In the quiet town of Braggs, Oklahoma, a young lawman's life was cut tragically short in the line of duty. Deputy Constable George Johnson Kirk, a 23-year-old male, was killed on Friday, June 18, 1909, while responding to a train robbery in progress. The incident unfolded when three men obstructed the train tracks, forcing the locomotive to a halt with the intention of robbing it.
The train crew, however, was armed and met the robbers with resistance, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
Deputy Constable Kirk and another officer arrived at the chaotic scene and immediately engaged the suspects in a shootout. During the fierce gun battle, Deputy Constable Kirk was fatally wounded. Despite the tragic loss, his fellow officer and the train crew were able to subdue one of the assailants, a 23-year-old man who was seriously wounded in the exchange. This individual was identified as the one who fired the fatal shot that killed Deputy Constable Kirk. The other two suspects managed to flee the immediate scene but were apprehended the following day in the nearby town of Proctor.
The man who shot Deputy Constable Kirk was convicted of murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison. However, his story did not end there. In a remarkable turn of events, he escaped from prison in 1914. His freedom was short-lived as he was later captured and incarcerated for the murder of another law enforcement officer in North Carolina. After serving time there and escaping again, he was eventually returned to Oklahoma to complete his sentence for the murder of Deputy Constable Kirk. He was ultimately paroled in 1944. Deputy Constable Kirk was survived by his wife and child.
