Robert A. Prince was born on 5/15/1848 in Bedford County, TN to Simeon Prince and Sarah Mary Narcissus Littleton. He married Maoma Eubanks (aka May Oma Eubanks, Naomi Eubanks) (DOB 1/16/1854 in Arkansas) on 4/23/1871 in Conway County, AR. They had 9 or 10 children: G.C. Prince, Scott Simeon Prince, Mary Leona Prince, Katie Elizabeth Prince, Stephen Arlando Prince, Theo Docia Prince, Walter Harrison Prince, Robert "Bert" V. Prince, Nora Lavina Prince. (I could only identify 9 but the census reports them having 10 children.)
Walter Harrison Prince was born 3/17/1888 in Arkansas.
1900 U.S. Census of Township 1, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory; Page: 8; Enumeration District: 0137; FHL microfilm: 1241848, Lines 83-89, "Robert Prince"
Robert Prince, Head, W(hite), M(ale), Born Apr, 1848, 52 yrs old, Married 29 yrs, Born in TN, Both parents born in TN, Farmer, Can read and write, Rents farm
Manning Prince (sic, Maomi Eubanks Prince), Wife, W, F, Born June, 1854, 46 yrs old, Married 29 yrs, 10 children with 10 still living (sic), Born in TX, Both parents born in AR, Can read and write
Arley L. Prince, Son, W, M, Born June, 1883, 17 yrs old, Single, Born in AR, Father born in TN, Mother born in TX
Doshire Prince (sic, Docia Prince), Daughter, W, F, Born Dec, 1885, 14 yrs old, Single, Born in AR, Father born in TN, Mother born in TX
Walter H. Prince, Son, W, M, Born Mar, 1889, 11 yrs old, Single, Born in AR, Father born in TN, Mother born in TX
Robert V. Prince, Son, W, M, Born Sept, 1892, 7 yrs old, Born in Indian Territory, OK, Father born in TN, Mother born in TX
Nora S. Prince, Daughter, W, F, Born Nov, 1895, 4 yrs old, born in Indian Territory, OK, Father born in TN, Mother born in TX
1910 U.S. Census of Minnesota Avenue, Chickasaw Ward 4, Grady County, Oklahoma; Roll: T624_1252; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0099; FHL microfilm: 1375265, Line 66, "Walter Prince", living in a boarding house
Walter Prince, Boarder, M(ale), W(hite), 21 yrs old, Single, Born in AR, Father born in TN, Mother born in TX, Manager of pool hall, Can read and write
U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, #3903, #11
Walter Harrison Prince, Age 29 yrs old
Chickasha, OK Ardmore, OK
DOB 3/17/1888
Natural born in Ardmore, OK
Occupation: Laborer in County Jail in Ardmore, OK
Single
Exemption? Crippled foot
35-21-A
Medium height, medium build, blue eyes, brown hair, not bald, lost toe
Signed by him 6/5/1917 in Ardmore, OK
1920 U.S. Census of Sand Springs, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Roll: T625_1486; Page: 19A; Enumeration District: 189, Lines 32-33, "Walter Prince"
Walter Prince, Head, Rents home, M(ale), W(hite), 32 yrs old, Married, Can read and write, Born in OK, Both parents born in OK, Manager of pool hall
Jose Prince, Wife, F, W, 38 yrs old, Married, Can read and write, Born in IA, Both parents born in USA
1920 City Directories, Tulsa, Tulsa County, OK
Prince, Walter (Jose), clk, r 214 E. 2d, Sand Spgs
1926 City Directories, Roswell, NM
Prince, Walter H. (Josie E.) r 311 1/2 N. Main
FindAGrave.com
Walter Prince
BIRTH 17 Mar 1888, Arkansas, USA
DEATH 10 Feb 1926 (aged 37), Roswell, Chaves County, New Mexico, USA
BURIAL Rose Hill Cemetery, Chickasha, Grady County, Oklahoma, USA
PLOT Block 31 lot 9
MEMORIAL ID 142047054
Family Members
Parents
Robert A. Prince 1848–1944
Mayoma Eubanks Prince 1854–1924
Siblings
Sidney Erastus Prince 1875–1952
Katie Elizabeth Prince Gillaspy 1878–1955
Stephen Arlando Prince 1883–1969
Docia E Prince Williams 1885–1952 (m. 1908)
Bert Prince 1892–1927
Nora Lavina Prince Herring 1895–1988
I have no idea how Walter died. He was only 37 yrs old. I couldn't find an obituary in the newspapers. I was not able to find his wife, Josie E. Johnson before their marriage or after he died.
