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
two men fought, Ben Smith drew his firearm, waving it to keep onlookers at bay. With no other law enforcement officer in the immediate vicinity, a message was sent to summon Deputy Sheriff Tabner, who had been resting at the Texas Hotel after working through the night. Upon his arrival at the scene, Tabner drew his own weapon and commanded Ben Smith to drop his gun. Smith refused and instead fired multiple shots at the deputy, with one bullet tearing through Tabner's shirt collar. The deputy returned fire, striking Ben Smith twice at close range.
Having emptied his revolver, Deputy Tabner retreated across the street to a hardware store in search of more ammunition. Seizing the opportunity, Jeff Smith, who had broken away from his fight with Reed, grabbed his brother's fallen gun from a bystander and pursued the deputy into the store. Inside, Tabner's gun failed to fire as Jeff Smith entered and shot at him. Smith's second shot found its mark, striking Deputy Tabner in his left side. After the deputy fell to the floor, Jeff Smith proceeded to physically assault him before forcing the wounded officer to crawl and walk to the barbershop where his brother Ben had been taken.
A distraction by a person present, who told Jeff Smith that his brother wanted to speak to him before he died, provided Deputy Tabner with a chance to escape. Despite his severe injuries, he managed to make his way back to his room at the Texas Hotel. Jeff Smith, along with Ira Smith and Thomas Sipes, were later arrested in connection with the incident, with the latter two being taken in as accessories. Deputy Sheriff John Tabner succumbed to his wounds ten days later, on the morning of Wednesday, November 25, 1908.
