In the early winter of 1900, the community of San-bois, then a part of the Choctaw Nation in Indian Territory, was rocked by the tragic death of its sheriff, Jefferson Davis Surratt. A man of Choctaw heritage, the 39-year-old lawman was a respected figure in the often-turbulent territory that would later become Haskell County, Oklahoma. His life was cut short not by a hardened outlaw, but by one of his own men in a grim turn of events.
The fatal encounter began on December 3, 1900, when
Sheriff Surratt confronted one of his deputies who was intoxicated. In his attempt to pacify the inebriated lawman, the situation escalated dramatically. The deputy, whose name is not widely cited in historical records, drew his firearm and shot his superior officer. The single gunshot proved to be a mortal wound, though Surratt would cling to life for two more days.
Following the shooting, the wounded sheriff was tended to, but medical capabilities of the time were limited. Jefferson Davis Surratt succumbed to his injuries on December 5, 1900. His death sent shockwaves through the local community, highlighting the inherent dangers and unpredictability of maintaining law and order in the Indian Territory. The deputy who fired the fatal shot was promptly arrested and faced the full weight of the law, being charged with the murder of Sheriff Surratt. This somber event marked the end of a dedicated officer's life and left a lasting scar on the history of San-bois.