Custer County Republican, Weatherford, OK, 10/12/1905, Pg 8
Prince In Trouble
Monday evening between seven and eight o'clock, W.H. Prince from south-east of town got into trouble with a man by the name of Bond (James Ora Bond 1873-1906) and with the aid of a billiard cue cracked Mr. Bond's cranium. Prince paid $12.50 fine and went home, later when it was found that the blow received by Bond might cause his death, Mr. Prince came in and went to Arapaho to remain in custody of the sheriff. Bond is in critical condition.
The Arapaho Bee, 10/20/1905, Pg 1
A Few Of The Many Fights In Weatherford
What Has Become Of The Other's, Dray? Better Put The Lid On In The Normal Town
Public sentiment moulds public opinions. Monday afternoon a fight was participated in by parties who had come to the city for the purpose of taking in the show. The parties to the conflict had possibly imbibed too much of the "O be joyful" and had used language toward each other and were about to come to blows. A third party stepped between them and separated them and pleaded with them not to fight. This aroused the ire of one of the pugilists until he turned on the third party, who was acting as peacemaker. The row finally grew to such dimension that W.H. Prince seized a billiard cue and struck a man by the name of Bond over the head just above the ear, crushing the skull. These were the two first entering the altercation. The name of the third party was Smith, who was acting as peace-maker. The parties, Prince and Smith were arrested, the former plead guilty and was fined $12 for striking Bond with a billiard cue, and who, by the way, is still in bed in a precarious condition, while Smith, who was trying to adjust matters was fined $18. Is it proper? The ordinance governing such violations is partly at fault. According to its teaching a man must put his hands in his pockets and submit to being pounded and beaten up or pay the heavier penalty of the two. A man must either fight or pay the penalty it seems.
At this writing the man Bond is still in bed, and has been unconscious a greater part of the time. He has roused up several times but never utters a word.
County Attorney Holcomb was over to attend the show and on Tuesday morning visited the injured man and during the day Mr. Prince was arrested upon the charge of assault with intent to kill. The warrant was issued from Judge Douthit's court who sent him to Arapaho to the county jail to await developments. The sheriff was instructed to hold him without bond, Sheriff's Nichols and Malone took him to Arapaho Tuesday afternoon - Weatherford Democrat
The Weatherford News, 11/2/1905, Pg 4
Prince Bound Over
On the 27th the preliminary examination of W.H. Prince, charge with assault with intent to kill on J.O. Bond, of Eakley, Caddo county, in Buchholz's saloon in this city on the 9th of last month, was had before Justice Douthit.
It was shown in a general way that Bond was drunk and hunting trouble all day without finding it till after dark when he met Prince in the saloon.
It appears that Bond and Smith, his neighbor, were getting ready to start home when Prince came in who, on learning that Bond had been hunting a fight, immediately sought him out and informed him that he would whip him. He and Bond both took off their coats and hats and made ready for a fight, when Smith stepped between them and attempted to settle the difficulty. This action on the part of Smith seemed to greatly anger Prince who commenced striking at him. Sparring between Prince and Smith was kept up for some time and until someone came in from the pool room with a billiard cue in his hands when Prince snatched it from him and struck Bond with it twice, the last blow being on the side of the head and which rendered him unconscious for two or three days, paralyzed his right side and effected his speech. He is unable to talk now except to say "yes" and "no".
