Rachel Whitney
Curator, Sapulpa Historical Museum
Thursday, January 18, 1912, Sapulpa Evening Light: Jealousy of Bootleggers Cause of General Blowup
“Jealousy on the part of certain unsuccessful bootleggers which is the alleged reason for the rail made last night on the wareroom of the principal whiskey supplier of the city, threatens to disrupt the liquor traffic in Sapulpa and throw before the grand jury the much sought information, which would necessarily deal a death blow to the blind saloon business. The condition that now exists, with the supposed blended factions at war, delights Prohibitionists of the city, who say the ultimate perishing of both sides in the fight is bound to result. Last night’s raid, in which the wareroom of the man who is admittedly the biggest wholesaler of liquor in the city, was demolished, and from which some $600 worth of liquors was taken, sounds the first blow, a telling one, in the battle which must surely follow…”
Friday, January 18, 1918, Creek County Republican: Elza Mead Braids Another Sixty-Foot Rope
“The third attempt which Elza Mead has made to escape imprisonment since he was arrested a few months ago was frustrated Wednesday morning when guards in the county jail found 60 feet of braided rope in his cell, which he had made from blankets from the bunk in his cell. Mead was brought back last week from the state penitentiary to appear as a witness in a tire stealing case pending in the district court now. He made an attempt to escape by jumping from the car window on the trip over. Once, before he was sent to the pen, he had made a rope from blankets, by which to slide from the roof of the jail. For the last offense Judge Hughes ordered him to be placed in solitary confinement with a 24-hour diet of bread and water.”
Friday, January 18, 1935, Sapulpa Free Press: Sapulpa Splits in Court Tilts
“Sapulpa’s Chieftains won and lost during the past week’s play, losing at Tulsa Friday night 44 to 23, and winning by about the same margin over Drumright here Monday night. ‘In numbers, there is strength,’ seems to be as true for Tulsa basketball teams as it was for their football team, as 13 players were put in the lineup against Sapulpa’s eight. At the half the locals trailed by 17 to 20, but during the second half, after Franklin and Hinshaw had fouled out, the Braves went on a rampage. Red Johnson was high point man for Sapulpa and tied for high points honors of the game with Swan, Tulsa guard, and Buker, forward, each tossing in four baskets from the floor, and three free tosses. Hemphill followed Johnson closely, however, with three goals and three free throws for a total of nine points. The fact that the two Sapulpa guards registered 20 of their team’s 23 points, shows the close guarding Tulsa gave the local forwards, as none of the Sapulpa forwards were able to score a goal. Hinshaw made one basketball. Monday night the locals ran rings around the Drumright boys, scoring almost at will to run up the score of 37 to 17…Next conference game will be at Okmulgee Saturday night in an Oklahoma Six Loop affair.”
Tuesday, January 18, 1972, Democrat News: City Tax Shows Retail Upswing
“Sapulpa received $24,136 in revenue from the 1% city sales tax this month, a gain of $1,467 over the same period a year ago. The report from the Oklahoma Tax Commission reflects levies on November business. Revenues for other Creek County towns include Bristow $7,529 up $874; Drumright $3,614 down $256; Kellyville $466 up $88; Mounds $412 down $15; Kiefer $453 up $104; Mannford $1,578 up $362; and Oilton $1,168 up $64. Depew, which did not have the tax a year ago, collected $324. Most other area towns also showed an increase. Among them were Broken Arrow, $17,596 up $3,357; and Okmuglee, $25,302 up $3,577. Sand Springs, which now collects a 2% local tax, received $34,950 compared with $14,679 a year earlier. Municipal sales taxes are levied in 267 Oklahoma communities, and 13 now collect a 2% tax.”
