In the rugged hills of eastern Oklahoma, the life of Prohibition Agent Howard Brooke Oursler came to a violent end on a fateful day in October of 1932. A dedicated officer of the Bureau of Prohibition, Howard was a man committed to upholding the law of the land during an era of widespread illegal alcohol production and distribution. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he had joined the bureau in 1929, carrying badge number 464 as he navigated the often-dangerous landscape of enforcing the
National Prohibition Act in and around the town of Stillwell. At 58 years of age, he was a seasoned agent, aware of the risks that came with his line of work.
On October 12th, Agent Oursler, a White male, was in the process of arresting a man by the name of Edward Dudley for violations of the prohibition laws. Accompanied by a confidential informant, the situation escalated dramatically, resulting in gunfire. Both Agent Oursler and his informant were wounded in the exchange. Before succumbing to his injuries, Howard was able to identify his assailant as Edward Dudley, a man who, in a twist of irony, was a candidate for the local office of Constable in the upcoming elections.
The immediate aftermath of the shooting saw Dudley flee into the surrounding hills, sparking a manhunt for the man who had gunned down a federal agent. The search for Dudley was swift, and within a matter of days, he was apprehended by law enforcement. Once in custody, he provided a full confession to the shooting of both Agent Oursler and the informant. The confession, coupled with the dying declaration of the fallen agent, sealed his fate. Edward Dudley was subsequently convicted of murder for his actions on that violent October day and was sentenced to serve the remainder of his life in prison. Howard Brooke Oursler was survived by his wife, Jeannie May, and was laid to rest in his hometown of Pittsburgh.