The evidence also disclosed the fact that Bond was unarmed and too drunk to seriously injure any one.
After hearing the evidence the court held the defendant to await the action of the grand jury and allowed bail in the sum of three hundred dollars which he gave and was released from custody.
Custer County News, Clinton, OK, 11/2/1905, Pg 4
Prince Bound Over
On the 27th ult. the preliminary examination of W.H. Prince, charged with an assault and batter with intent to kill J.O. Bond, was held before J.W. Douthit, justice of the peace, in the city of Weatherford. Bond was injured on the eve of the 9th, and Prince was arrested on the 10th and placed in jail awaiting the result of the injuries with which he was charged of inflicting on Bond.
The Territory was represented by F.A. Snodgrass, deputy county attorney, and the defendant by Geo. T. Webster and J.C. Caldwell.
The evidence showed on the day the difficulty occurred that J.O. Bond was drunk and used insulting, boisterous, obscene and profane language and seemed to be hunting for trouble. He and Prince met in a saloon in this city and commenced quarreling, and one, J.B. Smith, stepped in between the parties to prevent trouble, and found it necessary to strike Prince a few times to keep him off; and while Bond was trying to get Prince the latter snatched a billiard cue from a young man named Harding who seemed to be on hand ready to assist Prince. With the billiard cue Prince struck Bond on the side and then over the head, the last blow felling Bond to the floor and rendering him unconscious. The by-standers then interfered and seized Prince who was in the act of striking the proprietor of the saloon.
Bond was taken to the office of Drs. Williams and Gordon where he remained under treatment for several days, during which time it was doubtful that he would recover. Bond was placed on the witness stand but he could only answer "yes" and "no," the part of his brain governing the organs of speech being injured. He will probably be a mental and physical wreck the remainder of his life. The defense placed witnesses on the stand to establish self defense and were permitted to introduce such evidence that the District court would rule out on account of being irrelevant.
Mr. Snodgrass opened the argument on behalf of the Territory and cited the law governing the case and he was followed by Mr. Webster who cited the law applicable to the defense and spoke briefly on the facts but being compelled to leave on the train his remarks were necessarily brief. Mr. Caldwell made a long, logical and eloquent argument, uring everything possible in behalf of his client. Mr. Snodgrass closed with a few well chosen remarks and the argument was closed. While Mr. Snodgrass is not so windy as some lawyers he has the happy faculty of speaking to the point. While his words may be few they are weighty.
The Court held that while the language of Bond was bad, words in law do not justify an assault. While Bond manifested a disposition to fight he was unarmed and unable to inflict serious bodily injury on Prince, and that Prince was not justified in striking him with a dangerous weapon like a billiard cue, and being responsible for the natural consequences of his own acts, placed the defendant under three hundred dollars bond for his appearance at the next term of the District court, which he promptly gave. Thus ended one of the most important preliminary examinations ever held in Weatherford.
Custer County Republican, 11/2/1905, Pg 10
The Custer County Chronicle, 11/10/1905, Pg 8
The Sayre Standard, Sayre, OK, 4/20/1906, Pg 10
Another Tragedy
Friday the news was brought to Sayre of the killing of Mrs. Birdie Bond by her former husband, James O. Bond, who then killed himself.
Mrs. Bond was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Hodgson, who live five miles northeast of Sayre. She had been separated from Bond over a year. Recently their child, Sammie, was kicked by a horse, and after an illness of several weeks, died. Bond had assisted in nursing the child and attended the funeral. Thursday he got on the train at Sayre and went to Doxey. Friday morning between eight and nine o'clock he appeared at the Hodgson home and announced his intention of killing the whole family.
Mrs. Hodgson, Mrs. Bond and a younger sister were there. Bond drew a revolver and shot at all three, but only succeeded in wounding his wife slightly. Mrs. Hodgson then grabbed him, telling her daughter to run. Mrs. Bond ran from the house, and Bond broke away and followed her. Throwing away the revolver he drew a razor and, overtaking her, slashed at her until he succeeded in reaching her throat. Then he drew the razor across his own throat, and in a few minutes both were dead.
