John R. Tabner

In the small town of Wetumka, Oklahoma, a chain of events unfolded on a Sunday afternoon in November of 1908 that would ultimately lead to the tragic death of 30-year-old Deputy Sheriff John R. Tabner. The day began with two brothers, Ben and Jeff Smith, who had been drinking and causing disturbances around the town. The simmering trouble boiled over into a physical altercation when Jeff Smith confronted Monroe Reed in front of a local barbershop over a dispute concerning a dog.

As the tw ...

Deputy Sheriff John R. Tabner