Bio & Incident Details
Age: Not available
Tour: Not available
Badge # Not available
Cause: Gunfire
Location: Oklahoma
Incident Date: 11/30/1890
Weapon: Officer's handgun
Suspect: one convicted and two acquitted
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.%20Deputy%20Marshal%20Pitts%20received%20information%20that%20three%20men%20were%20smuggling%20liquor%20into%20the%20Indian%20Territory%20from%20Texas.%20Pitts%20set%20up%20surveillance%20at%20Lake%20West%20about%2035%20miles%20north%20of%20Paris.%20When%20he%20saw%20a%20wagon%20being%20driven%20by%20three%20men%20traveling%20north,%20Pitts%20stepped%20from%20the%20brush%20and%20stopped%20them.%20The%20three%20men%20identified%20themselves%20as%20Isam%20Frazier,%20Lige%20Woods%20and%20Jim%20Allen.%20When%20Pitts%20said%20he%20suspected%20them%20of%20liquor%20smuggling,%20and%20started%20to%20search%20the%20wagon,%20a%20confrontation%20ensued.%20One%20of%20the%20men%20ripped%20Pitts’%20pistol%20from%20his%20holster%20and%20shot%20him%20in%20the%20stomach.%20He%20died%20within%20minutes.%20Allen%20and%20Wood%20were%20acquitted%20and%20Frazier%20was%20convicted%20of%20manslaughter%20and%20sentenced%20to%20a%20long%20prison%20term.%20
"Pin It")
Williams Pitts was a deputy US Marshal for the Eastern District of Texas which included the southern part of the Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma). Deputy Marshal Pitts received information that three men were smuggling liquor into the Indian Territory from Texas. Pitts set up surveillance at Lake West about 35 miles north of Paris. When he saw a wagon being driven by three men traveling north, Pitts stepped from the brush and stopped them. The three men identified themselves as Isam Frazier, Lige Woods and Jim Allen. When Pitts said he suspected them of liquor smuggling, and started to search the wagon, a confrontation ensued. One of the men ripped Pitts’ pistol from his holster and shot him in the stomach. He died within minutes. Allen and Wood were acquitted and Frazier was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to a long prison term.
No personal information is known about Pitts at this time.