There is no doubt that the man was demented. A few months ago his skull was fractures by a blow from a billiard cue, and it is thought that this had affected his mind.
The body of Mrs. Bond was buried in the Doxey cemetery, and his was sent to Cereal where his father lives.
The Oklahoma City Times, Oklahoma City, OK, 4/22/1906, Pg 5
Killing and Suicide
Sayre Comes To The Front With A Bloody Tragedy
Sayre, Okla., April 21 - At the home of Ira Hodgson, five miles northeast of Sayre, J.O. Bond killed his former wife, Birdie E. Bond, and attempted to kill the entire family consisting of Mrs. Hodgson and a younger sister of Mrs. Bond. Then cut his own throat. It appears that Bond was married to Miss Birdie E. Hodgson about 7 years ago, that she married him under threats that he would kill her if she refused. Frequently since their marriage, on account of his jealousy, he has threatened to kill her. About 18 months since she left him and came back to her father, Ira Hodgson and at the November term of the district court had obtained a divorce from Bond. About four weeks since their only child, living with it's mother, was kicked by a horse and lingered for three weeks, dying just one week since. During this time Bond stayed at the home of Mr. Hodgson and helped care for the child and on last Friday, Mr. Hodgson took him to the depot at Sayre and Bond thanked him for his kindness and caring for his child and wished them all the success possible. Nothing more was seen of Bond until 9 o'clock this morning after all the men had left the house he came to the house and seemed very pleasant. Stepped into the side room and called Mrs. Bond into the room whereupon he drew from his pocket a revolver and at the same time showed her a number of letters she had received from another man to whom she is said to be engaged, then said he had come to kill the family and shot her striking the arm and glancing into the chest. Then a struggle ensued and he struck her several times over the head with the revolver and fired a shot at her mother and one at her ten year old sister. Mrs. Hodgson grappled with him till Mrs. Bond escaped and ran for help but Bond pursued her about 100 yards shooting twice then overtook her and another scuffle ensued when the pistol was knocked from his hands then he drew a razor from his pocket and the handle and case was left there when she again got loose from him and ran about forty yards towards the house when he again overtook her and this time succeeded in cutting her throat almost severing her head, apparently four or five attempts were made before he succeeded in killing her.
Then he cut his own throat from ear to ear by two strokes and was dying when Mr. Hodgson came in sight after having been called by his wife from Mr. Craft's nearly a mile away where he had gone just a short time before the killing.
It is supposed that Bond had secured the letters received by his former wife from another man while he was staying at the Hodgson home during the last illness of his only child and his jealousy of his wife and learning that she was soon to be married to another drove him to murder her and then take his own life.
Bond was about 28 years old and his wife 26. Mrs. Bond was a fine looking woman and her husband was jealous of her all the time during their married life. Bond's parents live near Lawton.
James O. Bond Kills His Former Wife Then Himself
Last Friday morning, about five miles north of Sayre in this county occurred one of those tragedies which so often grow out of mismatched marriages. James O. Bond had been separated from his wife about three years. The wife was living with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Hodgson.
Bond had been living at El Reno and had attended the funeral of his son and had started for home, but got off the train at Doxey and went to the place where his former wife was staying, and stayed about the house until morning, when he entered the house and began shooting at the members of the family. Fortunately the bullets all went wild.
His former wife ran from the house but he followed and attacked her in the road with a razor, with which he slashed her about the arms and breast. Finally he brought the edge of the razor against her throat when she fell to the road and expired.
Bond then drew the razor across his own throat and expired within a few feet of the woman he had just murdered. It is supposed that Bond was insane.
The following special to the Oklahoman gives a succinct account of the revolting tragedy enacted near Sayre last Friday.
