet entered and went out and two holes in the coat sleeve. Neither the vest nor coat were powder burned. The third wound was in the left side and back about 7 inches from the backbone. The probe indicated that the wound extended toward the heart. No exit of the bullet was found. No powder burns were found on the coat. Dr. Yeats was of the opinion that either of the wounds except the flesh wound would have caused death.

The defense put no witnesses on the stand.