"James O. Bond, a farmer, killed his ormer his former wife and then himself about 9 o'clock today, five miles north of Sayre. He used a razor. They had been seperated over a year, and the wife was living with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Hodgson, when their boy, Sammie, 4 years old. was killed by a kick from a horse. Bond was sent for to attend the funeral and afterwards he remained and acted strangely. Yesterday he started to his home at El Reno, but got off the train at Doxey. His tracks indicated that he had prowled around the house all night. This morning he came to the house and announced his intentions of killing the whole family, with a revolver. He shot at his wife, then at her mother, Mrs. Hodgson, and then at Mr. Hodgson and Mrs. Bond's sister. Mrs. Hodgson grabbed him, telling her daughter to run. Mrs. Bond ran, screaming, from the house, out on the road. Bond broke loose from Mrs. Hodgson, followed her struck her several times with the revolver; again she ran and he threw away the revolver and drew a razor and, overtaking her again, he slashed her on the arms, breast and face. Finally he reached her throat and she sank to the road literally hacked to pieces. Bond then drew the razor across his own throat, severing both jugular veins and dying a few feet from the dead woman.
The Weatherford News, 4/26/1906, Pg 1
Last Saturday's Daily Oklahoman contained an account of the killing of Mrs. James O. Bond, by her husband, at her home near Sayre, on last Friday.
This killing will be no great surprise to Weatherford people when it is known that the James O. Bond referred to in the Sayre dispatch to the Oklahoman is the same person who was struck with a billiard cue in the Buchholz saloon by one. W.H. Prince on the day of the exhibition of the Forepaugh-Sells Bros. show here in the 9th of the last October, a full account of which appeared in the Democrat at the time. It will be remember that Bond lay unconscious for a week or more after he was struck by Prince, and that at the time of the examining trial of Prince for the crime, Bond could scarcely talk by reason of the fracture of his skull having paralyzed one of his sides and his tongue.
It was predicted by many at the time, and his physicians testified at the trial, that he might become insane by reason of the blow, and from what has since transpired the prediction seems to have been verified.
It appears that Bond and his wife were separated and that she was living with her father in Roger Mills county, near Sayre, and that Bond went out there about the middle of the week and what transpired after his arrival at the home of his wife is contained in the Oklahoman special from Sayre, as follows:
James O. Bond, a farmer, killed his former wife and then himself about 9 o'clock today (Friday).five miles north of Sayre. He used a razor. They had been separated over a year, and the wife was living with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Hodgson, when their boy, Sammie, 4 years old, was killed by a kick from a horse, Bond was sent for to attend the funeral and afterwards he remained and acted strangely. Yesterday he started to his home at El Reno, but got off the tain at Doxey. His tracks indicated that he had prowled around the house all night. This morning he came to the house and announced his intentions of killing the whole family, with a revolver. He shot at his wife, then at her mother, Mrs. Hodgson, then at Mr. Hodgson and Mrs. Bond's sister. Mrs. Hodgson grabbed him, telling her daughter to run. Mrs. Bond ran, screaming from the house, out on the road. Bond broke loose from Mrs. Hodgson, followed her and struck her several times with the revolver; again she ran and he then threw away the revolver, and drew a razor, and, overtaking her again, he slashed her on the arms, breast and face. Finally he reached her throat and she sank to the road literally hacked to pieces. Bond then drew the razor across his own jugular veins and dying a few feet from the dead woman.
The tragedy was witnessed by Mrs. Hodgson and Mrs. Bond's little sister and by an old man, a neighbor, who could do nothing to prevent it. Mrs. Birdie Bond, the murdered woman was refined and beautiful. Their domestic trouble had been many and it is supposed Bond was deranged. A coroner's inquest today brought a verdict substantially as above.
The Sayre Standard Sayre, OK, 5/4/1906, Pg 8
The Wigwam, Francie, OK, 10/21/1909, Pg 8
The Chickasha Daily Express, 8/3/1911, Pg 1
Please contact me if you have any corrections or any further information at Mom25dogs@gmail.com.